Kia Joins the American Luxury Car Market

The 2014 Cadenza marks Kia Motors Corp.'s first foray into the American luxury car market. The $35,900 car went on sale earlier this month.

The Cadenza shares its platform and drivetrain with the Hyundai Azera sedan. But the car features a unique sporty exterior and interior penned under the leadership of global design chief Peter Schreyer.

The new model rides on a 112-inch wheelbase, giving the car two more inches of rear seat legroom than the Kia Optima sedan. The car weighs nearly 3,700 lbs, or about 450 lbs more than the Optima.

The Cadenza is being offered in the U.S. with a single premium trim level and one powertrain: a 3.3-liter V-6 engine that channels 293 hp and 255 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels through a paddle-shifted six-speed automatic transmission. The engine Kia's most powerful ever incorporates direct injection, variable valve timing and a three-step variable induction system.

The car is equipped with MacPherson struts in front and a multilink independent rear suspension. Kia says the chassis has been tuned for relatively aggressive driving.

Buyers can supplement the standard trim with two optional equipment packages. The technology group adds 19-inch wheels, an electric parking brake, lane departure warning, a water-repellant windshield, blind-spot detection and smart cruise control with the ability to stop the car automatically.

The premium package combines a larger sunroof, HID headlamps with adaptive lighting, a large LCD instrument cluster, Nappa leather-covered seating, heated seats (including a 12-way ventilated driver's seat), heated steering wheel and a power rear window shade.