Kia Cadenza

– Detroit, Michigan

I’m sure I drove the previous-generation Kia Cadenza, but I cannot for the life of me remember it. I’m sure it was fine, in the same way that a Chevy Impala or Toyota Avalon are forgettably satisfactory. But it hardly stood out. Actually, Kia only sold about 28,000 of them since 2013. Turns out the general public barely noticed it, too.

The 2017 Cadenza has a much better shot at success, right off the bat. Every time I walk away from this car, I look back for a second glance. I rave about it to friends and coworkers. I really like it, and find myself more excited about this fullsize cruiser than any one of its competitors. This time around, the Kia Cadenza is definitely worth your attention.

Pros

• This is a seriously pretty car. The old Cadenza didn’t do much for me; it looked like a seven-eighths scale Kia K900, which... also didn’t do much for me. The new sedan wears clean, taut lines, with lots of sharp angles and dramatic elements. The 19-inch dark-finish wheels look great, and I love the lightning bolt signature of the LED turn signals (also the running lamps) up front. I’ll go so far to say this is one of the best-looking cars to come from Kia, and it even usurps the larger Genesis G90 in terms of Korean elegance.
• The interior both looks and feels incredibly premium, especially considering this Limited model should only cost around $45,000. The white leather has quilted bolsters, every bit of trim is very high quality, and the cabin comes togethe...