2020 Kia Cadenza

Kia has been building some stunning SUVs these last few years, but its sedans have failed to capture the attention of American buyers. Apart from the stylish Stinger, nearly all Kia sedans are easily forgettable, as is the case for the Kia Cadenza. This is particularly troubling, as it competes with some big names like the Toyota Avalon, Buick Lacrosse, and Chevrolet Impala.

The 2020 model wades back into the large sedan war sporting a wide variety of upgrades to the exterior and interior. The 3.3-liter naturally-aspirated 290 horsepower V6 remains, sending power exclusively to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The previously entry-level Premium has been dropped from the lineup. The new base-model Technology has an MSRP of $37,850, while the top-spec Limited retails for $43,550. These prices exclude Kia's destination charge of $1,035. In comparison, the Toyota Avalon range starts at $35,975 and goes up to $42,975 for the TRD.

The 3.3-liter V6 sending the power to the front wheels tells you everything you need to know about this car. It was never going to be sporty, even though it has the obligatory "Sport" driving mode - most likely for marketing purposes.

Thankfully, the default setting is Comfort, which is something the Cadenza is excellent at. The steering is light and devoid of feedback, the cabin is well-insulated, and the suspension is mushy. As a result, it rolls through the corners like a drunk college student on a skateboard. It's too much for our liking, but we appreciate people out there who value comfort above all else. These are the people the Cadenza is aimed at.

The ride is sublime, as the Kia simply irons out the road ahead. Couple that with the cocooned interior, and you have a car that isolates you from the rest of the world. Braking is easy thanks to a progressive pedal feel. The Cadenza might not be the sprinter in this segment, but we appreciate its unashamed comfort-biased setup.

There are a few limiting factors to consider. All of its rivals offer the option of AWD. The Cadenza also has a lackluster engine that delivers average fuel economy, and hardly any driver involvement whatsoever. On the practical side, the rear seats don't fold at all.

However, it has plenty of advantages. The Cadenza is more handsome than ever, and the interior feels way more upmarket than the price suggests. It comes with a lot of kit as standard, and it's hard not to be impressed by the safety features. Safety should always be a top priority in any segment, and we're always impressed when a manufacturer throws all of the available tech in as standard.

The starting price is up from around $33,000 to just under $38,000. It's a significant increase, but the revamped Cadenza does have a lot more to offer.

There's a $5,700 price gap between the two models. We'd say the base model is more than good enough, as it comes with all the features you'd need. The all-new 12.3-inch touchscreen is standard on both models, as are all the safety features. Still, when you take all of the Limited's additional features into account, $5,700 is a small price to pay. Adding all of those extra features to a German car can quickly escalate the price by as much as $10,000.

If you can't stretch the budget, the base car is excellent, but we'd be happy to pay the extra charge for the Limited considering how much you get.

Kia's revamped Cadenza is an excellent-looking car but parked next to the Toyota Avalon, it looks a bit meh. There's a lot of Lexus in the design. If you swapped the Toyota badge for a Lexus one, nobody would notice.

The Avalon also has more engine options to choose from, and the availability of AWD makes it more suitable for cold-weather states. When we compare V6 engines, the Avalon also comes out on top, by 20 hp, and it's more frugal to boot. The Avalon is also more comfortable and has an extended warranty.

Kia's latest host of upgrades makes it more competitive, however. The full range of driver assistance features easily bests Toyota. We reckon this battle is so close that only a test drive could settle the matter. If it were our money, we'd spend it at Toyota.

Since the Kia's other big rival, the Buick Lacrosse, is no longer with us, we need to look inhouse for a competitor. If you're looking for a more engaging car, the Stinger might be the answer. You can get a mid-spec Stinger with a twin-turbo V6 for more-or-less the same price as a Limited Cadenza. Bolting two turbos to the V6 engine pushes the power output up to 365 hp, good for a 0 to 60 mph sprint in a claimed 4.7 seconds.

To get these performance figures, you do need to make some sacrifices. The Stinger has a smaller interior and trunk. And while it is handsomely equipped, it can't match the Cadenza's standard features list.

While there is some overlap in pricing, these two cars are aimed at entirely different buyers. If you want comfort above all else, the Cadenza is the way to go. For a more engaging experience, opt for a Stinger.