Kia fans get ready to welcome the brands latest offering, the 2015 Kia K900.
An all new full-size luxury sedan from Kia, competition includes the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series and the Lexus LS 460, all comparable, all pricier.
Even if Kia has not established its luxury moniker yet, it will still turn heads with its impressive lineup of features that are equal to the opposition and then some.
Of all the Kia sedans, note that this is the largest one to be introduced and in size it can go head-to-head with the European brands that have held the market for years. The features are longer than a child’s Christmas list to Santa as well, indeed, there is hardly anything missing in the Kia K900 offering.
With the capacity to hold five passengers you get engine choices and, with those choices, is where the difference in trim levels can be found.
The standards on the V6 2015 Kia K900 will include 18-inch alloy wheels, adaptive xenon headlights, LED fog lights, power-folding and auto-dimming mirrors, power trunk lid, automatic wipers, keyless ignition and entry and front and rear parking sensors.
The interior is just as easy to love with full-on power accessories, climate and cruise control, power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, leather upholstery, eight-way power front seats with driver memory, heated and cooled front seats as well as heated rear seats and a pass through in the rear seats for items too long to fit in the trunk.
There is also a power rear sunshade and the Uvo voice command system from Kia that offer techno goodies like front and rear camera, the Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, 9.2-inch screen with navigation and a high-end Lexicon surround-sound audio system with all the necessary audio additions.
On the V8 model the wheels are 19 inches with LED headlights, panoramic sunroof, blind-spot monitoring system and a rear cross-traffic alert system as well as a heated steering wheel and a unique gear design with higher end leather upholstery. You can also opt for a few of these options as add-ons for the V6 trim too.
The additional upgrade package is the VIP package for the V8 trim and that will give you a 12-way power-adjustable driver seat, a power front headrest, ventilated and reclining rear seats that have lumbar support and a 360-degree parking camera system as well as a frontal and pre-collision warning system.
Under the hood, the 2015 Kia K900’s V8 engine is a 5.0-liter with 420 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque with rear wheels and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The V6, which will be introduced later than the V8, will have a 3.8-liter engine offering 311 horsepower with 293 pound feet of torque.
The expected safety features on this Kia include antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, front and rear seat side and full-length side curtain airbags, front and rearview cameras, the Kia Uvo eServices emergency assist and the V8 has the additional safety features that can also be opted for on the V6 for an extra cost.
The VIP package offers even more in the way of safety since it also includes the 360-degree top-down camera system and the frontal collision warning that keeps the seatbelts tightly in place and works the brakes for ultimate stopping capability in the wake of a collision. Inside the 2015 Kia K900, the interior is classy and the design well done in keeping with the competition. This new sedan also offers a large multifunction display screen in the middle console and for the VIP package there are even more extra comfy points with the soft-close doors and reclining rear seats.
While the knobs and buttons might take some getting used to, overall it’s easy enough to figure out even with a bit of a downgrade in the wood used for the trim as compared to the competition. Cargo space fairs well though and is well proportioned at 15.9 cubic feet.
The ride and handling are comfortable on the K900 and it’s easy for a road trip with nary a sound of road noise even at high speeds. However, even with all the perks, a hardcore luxury European car driver might still be hard pressed to change loyalties … yet, but it certainly does not hurt to give it a try.
Should You Need to Know: Take note that the Kia K900 has an impressive warranty coverage package. However, one downside is that the K900 is not offered in all wheel drive - for some this might be a downside that can’t be overlooked. Miles Per Gallon: On the 2015 Kia K900 I drove, this came in at 15 mpg miles per in the city and 23 on the highway. Cost: The cost for the 2015 Kia K900 I drove was $66,400.
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