2014 Kia Cadenza | Review

For decades, Kia was a brand best known for its affordability and satisfactory design. It was only until the emergence of the beautifully crafted Kia Optima sedan that sparked new interest in what the Korean based auto manufacturer can truly offer. Ultimately, it was the voluptuous design that pampered the positive critique over its copacetic driving dynamics. The 2014 Cadenza is Kia’s first attempt to bridge the gap between a mid-priced sedan into the luxury realm. And I have to say, they did a decent job.

While not completely alike, the Cadenza can be thought of as an upscaled version of the Kia Optima with more aggressive handling, sharper styling, and a more lavish interior cabin space.

In terms of drivability, the Kia Cadenza is no slouch. Front wheel torque production is powered by a 3.3L GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) V6 engine producing 293 Horsepower, and 255 ft.lbs of torque. Mind you, the Kia Cadenza does not have an AWD powertrain option. With that being said, the Kia Cadenza accelerates with confidence with minimal torque steer to our surprise. And that is an accolade worth mentioning considering the primary focus of the Cadenza is luxury and comfort. The Kia Cadenza tips the weight scale a bit on the heavy side at 2,792 lbs. As a result, the Kia Cadenza suffers in braking performance and prone to overheating under nominal attempt in driving through curvy canyons. Interior cabin space and comfort is where the Kia Cadenza shines.

Front seats employ full leather material with extra contour support for added comfort. In lieu of comfort however, the lack of lateral support will through you around quite a bit under harsher cornering. Despite the absence of performance seating arrangement, the Kia Cadenza offers a perfect balance of technology features including the beloved UVO infotainment system, blind spot detection, lane change side mirror indication, smart phone connectivity and rear view camera.

The touch and feel of the cabin space inspires luxury but not superiority. Yes, all component layout, buttons and dials are well placed and ergonomic to the touch and much appreciated the ultra smooth mahogany wood trim bordering the center console as well as the steering wheel rim. But compared to some of its competitors, namely the Lexus ES350, the quality leather material falls short.

No car is perfect, and no car will ever be. But the Kia seemed to have found a great balance between luxury, comfort and performance. Neither of the three elements are overly excessive, but the married relationship between performance and comfort need to be better harmonized. Kia has done a great job in tuning up the suspension to deliver sharp and responsive handling. Likewise, the tuning also accommodates a smooth and pleasant ride on flat surfaces. Up until you start driving through bumps and ruts through highways and broken alley ways will the Cadenza begin to reveal its harsh ride condition. On that note, the Kia Cadenza falls behind its competitors with the lack of dynamic suspension tuning namely the Lexus ES350 dynamic suspension and the well acclaimed MagneRide employed in the Cadillac CTS.

All in all, there is nothing specifically the Kia Cadenza falls short in the Luxury standpoint. Unlike many of its competitors in the luxury arena, the Kia Cadenza sips regular gasoline. The bad news is it drinks at a rate of 19/28 MPG in the city and highway which falls short of its competitors that include the Toyota Avalon, but it’s not the worse for the six cylinder class. Cadenza shoppers will be delighted to hear that there are only two trims to choose from. The Kia Cadenza’s base price sells for $35,100. Our tested premium model comes with upgraded 19″ rims, P245/40R19 tires, auto-leveling head lights, premium Nappa leather seats, heated steering wheel, blind spot detection, rear view camera, lane departure detection and adaptive cruise control.

2014 Kia Cadenza Premium

Base Price: $43,200

As-Tested Price: $43,250

Drivetrain: 3.3-liter V6; FWD, six-speed automatic

Output: 293 hp @ 6,400 rpm, 255 lb-ft @ 5,200 rpm

Curb Weight: 3,792 lb

Fuel Economy (EPA City/Highway/Combined): 19/28/22 mpg

Measured Fuel Economy: 22.6 mpg

Options: Cargo net ($50)