Kia Cadenza
The 2020 Kia Cadenza offers a good reliability rating with a smooth V6 and comfortable ride, but buyers must confirm the power window software recall is completed.
Calculated from 10,000+ NHTSA, EPA & owner-complaint data pointsHow we score
2019 modelSpecifications by model year
Compare the stats that matter
Every section below is populated from the available EPA, NHTSA, and vehicle-specification data for this model.
Fuel economy
EPA-rated city, highway, and combined economy by year.
Engine, transmission & drivetrain
Powertrain specifications can vary between model years.
| Year | Body style | Cylinders | Displacement | Fuel type | Engine configuration | Transmission | Drivetrain | Horsepower | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | sedan | 6 | 3.3 | Regular | V-Shaped | Automatic | FWD/Front-Wheel Drive | — | — |
| 2019 | sedan | 6 | 3.3 | Regular | — | Automatic (S8) | Front-Wheel Drive | — | — |
| 2018 | sedan | 6 | 3.3 | Regular | V6 | Automatic | FWD/Front-Wheel Drive | 290 hp | 253 lb-ft |
| 2017 | sedan | 6 | 3.3 | Regular | — | Automatic | FWD/Front-Wheel Drive | — | — |
| 2016 | sedan | 6 | 3.3 | Regular | — | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | — | — |
| 2015 | sedan | 6 | 3.3 | Regular | — | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | — | — |
| 2014 | sedan | 6 | 3.3 | Regular | — | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | — | — |
Pricing & configuration
Original pricing and model configuration where available.
| Year | msrp | Base price | Trim | currency | Base MSRP | MSRP range | Confidence | notes | Source | estimatedAt | pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | — | $37,850 | Limited | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Base price: $37,850, Trim: Limited |
| 2019 | — | $38,200 | Premium (Base) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Base price: $38,200, Trim: Premium (Base) |
| 2018 | currency: USD, Base MSRP: $32,290, MSRP range: $32,290 - $44,690, Confidence: 0.9, notes: MSRP for Premium, Technology, and Limited trims., Source: llm_estimate, estimatedAt: 6/10/2026 | $39,290 | Luxury, Technology, Limited | USD | $32,290 | $32,290 - $44,690 | 0.9 | MSRP for Premium, Technology, and Limited trims. | llm_estimate | 6/10/2026 | Base price: $39,290, Trim: Luxury, Technology, Limited |
| 2017 | — | $31,990 | Premium Pano/Premium Luxury/Tech/Limited | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Base price: $31,990, Trim: Premium Pano/Premium Luxury/Tech/Limited |
| 2016 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2015 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Space, dimensions & utility
Seating, cargo, and physical configuration by model year.
| Year | Seats | Doors | Cargo (L) | Cargo (cu ft) | Keyless ignition | Steering location | Seat rows | GVWR | Axles | Wheels | Wheelbase | Front wheel | Rear wheel | bodyAndInterior |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 5 | — | — | — | Standard | Left-Hand Drive (LHD) | 2 | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) | 2 | 4 | 112.4 | 18 | 18 | Keyless ignition: Standard, Steering location: Left-Hand Drive (LHD), Seat rows: 2 |
| 2019 | 5 | 4 | 452 | 16 | Standard | Left-Hand Drive (LHD) | 2 | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) | 2 | 4 | 112.4 | 19 | 19 | Keyless ignition: Standard, Steering location: Left-Hand Drive (LHD), Seat rows: 2 |
| 2018 | 5 | 4 | 453 | 16 | Standard | Left-Hand Drive (LHD) | 2 | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) | 2 | 4 | 112.4 | 19 | 19 | Keyless ignition: Standard, Steering location: Left-Hand Drive (LHD), Seat rows: 2 |
| 2017 | 5 | 4 | — | — | Standard | Left-Hand Drive (LHD) | 2 | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) | 2 | 4 | 112.4 | 19 | 18 | Keyless ignition: Standard, Steering location: Left-Hand Drive (LHD), Seat rows: 2 |
| 2016 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2015 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Safety ratings & driver assistance
NHTSA safety ratings and listed driver-assistance availability.
| Year | Rated vehicle | abs | esc | tractionControl | tpms | adaptiveCruiseControl | autoBrake | forwardCollisionWarning | blindSpotMonitoring | laneDepartureWarning | rearCamera | rearCrossTrafficAlert | adaptiveDrivingBeam | autoReverseSystem | parkAssist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2020 Kia Cadenza 4 DR FWD | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | optional | standard | — |
| 2019 | 2019 Kia Cadenza 4 DR FWD | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | — | standard | standard | standard |
| 2018 | 2018 Kia Cadenza 4 DR FWD | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | optional | standard | standard | — | standard | standard | standard |
| 2017 | 2017 Kia Cadenza 4 DR FWD | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | — | standard | standard | — |
| 2016 | 2016 Kia Cadenza 4 DR FWD | — | — | — | standard | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2015 | 2015 Kia Cadenza 4 DR FWD | — | — | — | standard | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2014 | 2014 Kia Cadenza 4 DR FWD | — | — | — | standard | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Technology & electrification
Listed infotainment, equipment, battery, and charging data.
Model year reports
2020
NewestThe 2020 Kia Cadenza offers a good reliability rating with a smooth V6 and comfortable ride, but buyers must confirm the power window software recall is completed.
2019
The 2019 Kia Cadenza offers a comfortable ride and a capable V6 powertrain, but a single critical recall for fire risk warrants close inspection.
2018
The 2018 Kia Cadenza offers a comfortable ride and strong V6 power, but a critical fire risk recall demands thorough inspection.
2017
The 2017 Kia Cadenza presents an average reliability profile.
2016
The 2016 Kia Cadenza presents an average reliability profile, with its primary ownership concern being a critical **HECU electrical short** that poses a fire risk.
2015
The 2015 Kia Cadenza offers average reliability, but a critical **HECU fire risk recall** demands immediate attention and thorough inspection.
2014
The 2014 Kia Cadenza presents an average reliability profile, with significant recall activity, particularly concerning fire risk from the HECU system, warranting thorough inspection.
Scores are derived from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, normalized by vehicle segment averages.
What are the best years for the Kia Cadenza?
Carfocal currently has 7 published Cadenza reports, covering 2014 through 2020. Compare the year-specific reports directly to see how reliability, recalls, ownership costs, and value change over time. The newest published verdict says: The 2020 Kia Cadenza offers a good reliability rating with a smooth V6 and comfortable ride, but buyers must confirm the power window software recall is completed.
Published year coverage: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020.
Is the Kia Cadenza reliable?
There is no single reliability answer for every Kia Cadenza. Carfocal's published year reports show why the model year matters, with verdicts that include the 2020 kia cadenza offers a good reliability rating with a smooth v6 and comfortable ride, but buyers must confirm the power window software recall is completed. and the 2020 kia cadenza offers solid value for buyers seeking a comfortable large sedan with a strong reliability score. Compare the report for the year you are considering before you make a decision.
7 published year-specific reports are available for comparison.
What are common problems with the Kia Cadenza?
Across Carfocal's published Cadenza guides, recurring problem areas include Power Window System, Brake Pads, and Battery. The exact risk depends on the model year, so open the report for the vehicle you are evaluating to see which issues, recalls, and repair concerns apply.
Common problem areas found in published repair predictions: Power Window System, Brake Pads, and Battery.
Supporting data
- Published guides
- 7
- Years tracked
- 7
- Data sources
- NHTSA, EPA, owner complaints