This era has not been especially kind to sedans, but the Kia Cadenza, the brand’s entrant in the affordable large sedan market, continues to hold its own. For those seeking quiet, comfort, and reliability, the Cadenza is an especially good choice. It doesn’t pretend to be a sports sedan — the Stinger occupies that spot in Kia's lineup — so its engineers can concentrate on tuning it for the needs of the everyday driver.
Consumer Reports gave the Cadenza a high score after its extensive road test, and also gave the Cadenza high rating for “predicted owner satisfaction.” The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the virtually identical 2018 model a Top Safety Pick rating and gave it good ratings for crash protection across the board. For 2019, the Cadenza simply received some very minor changes in equipment in a couple of the trim levels. But for those seeking a smooth ride at an affordable price, the Cadenza didn’t need changes.