2017 Kia Cadenza Appears in New York
The Korean brand’s midsize luxury sedan gets a redesign for the 2017 model year, and is said to offer more technology, refinement and efficiency.
Despite modest sales in Canada and in the U.S., Kia is rebooting the Cadenza in order to challenge upscale brands such as Buick and Chrysler. The sedan is making its world debut at the New York Auto Show today.
First and foremost, the 2017 Kia Cadenza gets all-new bodywork that was penned in the company’s California studio. Although it retains the brand’s Tiger Nose grille design, the front end including the headlight clusters have been sharpened for a more aggressive look. The car’s roofline sweeps down to reveal a short deck, and overall, the Cadenza boasts a sportier stance.
A structure with more high-strength steel has been used for this second generation, making the car stiffer while reducing noise, vibration and harshness. Wheelbase has increased, although overall, the sedan has the same length as before, but it’s wider and lower. Kia claims improvements in rear-seat legroom and trunk space.
The brand’s 3.3-litre V6 is still on duty, but it has been revised for better fuel economy, and produces an estimated 290 horsepower. A new eight-speed automatic transmission sends that power to the front wheels, and according to Kia, the gearbox was engineered in-house and is lighter than the six-speed automatic that it replaces.
The 2017 Kia Cadenza promises a more luxurious cockpit, with available Nappa leather seating, head-up display, a 360-degree camera system, a smart trunk which opens automatically as we approach with the keyfob in hand, wireless smartphone charging and a 12-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system.
No pricing has yet been announced, but the 2017 Kia Cadenza will go on sale late in 2016.
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