By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(January 8, 2018) I was listening to a friend describe the troubles he’s had with his Lincoln Continental, from a number of annoying electrical glitches to a driver’s seat bolster that came loose, and much more. He loves the way the car looks and feels, the fact that it tries to recapture some of the sophistication of previous generations that carried the name, and the way the dealer has treated him.

However, the fact that said dealer offered to buy the car back (my friend is still considering taking that path), makes him wonder if the Continental is worth keeping. When he mentioned that he was torn between keeping the car for the remainder of the lease and getting a new (and, hopefully, better built) one, I looked him in the eye and said: “Have you considered the Kia Cadenza?”

Like most people hearing the name for the first time, he thought I said “credenza” and wondered what his current travails had to do with a Korean cupboard. But I explained the Cadenza was a front-drive near-luxury sedan built by Kia that he might find worth the look.

The term “near-luxury” caused him to pause, but I explained that the Cadenza Limited I was testing that week had a handsome two-tone interior with quilted diamond-patter bolsters, suede headliner, leather covered instrument panel and door cards, and exemplary build quality. Sure, it was direct competition for cars like the Buick LaCrosse or even the Toyota Avalon, but those cars don’t have the same upscale feel as the Kia. It may not be a Lincoln, but — given his troubles — they aren’t what they used to be either.

The Cadenza easily can accommodate those six feet tall and over both front and rear, and has a 16 ft.3 trunk. Kia engineers elevated body rigidity over ultimate cargo capacity, opting for a rigid rear seat back and cross-car bracing over a folding seat back and increased cargo area. Unless you’re taking a long cross-country trip or heading off to the airport with family, friends and luggage, you’ll probably not miss the extra capacity. Then again, you’ll also probably never feel the increased rigidity.

One reason for that is because you’ll never mistake the Cadenza for a sports car, despite the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters for the eight-speed automatic transmission. Kia doubled the power of the processor controlling the electric power steering, which gives the Cadenza much better on-center feel as well as a more natural boost level and response when turning.

Understeer is nonetheless part of the Cadenza’s repertoire, but not the grinding variety. Plus, the ride is surprisingly comfortable, especially considering that the Limited model tested wore P245/40R-19 Michelin tires on Dark Satin alloy wheels. Much of that is due to the use of amplitude-selective dampers that contain an extra valve and hydraulic rebound stopper to match the damping curve to the road surface, and smooth out rough surfaces.

Mileage is a respectable 20 city/28 highway/23 combined, with it possible to exceed those numbers with a steady foot on the throttle. The drag coefficient is a very respectable 0.28, helped by the use of a full underpan cover that, along with acoustic laminate in the windshield and front windows, also reduces cabin noise. There’s 290 horsepower and 253 lb.-ft. of torque on tap from a 3.3-liter V6, but the power is muted by the eight-speed automatic’s unwillingness to shift quickly up or down, showing the hesitation and indecisiveness that often comes with a fuel economy friendly powertrain tune.

Though the sub-seven second 0-60 mph time is quick, the Cadenza’s powertrain isn’t always the most willing partner. Nevertheless, the paddle shifters can be used to drop down a gear or two when the powertrain controller isn’t willing, and to pop back up when the need for snappier acceleration is complete.

My friend was intrigued by the level of equipment and attention to detail, but — being a cautious and loyal guy — leaned toward sticking with the Lincoln. Part of that undoubtedly was a result of a clientele that either wouldn’t know what a Kia was, or would look down on it. After all, this is a Korean brand that sells economy cars alongside the Cadenza and the range-topping K900 luxury sedan.

But the thought of a well-trimmed large sedan with a killer diamond-stitched interior, head-up display, Harman Kardon premium audio system, proximity lighting and hands-free trunk actuation for just over $45,000 did intrigue him, and opened his eyes to other possibilities. And that’s a start.

The Virtual Driver