Experienced by Adrian McQueen
Photography by Adrenaline Lifestyles
What a great week with the 2019 Kia K900. This full-size luxury sedan in its second generation and it is simply stunning. The K9 was launched in South Korea in May 2012 and available in the United States in 2013. The Kia brand has come a long way in its’ rebranding efforts and the K900 will help push the narrative.
The K900 demands your full attention upon first look. The model that we tested came in a Polar White hue that was very appealing to the eye. This full-size luxury sedan was completely redesigned for 2019, sharing a chassis with the Genesis G90. The K900 has a “Quadric pattern” grille accompanying double-bar signature headlights. The K900 comes equipped with a power sunroof, auto-dimming outside mirrors, auto rain sensing windshield wipers and Kia’s smart power trunk that will raise the lid automatically as you approach the vehicle. You will just have to have your key fob with you. The trunk has 15.3 cubic-ft. of space inside for plenty of storage space.
The interior of the K900 is quite stunning. Buyers in the executive-sedan market are highly interested in ambiance over anything else when it comes to their vehicles. Kia has focused in on just that. Let me start by saying the ambient interior lighting in 64 colors is a pure attention grabber at night. This is a feature that you are starting to see on a lot of high-end vehicles. Maurice Lacroix has a collaboration with Kia Motors, highlighting their passion for design and a love of precise mechanical craftsmanship. The Maurice Lacroix–branded dashboard clock in the K900 adds a bit more luxury and exclusivity to the K900.
I truly enjoyed the beautiful 12-inch TFT and a 7.0-inch TFT gauge display panel that will bring up images from the side cameras when you engage a turn signal, Surround View Monitor, and the Head’s Up Display. I thought the side camera views were pretty cool, especially since your vehicle and engine speeds are still visible above the camera image. The 900-watt premium Lexicon Logic 7 surround sound audio system is superb. The K900 has thicker glass, which makes for a quiet cabin to better enjoy your tunes. Technology is no stranger to the K900 as it is equipped with a heads-up display, wireless phone charging, UVO, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Open-pore wood can now be chosen to trim the dash, steering wheel, center console and door panels.
The new Kia K900 share the same platform shared with the Genesis G80 and G90. It is now longer and wider than the previous model. This new platform allows for more passenger space in the cabin. The model K900 that we tested came equipped with the VIP package that adds a rear wireless phone-charging pad in addition to the one that is in the front of the sedan. There right rear seat is a 14-way power seat and the left rear seat is a 12-way power seat. There is a suede headliner and cooling for both rear seats. You have a three-zone automatic climate control in place of the standard dual-zone setup. Kia reached new levels with the comfort in this package.
The K900 is no slouch in the power department with a twin-turbocharged 3.3-liter V-6 engine under the hood that is delivering 365–horsepower and 376 lb-ft. of torque. The engine hooks up to an eight-speed automatic transmission that powers the all-wheel-drive system with smooth shifting. Cruising around town and on the highway was breeze. The K900 is built for speed and comfort. The suspension recovers quickly from bumps and the steering wheel does jump around either. The standard drive mode allows users to adjust the adaptive dampers, powertrain responses, and steering weight. It is not the fastest in immediate throttle response, but once this beast is moving the gap closes in quick.
Kia has equipped the K900 with a few different modes that allow you to customize the driving experience. The driving modes include Comfort, Smart, Sport, Eco and Custom. You can select various color themes for the instrument cluster display or set them to change depending on the driving mode. The Sport mode tends to be my favorite since I am an adrenaline junkie with a need for speed.
The K900 showcases a bevy of safety features such as the Blind Spot View Monitor, 360-degree camera system, adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and more. Government Fuel Economy Ratings are 18-City, 25-Highway, and 21-Combined. The Kia K900 with the Luxury trim model that we tested came in at $64,895.00 . The K900 sits in a highly competitive class amongst the Cadillac CT6, Mercedes-Benz E-class, Audi A6, Lexus LS, Volvo S90 and the Lincoln Continental. Overall, we just enjoyed the ride and look forward to Kia making a dent into the luxury crowd for those that want to save a few bucks. Enjoy the photo gallery.
