Although it may be difficult to glean with a quick glance, Kia has redesigned its fine-driving, tepid-selling Cadenza for the 2017 model year. The spotter's guide includes a new grille on high-end models that looks like a concave rendition of Buick's waterfall design, with similar vertical blades. The body has a few more curves than before, and the rear side windows now extend beyond the doors. The second-generation version will again compete against other large front-drive sedans, such as the Buick LaCrosse, Chevrolet Impala, and Toyota Avalon.
Styling changes are subtle, but the 2017 Cadenza features an all-new body structure, which Kia says is stronger and lighter than the outgoing model. With more than twice the amount of advanced high-strength steel, stiffness is up by over 35 percent. Greater use of aluminum suspension components also saves weight. Factor a retuned suspension and the promise of more responsive steering, and the car should have better poise out on the road. (With the outgoing model, we found that its ride isolation fell short of the best in class.)
Overall length remains the same, but the new car is slightly wider and lower, and the wheelbase is a bit longer, adding up to about a half-inch more rear-seat leg room.
Kia says the Cadenza's 3.3-liter V6 has been revised and retuned for improved fuel economy, with horsepower estimated at 290 (the current car is rated at 293 hp). Fuel economy estimates will have to wait until closer to the car's launch, set for late this year. But with the lighter body and chassis, plus a new eight-speed automatic transmission (that is lighter than the outgoing six-speed), it's a good bet the Cadenza will achieve better than the 22 mpg overall it managed in our testing. Of note, this is Kia's first-ever eight-speed paired with front-wheel drive.
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The Cadenza's interior has always been a nice place to spend time. Kia has upped the level of materials a bit more, with increased soft-touch bits, real stitching on the dashboard, and the availability of Nappa leather seats with quilted bolsters. The driver's seat has been moved closer to the floor, and the bottom cushion has an extension mechanism that both slides and rotates. The seat heaters have a new system that automatically lowers the heater after a certain period of time.
We praised the original Cadenza for its easy-driving nature, user-friendly controls, competitive value, and strong reliability ratings. One of the few things we panned the car for—the lack of available forward-collision warning—has been remedied with the new one. Automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and "smart" blind-spot detection (if it senses the Cadenza drifting toward an adjacent vehicle, it will brake the opposite side front wheel) will also be available.
With all of these improvements, the 2017 Cadenza looks promising—if cosmetically familiar.
