Korean splendor

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This article was published 24/10/2014 (4236 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s been decades since American luxury brands led the way in the flagship sedan classes. Think Cadillac DeVille, Chrysler Imperial or Lincoln Continental. All were replaced by sportier-to-drive German luxo-barges such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series in the 1980s, followed by even more impressive Japanese luxury sedans, including the Lexus LS and Infiniti Q45 in the 1990s. And now Korea’s Kia, with its new 2015 K900, is looking to sway buyers who prefer their sedans big, comfortable and luxurious.

Launched as Kia’s first rear-wheel-drive sedan in South Korea in 2012, the five-passenger, four-door K900 has Kia’s typically aggressive exterior styling. Yet the full-sized sedan shares most of its nuts and bolts with its Hyundai Equus platform-mate. But does the K900 have the chops to be considered alongside other so-called “flagship” sedans?

As buyers have come to expect, “value” is a big part of the K900’s appeal. The base K900 V6 starts at $51,480 (all prices include freight and pre-delivery inspection fees).

My tester was the top-line, all-inclusive $71,480 K900 V8 Elite.

While that may sound like a lot of money for a Kia, you don’t need to hold an economics degree to know the K900 can be had for tens of thousands of dollars less than comparably equipped German and Japanese rivals. Unlike, say, a BMW 7 Series, the K900’s price doesn’t explode when you start adding what most luxury buyers would consider basic features.

For example, the V6 K900 comes standard with a power trunk lid, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear outboard seats, a power rear sunshade, a 17-speaker Lexicon surround-sound audio system, and more. Opt for the V8 K900, and you’ll find more niceties added, such as a panoramic sunroof, blind-spot monitoring system, rear cross-traffic alert system, lane-departure warning system, heated steering wheel, upgraded leather upholstery — well, you get the idea.

Slipping between the slightly larger Equus and the last-generation Hyundai Genesis, the K900 is very close to the $86,645 Lexus LS 460 in size. Not surprisingly, this allows for suite-like accommodations for anyone boarding the big Kia.

More than just roomy, the K900 is also a very nice place to be, whether you are the chauffeur or a lucky passenger. Overall, the use of black-piano finishes, real wood and quality leather is tasteful and extremely well fitted together in the Kia’s cabin. The front seats — if lacking the sort of support some of the optional “sport” seats the German brands offer — are easy to get comfortable in and offer an array of adjustability.

Perhaps, however, the best seats in the K900 are the thrones in the back. Not only is there plenty of legroom for full-sized adults, the seats recline and adjust — just the thing for naps after a long day at the office while James drives you home.

With only 311 horsepower and 293 pound-feet of torque needing to pull around 2,000 kilograms of Kia luxo-barge, the base 3.8-litre six-cylinder gas engine seems, well, inappropriate. But the willing 5.0L eight-cylinder feels more like a proper flagship-sedan power plant. Making 420 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque, and mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, the K900 V8 smoothly swooshes from zero to 100 kilometres per hour in just 5.7 seconds. If that reads quick, that’s because it is: Not only is the K900 V8 the quickest Kia ever, it’s also more than a half-second quicker than the $86,645 Lexis LS 460.

The downside to all the K900 V8’s forward thrust is felt at the pumps. Rated at 15.7 litres per 100 kilometres city and 10.3 highway, the Kia V8 sedan is relatively thirsty compared to the Lexus V8 sedan, estimated at a more economical 12.9 and 8.1, respectively.

Comparing the Kia to the comfort-first Lexus is also the correct context when it comes to the K900 V8 Elite’s driving dynamics. As much as Kia’s marketing department would like buyers to think they’re getting a bargain Audi A8, in truth, the Korean flagship simply doesn’t have the handling chops to be considered a luxury AND sports sedan.

Keen drivers will notice that the K900’s steering offers little off-centre feel. And the lack of all-wheel drive may also scare away some Canadian buyers accustomed to traction at all four wheels in their big and powerful luxury vehicles.

However, if you approach the Kia as a pure luxury car, the kind of vehicle the American brands used to make, then you will be pleasantly surprised by how the K900 does such an amazing job keeping the outside world from encroaching on its roomy and quiet cabin. Not only is the K900’s V8 nearly silent at idle, it’s also muted when you enjoy all of its power. And although the Kia lacks its Hyundai platform-mate’s air suspension, the K900 gobbles up bad pavement easily.

In the end, as a first attempt in a very competitive class, the 2015 Kia K900 V8 Elite can’t help but impress. With its powerful engine, roomy and luxurious cabin, loads of standard gear, comfortable ride and excellent build quality — all for tens of thousands of dollars less than the competition — smart buyers should ignore the Kia badge on the big sedan’s hood and save a few bucks.

–Postmedia Network Inc. 2014