The luxury car, long the sign of the rich and well-heeled, is slowly being eroded down to mere mortal status, thanks much in part to Kia. They are now taking aim at BMW and Audi with the 2015 Kia K900, a V8 powered RWD sedan with more features than you can shake a stick shift at, while being priced substantially less than anything else on the market today.
The K900 comes with a 5.0L V8 engine, good for 420 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque. Power goes to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Unfortunately, AWD is not an option, but a smaller V6 should be offered later in the year. Kia claims an 18 mpg combined fuel rating, but my week of mostly city driving yielded only 11.1 mpg…and I wasn’t even drag racing anybody.
| STATS | Starting Retail Price | As Tested Price | HP / Lb-Ft |
| 2015 Kia K900 | $59,500 | $66,400 | 420/376 |
| EPA Rating MPG | As Tested MPG | ||
| Rating: LEASE IT! | 15/23 Combined 18 | Combined 11.1 |
Behind the wheel, the Kia K900 is not as exhilarating as its German counterparts, but it does offer a smooth ride in a quiet cabin. Acceleration is not as robust as one would expect with a 5.0L engine and the transmission can be slow to downshift. The K900 is a heavy lady and while that’s fine for long distance highway cruising, don’t expect any quick responses in the twisties. Steering is light and offers an average amount of feedback. It’s not a bad driving experience, it’s just not the sporty drive that the Germans offer.
The K900 utilizes shift by wire technology. There is no mechanical connection between the gear shifter and the transmission, so the shifter always returns to the same place after selecting Reverse or Drive or what have you. BMW and Mercedes have both done this for years, but if you’re new to the luxury market, it may take a little getting used to.
Where Kia really excels is in the offering of features. If your goal is to surround yourself in gizmos, this is your baby. My test model came equipped with the VIP package. A short list of features includes heated and cooled front and rear seats, heated steering wheel, sunroof, power rear sunshade, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity, adaptive cruise control, keyless ignition and entry, xenon headlights, automatic wipers, leather upholstery, front and rear cameras, a 9.2″ display screen with navigation, and HD and satellite radio.
Safety features include blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert system, lane departure warning, heads up display, and a frontal collision warning system. The K900 also has a crazy cool 360 degree top view parking camera system, which might just make you think a helicopter is following your every move.
The interior design is clean and simple, with sumptuous leather, brushed aluminum, and real wood trim. Kia often skimps on fit and finish in order to meet their price point and though I did not hear a single squeak or rattle during my week long test drive, I did have an issue with the automatic folding side mirrors. At one point they did not unfold when I unlocked the doors, nor did they unfold when I started the car. I had to shut everything off, exit the car, and start anew before they worked properly. It only happened once but on a brand new car that’s just not acceptable.
The infotainment is controlled by a well placed dial. It gets the job done but the system itself is not very intuitive. For example, it saves your Sirius presets in numerical order, so if I want to just scroll through my favorite channels of 8, 25, 33, and 36, I had to make a stop at 17, 22, and 35. The simple answer would be to delete those presets (made by another journalist with terrible music taste, obviously), but try as I might I could not get them to disappear.
Additionally, the system does not utilize a touchscreen, so every input has to be done via the dial. It’s okay until you start using the navigation system and have to scroll through the alphabet like an old fashioned phone.
The Kia K900 is an astoundingly good looking car. Numerous people stopped me to talk about it and I was pretty sure the parking garage attendant was just going to steal it and drive like hell for the border. The front end features xenon headlamps in a dual quad configuration with a large and sparkling grille front and center. The rear boasts dual exhaust ports and a streamlined tail light that wraps around to the side in a graceful point.
The 2015 Kia K900 is an incredible value. Starting at $59,500, our test model with destination and the VIP package comes in at $66,400. That’s where the Audi A7 starts, and the A8 and BMW 7 series both start at ten thousand more.
On the TFLcar scale of:
- Buy it!
- Lease it!
- Rent it!
- … or Forget it!
I have to give the 2015 Kia K900 a Lease it!
While it certainly has the features and luxury gadgets one would want in a sedan, the driving dynamics are just not there. However, for those who do not care about flogging their car out on a mountain road, the Kia K900 is a great value that provides a safe a comfortable ride.
Watch the 2015 Kia K900 make its Detroit debut.
Emme is a driver, reviewer, and rabble rouser. She is the principle driver and trophy winner for the Mega Monkey Motorsports™ 2 seat 1600 desert racer, powered by an air-cooled VW engine and has also been on the podium in a stock bug, a trophy bug, and an ultra-4. She is one of only 17 American women to have participated in the Rallye Aicha des Gazelles, a 9 day all female off road rally in Morocco with no GPS. You can check her out online on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and either one of her blogs.
