Comfort, ride impress in Cadenza makeover
MIDDLEBURG, VA. We’re only an hour from the U.S. capital, but it feels like centuries.
This is blue-blooded hunt country, where boots and spurs are welcome on the Aubusson carpets and horse and hound have the right of way. The casual ease with which breeches (pronounced “breeks”) are accepted on the historic streets of Middleburg is misleading; it hides a centuries-old class structure of exclusivity that requires generations to break into.
It’s easy to see why a car company would also aspire to this sort of lineage, but as with any other newcomer, it takes more than money to gain acceptance.
Kia probably knows it will never gain a foothold in this society, but saturating social media with shots of the Cadenza in front of the venerable Red Fox Inn presumably creates desire among the upwardly mobile — or those who aspire to upward mobility.
The Cadenza has been completely overhauled for 2017. The second-generation Cadenza rides on a new platform and boasts an impressive level of technology and creature comfort. It’s a pretty car, rendered by former Audi designer Peter Schreyer in Germanic style, with crisp, clean lines and oversized multi-spoke wheels. Standard LED head and tail lights project a signature “Z” motif.
While the length is unchanged, the overall wheelbase is 10 millimetres longer and 20 mm wider to provide more interior space.
The cabin benefits from a more generous use of luxury materials, from available Nappa leather to premium soft-touch upholstery, wood-grain and metal trim, and the ubiquitous analog clock. Upper trims get quilted seats and genuine stitched leather.
Comfort is synonymous with the trappings of luxury in this segment. Optional 14-way adjustable seats now include electrically extending seat bottoms. Both rows are available with a “smart” heating system that automatically turns down the heat once seats are suitably toasty.
To be perceived as premium, a sedan has to deliver a supple ride. The Cadenza’s re-engineered suspension includes lightweight aluminum steering knuckles and upper and lower arms. The subframe and cross-member bushings have been enlarged and shock absorber damping improved by a new rebound stopper. Steering, too, has been upgraded with a new 32-bit processor controlling the motor-driven power steering.
Just below the shifter, the Drive Mode button offers four settings: Eco, Comfort, Sport and Smart. The Smart setting learns your driving habits, and predicts the throttle and shift response you tend to expect, depending on the situation.
There’s a single powertrain choice: Kia’s familiar 3.3-litre V6 coupled with a new eight-speed automatic transmission. The engine, delivering a respectable if not remarkable 290 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque, has been tweaked for better efficiency and reduced emissions. Fuel efficiency ratings for Canada are 11.5 L/100 km in the city, 8.5 on the highway, and 10.2 combined. We averaged just under 23 mpg — about 10.2 L/100 km — driving U.S.-spec cars over interstate and mountain roads.
Paddle shifters let the driver decide when to downshift, which adds an element of engagement to an otherwise rather un-noteworthy ride. The Cadenza performs its job quietly and efficiently, but doesn’t project a lot of character.
There are three trim levels for Canada: Base, Premium and Limited. Even base models come with a long list of standard features, including hill assist, auto headlamps, heated leather front seats and steering wheel, nine airbags, eight-way power passenger seat, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, and Bluetooth, to name a few.
There’s a comprehensive list of safety and comfort technology moving up through the trim levels. On the Limited, features include blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors on the mid-range Premium, and smart blind-spot monitoring, 360-degree camera monitoring, smart cruise control, lane-departure warning, Nappa leather, head-up display, and wireless smartphone charging.
Our range-topping Limited included “smart” blind-spot detection. It seems natural to assume that it would also provide an active lane-keeping assist, since the technology is already in place, but there’s only a lanedeparture warning.
Another notable feature is the “smart” trunk, which will automatically open after three seconds when a driver holding a smart key stands behind it — very handy for loading packages or luggage.
Overall, the new Cadenza is a nicely refined, attractive sedan with an impressive list of available features. But it’s up against some tough competitors.
The Cadenza should be available this fall, with pricing available closer to release date.