2019 Kia Cadenza Road Test and Review

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.

While some performance-oriented vehicle reviewers might yearn for more sportiness from the Cadenza’s acceleration and handling, the vehicle’s behavior is right in line with what most large-sedan buyers want — quiet and comfort. No, the Cadenza doesn’t have the direct steering nor sharp cornering of a more expensive German sports sedan. Still, the vast majority of crossover buyers will find it perfectly acceptable. The 290-horsepower 3.3-liter V6 engine delivers more-than-adequate acceleration and smoothness that match up well with its buyers’ needs.

While the five-passenger Cadenza might not be the best choice for winding mountain roads, if you want to make hundreds of Interstate miles disappear in the rearview mirror, you will appreciate the car’s multi-adjustable seats and comfortable driving position. Flip on the audio system and relax your way to the next state and beyond.

The Cadenza’s interior makes excellent use of the space it provides, and it is decidedly upscale, reflecting an Audi influence. The clear and communicative instrument cluster is an obvious example of reaching into the Audi kit bag. The Cadenza’s interior space features a wraparound dashboard that flows into the door panels and features real stitching. The door panels are adorned with high-quality soft-touch materials, while hints of soft leather envelope the Cadenza’s cabin space. Nappa leather trim is available with quilted seat bolsters, accented by diamond-shaped stitching.

The driver’s seat sits low for a sportier feeling, while Kia engineers developed an innovative cushion extension mechanism that slides and rotates, making it easier for drivers to find their comfort zone. The heating elements used for the seat warmers evenly distribute their warmth, and the seat heaters now utilize a smart control system to automatically lower the heater operating mode after a certain period of time.  

The use of an infotainment interface common to most Kia models gives the Cadenza easy-to-understand and easy-to-use controls. Clarity and restraint are themes throughout the vehicle, and they are particularly obvious in its infotainment system.

The base-level Premium trim Cadenza is equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen color display with terrestrial and satellite radio, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, and UVO eServices telematics. The Technology and Limited trims feature an 8-inch touchscreen color display that also adds integrated navigation and HD radio. An eight-speaker audio system is standard in the Premium model while a Harman Kardon audio system featuring 630 watts and 12 speakers with surround sound and a subwoofer is standard in the Technology and Limited models.

The Kia Cadenza offers a clean, refined exterior look, including its own version of Kia’s signature “face.” In overall size the Cadenza, is right in the middle of the large-car class at 195 inches long, just an inch shorter than the 2019 Toyota Avalon. The 2019 version is very similar to the 2017 model, which introduced the Cadenza's second generation.

Projector beam headlights are standard across the range, and LED bi-function projection headlights are standard on the Technology and Limited trims. The two uplevel trims also have LED front fog lights. On the Premium model, 18-inch alloy wheels are standard, while two different styles of 19-inch wheels are standard on the Technology and Limited models. If you want a panoramic sunroof accompanied by a revised front grille treatment, the Technology and Limited trims provide them.

The Cadenza is designed to cater to those who seek luxury but don’t want to pay the premium for a luxury brand. In an effort to maintain affordability and be true to its mission, the Cadenza has just one powertrain. The engine has a displacement of 3.3 liters and delivers 290 peak horsepower.

The V6 engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, which is also installed in the Kia Sorento mid-size SUV. Smoother than the previous six-speed automatic, the new trans does an excellent job of isolating passengers from shift shock. As with most things in the Cadenza, gear changes are not abrupt or obtrusive; they simply happen in the background. The Smart Shift & Drive feature automatically activates the optimum of three drive modes, requiring no driver decision-making whatsoever.

We expect that you will find the Cadenza to be a convenient size — neither too big nor too small. Its interior is quite accommodating with 107.8 square feet of passenger space. A 10-way power adjustable driver's seat with two-way power lumbar support is standard on Premium and Technology trims, while a 14-way power adjustable driver's seat with four-way power lumbar support and seat extension is standard on the Limited. Heated front seats are standard across the board, ventilated front seats are standard in the Technology and Limited trims, and heated rear outboard seats are standard on the Limited.

The Cadenza also offers a big trunk — 16.0 cubic feet — but the rear seatback is fixed, though there is a pass-through to accommodate long, skinny items. As a luxuriously equipped sedan with front-wheel drive, the Cadenza isn’t much of a tow vehicle. With its eight-speed automatic transmission, the Cadenza has EPA fuel economy ratings of 20 mpg in the city, 27 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined.

All Cadenza models are equipped with an amazingly lengthy and comprehensive array of active safety features. The list includes electronic stability control, traction control, hill-start assist control, and antilock brakes. But that is only the tip of the iceberg. The suite of driver-assistance systems includes a rear cross-traffic collision alert, parking distance warning, rearview camera with dynamic guidelines, lane-change assist, and high beam assist.

In Technology and Limited trims, the Cadenza is also fitted with smart cruise control with full stop and go capabilities, a forward-collision warning system and forward-collision avoidance assistance, blind-spot collision avoidance assist, and lane-keeping assist. For the those who find parking in tight quarters challenging, the Limited trim features an around-view monitor. The Limited’s head-up display also helps you keep your attention on the road ahead. All Cadenzas include a variety of airbags, seatbelts, and crumple zones that offer additional safety.

As you probably have grasped by now, the 2019 Kia Cadenza is available in three trim levels — Premium, Technology, and Limited. Befitting its luxury mission, the base Premium version isn’t very base. Its standard features include alloy wheels, an eight-speaker AM/FM/MP3 audio system with a 7-inch display, and front and rear seat power outlets.

The top-of-the-line Limited turns the Cadenza into a fully equipped luxury sedan without the luxury badge. Its vast list of standard items includes a 12-speaker Harman Kardon infotainment system with an 8-inch display, dual-zone climate control, Nappa leather seat trim, and a 14-way adjustable driver’s seat. The Technology trim is somewhere in the middle, but it tends to lean more toward luxury than austerity. In many competitive models, the items in the Technology trim would be reserved for the top-of-the-line model.

For a model that has just a single engine and drivetrain, the Cadenza spans a broad price range. The price-leading Premium trim level has an MSRP of $32,900, while the all-in top-of-the-line Limited has an MSRP of $43,900. That is a fairly wide spread, but the Limited does offer a lot of extra stuff for its $11,000 premium over the base model. The Technology trim level splits the difference quite nicely with an MSRP of $37,990. (All models face a $900 destination charge.)

The 2019 Kia Cadenza isn’t the newest large car on the market, but in an era in which big sedans are disappearing at a rapid rate, it offers a big dose of new technology and safety in an extremely comfortable package. Its fit and finish are impressive, and it has one of the longest warranties in the car business. All those virtues are things large-car buyers seem to appreciate.