KIA K7 / Cadenza Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Kia unveiled its new K7 at the 2015 New York Motor show in 2015 as a 2017 model-year. It was a large sedan, with a V6 engine under the hood and it was screaming for attention.

Kia was known for building cheap and reliable cars. Only the idea that the Korean brand could produce a luxury vehicle was considered a joke. But the Asian car-manufacturer didn't care about the jokes and marched its way toward the top of the sales and squeezed its cars between other car-makers. The main pillars of its evolution were design and reliability. The performances didn't matter too much. But the Cadenza came and changed perceptions.

With aggressive styling and Peter Schreyer panel, the second generation of the Cadenza appeared with narrow headlights and the “tiger-nose” grille design. The ascending beltline completed the sporty image of the car that could claim a spot in the sports sedan market. The 18” light-alloy wheels were standard-fit, while a set of 19” was offered as an option.

Inside, the technology was at the same level as other car manufacturers. It included an infotainment unit that was compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The interior room was high and it offered high-quality materials. The instrument cluster featured a mix of analog dials and LCD display.

Under the hood, the Cadenza featured a 3.3-liter V6 engine mated to an in-house developed 8-speed automatic transmission.

Over the years, Kia made great efforts to approach a premium brand status, and the full size sedan, the Cadenza, was one of their best moves.

The modern styling of the Cadenza was designed to hold up for a longer period of time and nevertheless, it looked attractive and sophisticated.

If you wondered where the nameplate of Cadenza came from, a “cadenza” is the portion of a song where a solo takes place, so probably Kia considered it a great representation.

The interior of the new Cadenza was luxurious, with most of the features being driver oriented.

The luxury feeling was given by the greatly insulated cabin, the soft touch materials and the wood accents.

And since luxury cannot come without comfort, the Cadenza offered premium features such as heated leather seats, a rear-view camera, a 12-speaker surround audio system, power folding mirrors, ventilated seats and a panoramic sunroof.

Safety was not left aside, with a smart cruise control system, blind spot detection and lane departure warning.

While a full size sedan, both legroom and headroom were a little insufficient for the rear passengers compared to other cars in the segment.

The trunk had a good size, being able to carry a decent load.

Most of the mechanicals were shared with the Honda Azera and driving the Cadenza felt engaging and comfortable.

The Cadenza ran on a 3.3-liter V6 engine that was mated with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The powerplant developed 293 hp and rocketed the vehicle to 100 kph in around 7 seconds.

The Cadenza offered great comfort on long distances while still offering a good fuel consumption for the class.

The starting price varied between $35,900 and $41,900, depending on the trim level.