Kia’s Cadenza brings the flair

Large sedan use to dominate America’s highways, the large boat like cars that you could fit 6 kids in the back seat. Gone are those days. American’s have gravitated towards the SUV and the small compact economical cars. Kia is changing that, they have brought style and class to the table with the Kia Cadenza.

With the Cadenza now in its second generation, 2017 brings a completely redesigned model. We first got to see the new Cadenza at the 2016 New York Auto Show. The Cadenza fills the gap in Kia’s line-up between the mid-sized Optima and the K900 luxury sedan. It features attractive and distinctive styling and lots of premium features and finishes for the money.

Large sedans still comprised 7.3% of the total light vehicle market ten years ago in 2006, selling over 1.2 million units. However, industry forecaster AutoPacific estimates that large sedans will make up a scant 2.3% of the light vehicle market this year, with just over 400,000 units moving off new car dealer lots. In five years, AutoPacific forecasts that large sedans will represent just 1.7% of the light vehicle market, with just over 280,000 units expected to find homes in 2021.

The Cadenza feels a cut above its competition due to its aforementioned material choices and impressive feature content. A full-color heads-up display, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a power rear sunshade, a panorama sunroof, and a 360-degree parking camera are all available.

Despite the segment’s continuing decline, large sedans will continue to have a presence in the U.S. market for the foreseeable future.

Check out the Kia Cadenza here and contact us to test drive yours today!

The 2017 Kia Niro Preview

The 2017 Kia Niro is the first dedicated hybrid model from the Korean carmaker.

Unlike the Toyota Prius or the 2017 Hyundai Ioniq from its sister company, the Niro takes the form of a crossover utility vehicle, rather than a hatchback. That makes the Niro—which debuted in February at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show—the first of its kind among dedicated hybrids.

Kia itself calls the Niro a "hybrid utility vehicle," and hopes this will distinguish the model from competitors' hybrids. Yet while the Niro is certainly more crossover like than other dedicated hybrids, it isn't quite a genuine utility vehicle either. It's styled more like a tall wagon, with a fairly sleek roofline, and a ride height midway between a sedan and an all-wheel-drive utility vehicle.

It will launch with front-wheel drive, and Kia has suggested it has no plans to add a second set of driven wheels. That's despite the electric all-wheel drive system it showed on the Soul-based Trail'ster concept at the 2015 Chicago show., which added a second electric motor to the rear axle to supplement the hybrid powertrain driving the front wheels.

 

The 2017 Niro is propelled by a 103-horsepower, direct-injection 4-cylinder engine running on the ultra-efficient Atkinson cycle, along with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. Sandwiched between the engine and transmission, a 32-kilowatt (43-hp) electric motor helps assist the gasoline engine, and can propel the Niro on its own under certain conditions.

 
           In addition to the standard hybrid model, Kia plans to launch a Niro plug-in hybrid a year or so into the model's product cycle. The standard Niro hybrid will go on sale late in 2016, with more detailed specifications available closer to that time.



Check out our other great Kia vehicles here and contact us to take your home today!