automotive car motor daily: 2014 Kia Cadenza First Look

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The Hyundai Azera may have won Motor Trend's recent full-size sedan comparison, but Kia will soon have a competitor of its own in the form of the 2014 Cadenza. Helping keep Optima SX Limited buyers in the Kia family, the 2014 Kia Cadenza debuts at the 2013 Detroit auto show and serves as yet another example of how far the brand has come in the U.S. since first offering the original Sephia and Sportage.

The 2014 Kia Cadenza picks up where the Optima SX Limited leaves off, with plenty of premium options including adaptive cruise control, a 550-watt 12-speaker sound system, adaptive HID headlights, a panoramic sunroof, and a power rear sunshade. Other available features include heated front and rear seats, Nappa leather seats, and a 12-way ventilated driver's seat with seat cushion extensions and a memory function. Still don't see a reason to get a 2014 Cadenza over a loaded Optima? The Cadenza is the only U.S.-spec Kia sedan to offer a V-6 engine. Under the hood of the front-drive four-door is a 3.3-liter V-6 producing 293-hp at 6400 rpm and 255 lb-ft of torque at 5200 rpm. With a six-speed automatic, we expect the 2014 Cadenza -- which uses the same engine and transmission as that in the 2013 Azera -- to be EPA-rated around 20/29 mpg city/highway. The 2014 Cadenza rides in 18-inch alloy wheels, but 19-inch wheels are available with the Technology package that also includes the adaptive cruise control (the system can bring the car to a complete stop), an electronic parking brake, lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring systems, and what Kia calls a "water-repellant hydrophobic windshield." Before you go for the Technology package, though, you'll have to select the Premium package, which adds above the standard Cadenza the adaptive HID headlights, a power-retractable sunshade, Nappa leather seats, heated front and rear seats, the panoramic sunroof, a power tilt and telescoping steering column, the 12-way driver's seat, and a 7-inch TFT LCD instrument cluster. We've been watching the Cadenza for quite a while, now, and its relatively conservative styling doesn't come as a surprise. The 2014 Cadenza has LED eyebrows, Kia's new family grille, and a traditional profile with a character line that sweeps upward from the front doors to the taillights. The 2014 Cadenza's taillights remind us a bit of those on the 2013 Toyota Avalon. Inside, an analogue clock hints at the car's semi-premium ambitions, and a centrally mounted 8-inch touch screen is flanked by vertical air vents. To make sure the 2014 Cadenza doesn't embarrass itself on a winding road, the car has a fully independent suspension with a McPherson strut setup in front and a multilink rear design. When the Cadenza goes on sale in the second quarter of 2013, it'll likely carry a base price in the $ 34,000 range. The loaded 2013 Kia Optima SX Limited carries a $ 35,275 base price while the 2013 Hyundai Azera retails for $ 33,145. With a few exclusive features you can't find on any other Kia sedan, the 2014 Cadenza probably has what it takes to sell a few thousand units a year. More importantly, perhaps, the U.S.-spec Cadenza is another vehicle that can help Kia redefine its brand identity. How will it compare to other semi-premium full-sizers like the Hyundai Azera, Ford Taurus, Nissan Maxima, Lincoln MKZ, Lexus ES, Toyota Avalon, and the Buick LaCrosse? We can't wait to find out in a future comparison test.