The 2015 Kia K900 is the car Kia is riding into the luxury class to find a way to expand the gap from its roots as purely an economy car maker as it heads into the luxury marketplace. Expected to compete with the big boys such as the BMW 7 Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Lexus LS, Audi 8, and Cadillac XTS; the K900 shows up with power under the hood and a host of great features to please any luxury car owner.
As an all new offering the K900 comes in as a very powerful rear-wheel driver (RWD) sedan that offers a very quiet and comfortable ride and a price that just can’t be beat in this class. Equipped with a powerful engine the K900 is a great ride for long road trips, or for a daily commuter that has a good distance to cover. Offering plenty of comfort for all in the vehicle the suspension is highly tuned and readily handles road imperfections with ease. The ride is quiet and easy to enjoy with plenty of great insulation and noise reducing technology in the engine the car offers the occupants the chance to only hear the music of their choice and not the world around them.
If there is one initial problem in the K900 it would have to be the steering. While the suspension is excellent the steering is hardly easy to deal with and even though it is an electric steering system the actual response time between the steering wheel and the road is noticeable and lags quite a bit, keeping this big sedan from handling as well as some of the typically recognizable luxury cars.
Under the hood is the possibility of two different but both very powerful engines. Starting with the 3.8-liter V6 engine which comes in with 311 horsepower and 293 lb.-ft. of torque, this is a highly powerful V6. When paired with the eight-speed automatic transmission the fuel economy comes in at 18 city/27 hwy mpg which is really very good for a big car and a V6 engine. Unfortunately all-wheel drive is not available on the K900 at all, but the engines can be adjusted for road conditions between Normal, Sport, Eco and Snow modes to help with control and correcting power of the vehicle.
Next up is the 5.0-liter V8 engine that offers 420 horsepower and 376 lb.-ft. of torque; massive power from this beast of a motor. When added to the same eight-speed automatic transmission this powertrain offers a fuel mileage of 15 city/23 hwy which is still not too shabby for a V8, but does bring in the decision to choose between massive power or a bit of fuel efficiency.
In the cabin is found a plethora of luxury features such as soft, supple, leather seating, a smooth and easy to love dashboard and steering wheel, and a host of technology to fill the bill for the tech geeks out there. Normally used as a car for executives in Korea, the K900 offers a great deal of leg room and comfort to all passengers and includes a reclining feature for the back seat. Add to this rear climate control functions and many passengers might just be clamoring to ride in the back rather than the front of the vehicle. To finish off the overall look is the wood steering wheel and some well-placed wood accents throughout the cabin to remind the occupants of the opulence in which they have placed themselves.
From the outside the K900 appears to be a Cadenza just stretched out a bit. With a sweeping hood and roof line as well as an easily visible and beautiful rising belt line the car offers great looks from every angle. Elegance is evident in this new Kia with the LED lights all around and 19-inch wheels that are heavily spoked add a bit of sophisticated menace to the vehicle making it stand out from the competition. One really interesting features is the addition of side mirrors that automatically fold inward to help prevent them from being knocked ,but also adds that last bit of interest to the car for anyone looking for a unique feature.
Because many Kia vehicles have come packed with features, they couldn’t very well ignore their luxury flagship and dial it down. Instead this great luxury car offers standard features including the Lexicon audio system, a 9.2-inch information screen, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, leather upholstery, a power trunk lid, a blind spot monitoring system, front and rear cameras, rear cross traffic alerts, lane departure warning, and three years of scheduled maintenance. Having the maintenance included will help add a longer life to the K900 and offer a greater resale value when it’s time to trade in for a new K900.
Even though the car is packed to the gills with features even as a standard model, there are some optional features available. The VIP package offers radar-based cruise control, a 12.3-inch LCD instrument panel, a heads up display, power reclining rear seats, power assisted door closing, and a surround view camera system. Other options include ventilated rear seats and a heated steering wheel; with all these options the car is really packed in with great amenities.
The V8 model of the K900 brings a price tag that starts just above $60,000 and the V6 model is several thousand less, but this certainly make the K900 the most expensive Kia vehicle on the market. Offering a fully loaded model that only tops out around $66,000 means the K900 doesn’t have a huge price range, which is a breath of fresh air since the base model is loaded with features to begin with.
Even though Kia is just getting started in the luxury segment, their first offering the 2015 K900 is nothing to sneeze at. With a bevy of great features and options that are befitting executives this is actually a very reasonably priced luxury vehicle.
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