2014 Kia Cadenza Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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After sending the Avanti back to the drawing board nearly half a decade ago, Kia launches its largest and most luxurious sedan ever for 2014. The all-new Kia Cadenza shares the same front-wheel drive, suspension style, engine, transmission and wheelbase with Hyundai's Azera, but style and feature content much more like that of the maker's midsize Optima. To look at the Cadenza, you would never guess it shared anything with any other car but the Optima. To drive the Cadenza, you might venture to guess it's more Audi than Hyundai.
Sure, the steering is a bit light and under-communicative for a true Eurosport feel, but the Cadenza's highly responsive suspension was reportedly tweaked in the transfer from Azera to Cadenza specifically to give it an edge over the parent company's less-expensive full-size entry. Mind you, these tweaks still don't make the Cadenza a sports car by any stretch, but it's definitely a cozy cruiser even on imperfect pavement. Also true to its price segment, the Cadenza provides a more serene cabin quiet than the Azera and a hefty helping of high-end features to boot.
Thus far offered in one well-appointed trim, standard features include such highlights as 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, power-folding side mirrors, keyless ignition/entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, leather upholstery, 10-way powered, heated and ventilated driver's seat, 4-way powered and heated passenger seat, rear-view camera, rear park assist, 8-inch touchscreen, navigation system, complete Bluetooth connectivity and a 12-speaker Infinity sound system all at your beck and call through Kia's voice command UVO system, included free of charge for the life of your 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty. And that's just highlights of the standard offering.
The Cadenza's two option packs (technically there's a third, but the White package is entirely cosmetic) span from Premium features like a panoramic sunroof, memory for driver's settings, heated steering wheel, heated rear seats and even a power rear window sunshade, to Technology features such as 19-inch alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control, water-repellant front windows and a reportedly annoying lane-departure warning system.
Its only sticking point thus far, aside from a steep entry fee, is very likely the Cadenza's limitation to a single powertrain. Where the Chrysler 300 also offers a robust V8 over its V6 and Toyota's Avalon can likewise swing a hybrid option, the Cadenza offers only a 3.3-liter V6 with a 6-speed automatic—albeit a V6 and automatic that should muster about 7 seconds down the pipe to 60 mph for its 293 hp and 255 lb-ft of torque. That said, don't expect fuel economy to do much better than the Azera's 20 mpg city/29 highway, especially if you make extensive use of the paddle shifters, but first drivers are nevertheless highly impressed with the Cadenza's smoothly punctual power delivery.
User reviews for 2014 Kia Cadenza
Write a review2014 Kia Cadenza Pricing
Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Voice recognition audio system · Bluetooth auxiliary audio input · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: Infinity · Touch screen display radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 1 subwoofer · Total Number of Speakers: 11 · 550 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Front brake diameter: 12.6 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.2 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center with cupholders · Center console trim: leather · Dash trim: leather · Door sill trim: stainless steel · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Assist handle: rear · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cruise control: adaptive · Cupholders: rear · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Easy entry: power driver seat · Memorized settings: steering wheel · Multi-function remote: trunk release · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): two 12V front · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: power tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: phone · Storage: door pockets · Sunshade: power rear window · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 10
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 3.04
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Exhaust: dual exhaust tips · Exhaust tip color: chrome · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Window trim: chrome
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
In Car Entertainment
Infotainment: UVO · Infotainment screen size: 8 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: range · Warnings and reminders: maintenance reminder
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: LED · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: heated
Passenger Seat
Power adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Moonroof: sliding sunshade
Safety
Active head restraints: driver · Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: rear · Impact sensor: door unlock · Parking sensors: rear · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Upholstery: premium leather
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Steering
Steering ratio: 14.3 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.90
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Telematics
Navigation system: with voice recognition · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: chrome alloy
Windows
Front wipers: rain sensing · Laminated glass: acoustic · Power windows: with safety reverse
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: diversity · Voice recognition audio system · Auxiliary audio input: iPod/iPhone integration · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: Infinity · Touch screen display radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 1 subwoofer · Total Number of Speakers: 11 · 550 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Front brake diameter: 12.6 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.2 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center folding with pass-thru · Center console trim: leather · Dash trim: leather · Door sill trim: stainless steel · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Assist handle: rear · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: rear · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Multi-function remote: proximity entry system · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): two 12V front · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: front seatback · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 10
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 3.04
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Exhaust: dual exhaust tips · Exhaust tip color: chrome · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: chrome surround · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Window trim: chrome
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
In Car Entertainment
Infotainment: UVO · Infotainment screen size: 8 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: MPG · Warnings and reminders: lamp failure
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: LED · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power folding
Passenger Seat
Power adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Safety
Active head restraints: driver · Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front · Impact sensor: door unlock · Parking sensors: rear · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Upholstery: leather
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Steering
Steering ratio: 14.3 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.90
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Telematics
Navigation system: with voice recognition · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Laminated glass: acoustic · Power windows: with safety reverse
