New for 2015

The 2015 Kia K900 is an all-new, full-size luxury entry to the automaker’s lineup and the first rear-wheel drive sedan from Kia.

A new challenger steps forward

Let’s take a moment to evaluate the term “full-size luxury.” Historically this has come to mean a large, executive level car with a fire-breathing engine and all the premium accoutrement one would expect to find in a British royal estate – sans monocle-wearing butler of course. But more than anything else, the premium, full-size sedan segment is mainly categorized by sticker prices that travel to the outer rim of our galaxy and beyond.

This is where Kia and the luxury-filled K900 step in. The K900 is an impressive, five-passenger luxury sedan that personifies exclusivity while featuring a far more inclusive MSRP of $59,500.* For many years now, Kia’s consumer models have done extremely well in competing and even surpassing many of the traditional auto brands that litter the marketplace.

Now, the company’s main goal seems to disrupt the status quo of the current – and some would argue stagnant – full-size luxury segment. Needless to say the 2015 K900 knocks it out of the park.

And here’s how…

Power and Performance

The 2015 Kia K900 is powered by a solitary 5.0-liter V8 engine that produces 410 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque. Kia says a lighter 3.8-liter V6 will be added to the engine lineup later in the year, but for now the grizzlier V8 is the sole option for would be buyers.

Excitingly, this is the first rear-wheel drive car from Kia, with power sent to those rear-wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Eight might sound like a lot, and it is, but with so many gear ratios, the K900 is able to accelerate smoothly and efficiently when called into action. It also sports three different shift modes: Eco, Normal, and Sport. Not only do these modes allow you to bend the K900’s powertrain to your will, but it also helps manage fuel economy, which rests at an EPA-rated 15 city/23 highway mpg.**

Features and Trims

Kia has gone to great lengths to full the K900 to the brim with a litany of standard features that would turn even the most die-hard “traditional” luxury full-size sedan owner green with envy. Want a 17-speaker Lexicon surround-sound audio system? The K900 has it. What about voice-command navigation with 9.2-inch display and UVO eServices as well as SiriusXM Traffic. Check. Surely you can’t make do without driver memory settings, heated/ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and leather upholstery. Well, the K900 comes with all of that, too – standard.

Exhausted yet? No? Good, because we haven’t even scratched the service. In addition to everything else, the 2015 Kia K900 throws in standard LED headlights, 19-inch wheels, panoramic sunroof, blind-spot monitoring system, rear cross-traffic alert system, a lane departure warning system, and a heated steering wheel for good measure.

Optional Equipment

By now you are thinking “there can’t possibly be more!” Well, there is. Kia’s RWD K900 also offers an optional VIP. Here, amenities include 12-way power-adjustable driver seat, power front headrests, ventilated and reclining rear seats, a driver head-up display (HUD), and 360-degree “bird’s-eye” top-down parking camera system with adaptive cruise control and front collision warning system. The only thing not offered is a kitchen sink, although that just might be in the works for 2016.

Exterior/Interior Design

At the surface, the 2015 Kia K900 features a conservative design that manages to capture the imagination of onlookers with a flurry of drama thrown in for good measure. The front grill is firm in step with Kia’s corporate design structure, while the hood adds further emotion with a number of accent lines raked across. The high beltline of the car lends it some strength, while the smooth character lines give the illusion of vehicle in motion even when still.

Step inside the K900 and everything comes together even more. With ample room for five, the cabin feels downright palatial, with acres of space for driver and passengers. Indeed, with the K900 as the backdrop, there is no denying the authenticity of Kia’s premium credentials. In fact, place the vehicle’s interior alongside is more “established” (read: expensive) rivals and most, if not all, will have trouble discerning the difference. If the K900’s cabin was a room in a luxury hotel it would be the labeled the Presidential Suite.

Safety

Standard safety features for the 2015 Kia K900 include antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, front and rear seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, front and rearview cameras, and UVO eServices, which includes emergency assistance and monitoring features that allow you to set speed, curfew and geo-fencing limits for teen drivers. The V8 K900 also comes standard with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a lane departure warning system.

As previously stated, drivers that opt for the VIP package will also be treated to a number of advanced safety features such as 360-degree top-down camera system and  a collision warning system that tightens the seatbelts and primes the brakes for maximum stopping power if a collision is unavoidable.

Bottom Line

We don’t need to tell you that the world is a very big and expensive place, and in today’s economy now more than ever is the time to consider the value you get for the money you spend. Sure shopping for a premium, full-size luxury sedan is typically undertaken with little regard for price, but most of us would rather not spend frivolously. While you could travel the beaten path and opt for a luxury sedan from Europe’s elite brands, we urge you consider the 2015 K900; it provides everything the established luxury brands provide and so much more – and a fraction of the price. So go ahead and give it a try – you won’t be disappointed. Contact us at 3Birds Template today to get started.

* Starting price is manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for lowest model trim. See 'Trims' section for MSRP of model shown. MSRP excludes destination and handling charges, taxes, title, license, options and dealer charges. Actual prices set by dealer and may vary.

** Based on EPA estimates. Actual mileage will vary with options, driving conditions, driving habits and your vehicle’s condition.

Images: Kia Motors America