Kia continues making inroads with value-priced offerings backed by a peace-of-mind 10-year/100,000 powertrain warranty. Now, the South Korean automaker looks to travel significantly upscale with an all-new flagship beauty designed to elevate the entire brand.
During the outgoing 2014 model year, Kia debuted the aspirational, V-6 powered Cadenza sedan. Falling somewhere between midsize mainstream and full-scale opulence, this 'luxury light' vehicle provided a move-up opportunity for Kia buyers.
While Cadenza serves as a logical progression, the all-new for 2015 Kia K900 pumps up the "wow' factor. Nothing this roomy or potent has ever graced a Kia showroom floor up until now with a length stretching almost 17 feet. The sleek four-door comes well equipped with a limited number of options helping speed along the decision-making process at the dealership. The standard rear-wheel-drive ride tilts toward subtle and controlled, with minimal road feedback.
Kia, entering the U.S. market in 1994 with small fuel efficient vehicles, now boasts a full-size V-8 platform eyeing large sedans from German-luxury icons BMW and Mercedes-Benz. In an interesting juxtaposition, Germany's top luxury automakers have entered into a 'downsizing' phase of late by introducing new generations of smaller-sized vehicles while Kia and parent company Hyundai upsized to full-sized sedans with a luxury bent.
While K900 may share visual similarities with a BMW 7-Series, high-end shoppers from German nameplates are not the target audience. Rather, move up buyers from Kia's own clientele along with potential buyers from main stream automakers seeking a value-driven luxury product with a bottom line well under aforementioned, sometimes over-engineered German luxury products make up the potential buying audience.
Kia's K900 shares many underpinnings, engine design, transmission technology and pricing structure with the full-size Hyundai Equus, introduced in the 2011 model year. Hyundai and Kia have enjoyed a symbiotic relationship since 1998 when Hyundai, South Korea's largest conglomerate, purchased a 49.2 percent stake in its smaller then struggling competitor. Both share engineering and research data, but act as separate companies in the U.S. as far as marketing, sales and distribution are concerned. Economics of scale benefit both entities.
Two different K900 powertrains are available; a 5.0-liter direct-injection V-8 engine delivers 420 horsepower and remains the sole engine until later in the 2015 model year when a 3.8-liter, 311 horsepower V-6 joins the mix. Fuel economy in our V-8 tester clocks in at 15 miles per gallon city and 23 mpg highway; average at best in this segment. The large fuel tank accommodates 19.8 gallons of regular, 87-octane fuel. A new enticement for K900 buyers is three years of free scheduled maintenance at participating Kia dealerships.
Base price of our tester started at $59,500. With a $6,000 VIP option package factored in, the bottom line ended at $66,400 with $900 destination charge. Included in the VIP package: heads-up front windshield display, power reclining rear seats with outboard positions ventilated, advanced cruise control, upgraded LCD instrument cluster and driver's seat cushion extension. Aside from the VIP package option, about the only remaining V-8 factory option is $55 wheel locks.
A 2015 BMW 7 Series with V-8 engine (the 750) starts in the low 90s with turbo-charged technology (445 horsepower) and available all-wheel drive.
The K900's back window includes a power shade, retracting up and down via a push button located near the floor-mounted 8-speed automatic transmission shifter. Side rear windows include manual retracing versions. Front riders control power bucket seat positions from side door buttons framing the shape of the human torso. These Nappa leather seats feature multi-staged heating and ventilation.
The animated instrument panel fades to black when the engine goes to bed for the evening. In waking hours, two different layouts become available depending on the drive mode selected. Choose normal or eco modes, and two large circular, analog-type white gauges (against a black backdrop) flank a digital message middle with options controlled via steering wheel controls. Information includes tire pressure, audio listings, and heads-up display options. Choose 'sport,' and the analog circles morph into large digital readouts of miles per hour and tachometer specs.
The standard, illuminated push start-stop button smartly includes an 'off' notation, reminding drivers when the quite-idling vehicle is actually done with the drive. Nighttime red backlighting glows along doors, steering wheel and dashboard.
When entering and exiting the vehicle, the steering column and wheel electronically motor up/down and inward/outward, opening up additional room to make moves.
Square buttons activating the heads up display projected onto the front windshield, along with blind-spot monitoring and parking sensors are on the dashboard left of the steering column. If a green light illuminates, systems remain active. Below resides buttons releasing the fuel tank door and power operating trunk lid
A traditional, straight across dashboard greets travelers with an old-school, centrally-located analog clock setting the tone. Two rows of buttons monitor ventilation functions flanked by horizontally arranged temperature toggle-type buttons for monitoring dual climate areas. The heated, three-spoke steering wheel adds faux wood trimming on top.
Radar-enhanced 'Active' cruise control slows the car down automatically, than returns to the pre-programmed speed depending on highway driving conditions. It's as easy to program as traditional cruise controls and a nice upgrade on long stretches of open highway. If need be, the system brings K900 to a complete halt if traveling congested expressways throughout Chicagoland.
The large, graphically-appealing 12.3-inch center screen is not designed for touch-type instructs, favoring commands from driver's right hand through a maze of push buttons and circular push-sensitive dial found between very comfy front buckets. Give yourself time to master navigation, hands-free phone commands and station pre-set tutorials.
The eight-speed automatic electronic transmission shifter snuggles like an arcade joy stick in the driver's right palm with 'park' summoned by a push of the post's top portion. When desiring 'reverse,' tilt the transmission stick forward, "drive" backwards.
Thanks to full-size dimensions, three adult riders fit nicely in row two. Keep in mind back seats include an optional (only in V-8 editions) reclining 60/40 pattern for added comfort. While seat backs do not fold down, a pass through window allows access to the trunk when transporting long items.
Dual exhausts come standard with the V-8 engine as do attractive 19-inch multi-chrome wheels. The front grille design remains more oval-like than what's found on the Kia Optima, whose layout resembles a bow-tie frame. To the sides and pulling deeply into fenders is an elegant head light layout. Four square packs of adaptive LED lamps (two on each side) each contain four bulbs for a total of 16. Daytime running lamps get mounted in lower casings along with fog lamps.
Side-view mirrors, which fold in when the K900 locks down, include large, 'C" shaped secondary blinkers. The exterior design borrows elegant, yet conservative design cues from previous-generation full-size BMW 7-Series and Jaguar sedans. Narrow side windows framed in chrome add to a high side belt line. The large, square back window joins with the small deck lid. Closing the power trunk lid is made easy via a button adjacent to the inside latch.
While new to U.S. roads, K900 has been available in South Korea since 2012, providing the automaker time to smooth out any perceived introductory glitches.
At A Glance 2015 Kia K900
Price as tested: $66,400
Wheelbase: 119.0 inches
Length: 200.6 inches
Width: 74.8 inches
Height: 58.7 inches
Engine: 5.0-liter V-8
Horsepower: 420
Curb weight: 4,555 pounds
Powertrain Warranty: Ten years/100,000 miles
Assembly: South Korea
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