Review and Test Drive: 2016 Kia K900 Luxury V8
Our Luxury V8 K900 came with a 5.0-liter V8, that developed 420 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque, paired to an eight-speed automatic (the base K900 comes standard with a 3.8-liter V6). It’s a large car and the 15 mpg (15.7 l/100 km) in city driving and 23 (10.2) on the highway matched our expectations.
Once the driver pulls away from the curb, however, it will become apparent why the Kia is value priced. The sedans Kia is aiming at, from Audi, BMW, Lexus, and Mercedes, offer far better performance, handling, fuel economy, and refinement. On the other hand, some buyers will be finely cosseted in the K900, comfortable in the knowledge that they spent their dollars wisely and purchased a vehicle with a list of standard equipment and interior room unmatched by any other similarly priced luxury sedan. Indeed, one could purchase the entry-level K900 for the price difference between the top-of-the-line K900 and a similarly sized and equipped flagship from those other automakers.
Even the V8 won’t blow away any driver, but even on the noisiest of roads, the interior remained library quiet and the suspension made most bumps and ruts disappear. Its heft, however, does become clear behind the wheel, unlike the way the new 7er makes me think “3 Series” at times.
We were much happier with the K900’s electronics this time around. Unlike in our 2014 test drive, there were no false alerts and everything worked as it should. Other drivers complimented the car and asked what it was (given the number of K900s Kia sells, it’s rarer than a Zhiguly.
While Kia has clearly designed its infotainment system after BMW’s iDrive, it’s far less intuitive and the menu structure doesn’t always make sense.
BOTTOM LINE
Despite being an excellent buy, the Kia has struggled in the marketplace. That’s a shame because its posh interior and unquestionably comfortable and quiet ride make for a satisfying experience and its price tag makes for an excellent value.
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