2014 Kia Cadenza: The Future's Past

The 2014 Kia Cadenza is unquestionably a large vehicle, but its length and girth are expertly disguised by the automaker’s styling masterminds.

Simply put, the Cadenza is a very elegant sedan.

I also enjoyed the UVO vehicle interface, a touchscreen that served as my primary point of contact for entertainment and navigation features.

The Cadenza comes across as an excellent road trip car.

There’s only a pair of trim levels for the Cadenza, which means you get near-full-bore luxury even with the entry-level model.

The Cadenza’s dampers swallowed up a sizable portion of Montreal’s horrific road imperfections without upsetting the car.

The car feels big at both city and highway speeds.

Balancing out the Kia Cadenza’s less than dynamic handling characteristics is an engine that surprises with its gutsy and smooth power delivery.

The underrated Cadenza is shifted via a six-speed automatic transmission.

From a materials perspective, plastics and leather live together in soft harmony across the dash, door panels, and center console.