Reasons Why Susan Bought The 2014 Cadenza Over Chevy Impala, Toyota Avalon

It’s always a good idea to do a little due diligence before buying a new car, which is exactly what Susan, the latest in our Kia owner’s series, did before arriving at the 2014 Kia Cadenza.

While she immediately loved the car when taking it for a test drive, Susan also took the time to try out the Chevy Impala, Toyota Avalon and the Ford Fusion Hybrid.

As well as going the test drive route, Susan also looked at reviews and consumer reports to help her make a decision.

The only car that came close to beating out the Cadenza was the 2014 Chevy Impala, but at th end of the day, it was the steering and the way that th car handled that nudged Susan towards the Kia brand.

There was a little bit of nostalgia playing a role in the decision, as Susan was reminded of the Nova from her college days when test driving the Impala.

It wasn’t enough to outdo all of the great aspects of the all-new Kia Cadenza, though, which was why Susan now sits behind the wheel of that particular car.

She now feels as though she is driving a true luxury vehicle, while not feeling as though she had to pay a luxury price to get it.

1. Susan, tell us something about your Kia Cadenza ownership experience so far!

I have been very happy with the smooth ride and handling of the Kia Cadenza. The 293 hp engine allows me to merge onto freeways with no worries, very important given the Autobahn mentality of Atlanta drivers.

I own the base car, and wasn’t tempted to upgrade for the luxury or tech packages — the base version was loaded with all the options I wanted.

2. What do other people say about your car?

I’ve taken people out for lunch in it, and they were impressed with the level of the options on the base model.

Touches like the dual climate controls, the automatic fold-in mirrors, the automatic headlights and rain-sensing wipers, leather seating, the UVO system, and even the analog clock changed their perceptions about Kia cars.

3. How long have you owned your ride?

One month.

4. Honestly, what was your intention when you bought your Kia?

I needed to replace my 1999 Mitsubishi Diamante, which I had owned since new. Although running fine, the model has been discontinued for several years and parts were starting to get hard to find.

With the Diamante, I felt I got a lot of car for the money, and I wanted to feel the same way about my next car. Status is not important to me, but I do like luxury, and I want to be able to feel like with a car for years.

This is only the fourth car I’ve owned over the past 31 years, so longevity is important, and Kia has the longest warranties.

5. What do you like the most about your 2014 Cadenza sedan?

The UVO system with its Bluetooth, voice recognition and navigation capabilities. Controls seem logical compared to some systems in other cars I looked at. And the Infinity stereo is great!

6. What is it that makes your ride look unique?

The Smokey Blue is a color I’ve not seen on other cars. It’s very classy. I also like the car’s silhouette and the tiger nose grille; these definitely make it unique.

7. What accessories have you installed so far / do you have any future plans?

It doesn’t need any extra accessories, so I have no plans.

Picture Gallery Of The 2014 Kia Cadenza

     

Kia Cadenza Specs

Engine:  3.3L V6
Color: Smokey Blue with beige interior
Trim: Premium, no extra packages
Model year: 2014
Tire size: 18-inches
Average mpg: 21 city/28 highway
Miles driven so far: 900