'Affordable luxury' gets real with KIA's Cadenza

Kia Motors America is motoring with the idea of affordable luxury. As executed in the 2017 Kia Cadenza Limited sedan, the subject of this week's review, it is more than a good marketing strategy. It is an approach to the U.S. car market that could upset traditional notions of automotive luxury and serve notice to the likes of Infiniti, Lexus and - yes - even BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

This is not hyperbole. This is real, as a week and several hundred miles in the Cadenza, completely redesigned for the new model year, will show.

We are talking in terms of exterior beauty, interior materials and design, structural integrity, and advanced electronic safety and driver assistance technology.

Drive feel and handling are not bad, either. They are not as good as that of a BMW 5-series, a Mercedes-Benz AMG model or an Audi 7. But feel and handling in the Kia Cadenza are very good. And if you've never been behind the steering wheel of a BMW 5-series or an Audi A7, you won't miss or regret never having done so as the driver of a Kia Cadenza.

You won't miss the pricing of those traditional high-end cars, either, and you are likely to regard the Cadenza as something of a real bargain.

Even fully loaded, with nearly all driver assistance and advanced electronic safety options and Kia's highest trim level, the Limited, the Cadenza beats traditional luxury car prices at $45,290, including factory-to-dealer shipment charges.

In 2014, when the Cadenza was introduced, it was an easily ignorable bargain in comparison with traditional luxury competitors. No longer. The 2017 model is substantially improved. Exterior design does more than imitate something traditional. It sets its own standard with a catchy vertical, concave grille. Rear-end LED taillights are attractive. The entire exterior is muscular yet smooth, simple and overall attractive.

The interior, done with quilted Nappa leather seat trim, feels rich. Equipped with reliable, easily controllable seat heater, the Cadenza Limited feels especially comfortable on a subfreezing winter's day. You want to get into the car, press its ignition button and stay there.

Advanced electronic safety is everywhere in this one. Its systems include windshield heads-up display combining information on blind-side monitoring and lane-departure warning; forward-collision mitigation; hill-start assist control, which helps ease any fears of rollback on steep inclines; and rear cross-traffic alert and parking assistance.

I like this car. I like what it offers, and I particularly like that it does not equate luxury with exorbitant expense or value with something poorly made and modestly equipped. The Kia Cadenza is a well-made, well-equipped automobile - period.

It is available in three trim levels - Premium, Technology and Limited. Buy the Technology if you want the best value in a Cadenza. Buy the Limited if you want the Cadenza with most available options. Understand that this car isn't about impressing anyone with notions of "prestige" or racetrack prowess.

All Cadenza models are front-wheel-drive and equipped with a gasoline 3.3-liter, fuel-injected V-6 (290 horsepower, 253 pound-feet of torque). The engine is smooth and responsive. But, no, it won't impress anyone fond of scooting around in an Audi A7. Who cares? Just think of what the A7 costs.

Nuts & Bolts

2017 Kia Cadenza

Bottom line: The Kia Cadenza is automotive luxury with value. The Cadenza Technology probably is the best value in this line. The Cadenza Limited is the safest and most comfortable.

Ride, acceleration and handling: I've been thinking about this category for a while, stung by the criticism that I am a conservative in this area. I am not conservative. I just drive a lot, and I am convinced that the Cadenza Limited will please most drivers who obey traffic laws.

Head-turning quotient: It is a beautifully styled car inside and out.

Body style/layout: The Cadenza is a full-sized, luxury, front-engine, front-wheel-drive sedan, completely restyled for 2017.

Engine/transmission: It comes with a 3.3-liter, 24-valve, fuel-injected V-6 (290-horsepower, 253 foot-pounds of torque) with variable valve timing. The engine is linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission that also can be operated manually via steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

Capacities: Seating is for five people. Cargo capacity is 16 cubic feet. The fuel tank holds 18.5 gallons of gasoline. Regular grade works fine.

Mileage: I averaged 22 miles per gallon combined city-highway with lots of idling in the city due to subfreezing weather and light snow.

Safety: Standard equipment includes ventilated front disc and solid rear disc brakes; four-wheel anti-lock brake protection; emergency braking assistance; stability and traction control; blind side monitoring and lane-departure warning; post-collision and pre-collision safety systems; side and head air bags.

Pricing: The 2017 Kia Cadenza Limited starts at $44,390. Price as tested is $45,290, including $900 factory-to-dealer shipment charge. Check with your Kia dealer. They say you can bargain on this one.