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2017 Kia Cadenza Stands Out in New York

Three years after the Kia Cadenza went on sale in the United States of America and Canada, the South Korean company presented an all-new generation of the Cadenza. The exterior design and interior improvements are neat and all, but the 2017 Kia Cadenza has the biggest ace up its sleeves where we can’t see it.
2017 Kia Cadenza sedan 27 photos
Photo: Kia
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According to Orth Hedrick, the vice president of product planning at Kia Motors America, the “Cadenza truly shines with a stiffer and lighter chassis, eight-speed transmission and vastly improved driving dynamics.” Over half of the platform is made of Advanced High Strength Steel. Moreover, the chassis has been stretched so that legroom in the rear has increased by half an inch.

A 3.3-liter V6 engine lies underneath the hood, churning out an estimated 290 horsepower. Unfortunately no, fuel economy has yet to be determined. Kia is making a big deal about the 2017 Cadenza because it is the first Kia model that combines an 8-speed automatic transmission and a front-wheel-drive platform. The 8-speed auto is lighter than the 6-speed unit despite having two more cogs.

Regarding the exterior, it doesn’t look half bad. But then again, the styling of most South Korean cars is a matter of to each their own. The interior, on the other hand, fits the bill you would expect from a full-size sedan that costs less than $35,000. The additional sound-deadening material is welcomed as well.

Compared to the 2016 model year, the 2017 Kia Cadenza caters to the occupants’ well-being with softer materials, better ergonomics, and more tech. I can’t help but tip my hat to Kia for what it did with this four-door sedan. Then again, are these changes enough to keep the Cadenza relevant in a segment dominated by the Toyota Avalon, Nissan Maxima, and Buick LaCrosse? Have your say in the comments section below.
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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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