2020 Kia Cadenza

Pros: Roomy and comfortable cabin; pleasant ride; refined drivetrain; generous level of features for the money

Cons: Uninspired handling; trunk space not outstanding for a large sedan; no stand-alone options available

CG Says: The 2020 Kia Cadenza has refreshed styling and gains standard safety features. Standard safety features now include autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian/cyclist detection, lane-following assist, safe exit assist, speed-limit assist, adaptive cruise control with curve control, and a “smart’ blind-spot detection system that can sense unintentional drifting toward an adjacent vehicle and automatically apply braking to the opposite-side front wheel to maintain the Cadenza’s intended course. The base Premium model has been dropped. Redesigned for 2017, Cadenza is a large sedan offered in Technology and Limited trims. All Cadenzas are front-wheel drive; the sole powertrain is a 290-horsepower 3.3-liter V6 engine mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission.  A hands-free smart-opening trunk, head-up display, surround-view monitor, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto functionality, and wireless smartphone charger are available features. The Cadenza is a pleasant-enough large sedan that offers a number of selling points, such as competitive pricing; a spacious, nicely trimmed cabin; well-rounded everyday performance; and some interesting styling flourishes. However, the Cadenza doesn’t break any new ground in terms of safety, comfort, or technology features. We also wish that Kia offered stand-alone options that would make it easier to tailor a Cadenza to your individual tastes. Still, this is a big, comfortable sedan that will satisfy many buyers.