Though it will never be confused with a luxury European sports sedan, the 2016 Kia Cadenza full-size 4-door lives up to its premium billing. Roomy (at least up front), quiet, powerful, and distinctly well-equipped, the 5-passenger Cadenza offers comfy car-pooling or an easy trip to the theater for the thrift-minded family.

Among the upgrades for the 2016 model is the addition of a new Cadenza Base trim that joins the Premium and top-shelf Limited versions. Each is only available with front-wheel drive (FWD), and trunk space remains a tepid 15.9 cubic feet. Reviewers point out that the Cadenza's swooping roofline, which contributes to the its distinctly jaunty look, again impedes rear-seat headroom. Other changes for the 2016 Cadenza include standard GPS navigation that is now interfaced with Kia’s upgraded Uvo voice-command infotainment setup in all Cadenza variants, including the debuting Base, and some shuffling among the available options.

Powering the Cadenza lineup is a 3.3-liter V6 engine that’s good for 293 hp and 255 lb-ft of torque under the management of a smooth 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission. Look for 19 mpg city/28 highway/22 combined from V6, with one test seeing it go from 0-60 in 6.5 seconds, which is pretty much on par for the class.

Standard features in the 2016 Cadenza Base trim include 18-inch alloy wheels, heated power-adjustable outside mirrors, standard leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and genuine wood cabin accents. Cruise control also comes standard in the Base Cadenza, as does telescoping tilt-wheel steering, a remote garage door opener, a rear-view camera, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Technology and entertainment include Bluetooth interfaced Uvo infotainment telematics with an 8-inch touchscreen and GPS navigation, as well as Infinity premium audio with a CD/MP3 player, 8 speakers, satellite radio, and an auxiliary audio input.

Moving to the midrange Cadenza Premium, expect such additional standard equipment as power-folding exterior mirrors, rear parking sensors, a panoramic sunroof, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, and additional wood cabin accents.

The flagship Cadenza Limited adds standard 19-inch alloy wheels, a distinctive grille, a 7-inch instrument cluster display, a heated and power-adjustable steering wheel, premium leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats. This high-end trim also includes memory for driver's settings, an electronic parking brake, a surround-view camera system, LED interior lighting, an added rear-seat USB port, and further enhancements to cabin trim pieces.

Lower Cadenza trims are eligible for many of the standard items found in higher trims, while such dealer-installed accessories as cargo management tools, wheel locks, and bumper appliques are also available across the lineup.

Standard safety equipment aboard the 2016 Cadenza includes 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front and rear side-mounted and head curtain airbags, daytime running lights, front fog/driving lights (LED on the Limited), turn-signal integrated mirrors, Kia’s Uvo emergency alerts and communications, a post-collision safety system, and a remote antitheft alarm. The Premium and Limited add standard auto-leveling headlights, and the Limited also sports self-leveling high-intensity-discharge (HID) headlights, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic warnings, and lane-keeping assistance.

No government crash testing has been done on the current Cadenza, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the 2015 version its best overall score of Good.

The 2016 Cadenza is rivaled in the full-size premium sedan marketplace by the Toyota Avalon, Hyundai Azera, Chrysler 300, Chevy Impala, and VW Passat.