The 2020 Kia Cadenza has wowed critics and consumers alike by delivering on lavishness and value. It’s also fun to drive and is pretty affordable for a luxury-focused vehicle. It might seem like the Cadenza is too good to be true, and as it turns out, this sedan has very few shortcomings.

The Cadenza’s reliability history

It has only been six years since the Cadenza first hit the U.S. streets. Even in its first model year in 2014, the sedan made a splash for uniting economy with luxury. Customer insights organization J.D. Power gave the 2014 Cadenza a top score for predicted reliability. It also earned a decent score from Consumer Reports that same year.

Throughout its six-year history, the Cadenza has generally been considered as a reliable car. It has been recalled twice though. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recalled the Cadenza in 2014 for a wheel fracture-related issue. The NHSTA recalled the sedan again in 2017 for a more concerning issue related to its service brakes. 

2020 might be the Cadenza’s best year yet

The Cadenza’s predicted reliability scores for 2020 are great. CR gave the 2020 model a good reliability rating and J.D. Power gave it a solid durability score too. If you’re shopping used models though, you might want to avoid the 2017 model year.

Where the Cadenza shines

Kia refreshed the Cadenza’s exterior to look more upscale. It features a sportier grille and sharper lines. The Cadenza’s attractive exterior is matched with a handsome car cabin. It’s also remarkably comfortable and spacious. In fact, the Cadenza boasts one of the roomiest interiors in its class. 

Leather upholstery comes standard and so does a panoramic sunroof, along with heated front seats. To make your Cadenza feel more luxurious, you can upgrade with items such as premium leather or ventilated front seats. Some have complained that the ventilation upgrade isn’t all that though.

In-car electronics have become more important and the Cadenza does well here too. It comes with a fabulous 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen display along with navigation, HD Radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a wireless device charger. More importantly, the infotainment system is easy to use and not too distracting. 

It performs well too 

The Cadenza also shines when it comes to performance. It comes with a 3.3-liter V6 engine that generates a satisfying 290 horsepower. The V6 is paired with a smooth eight-speed automatic transmission. Overall, the Cadenza is fun to drive and handles itself well on the road. The sedan gets a combined 24 mpg which is about average for its class.

What about safety?

So, the 2020 Cadenza has not been rated yet by the NHSTA or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. However, the IIHS named the Cadenza a Top Safety Pick for 2019. To help prevent accidents, the Cadenza comes with a long list of advanced safety features. Standard safety features include blind-spot monitoring,forward-collision warning, and reverse automatic braking‐ just to name a few.