When did Kia start making $60k "luxury" cars?

I assume they've seen Hyundai, so they're trying to get in the same market.

I couldn't see myself paying $60k for a kia... anyone test drove the Kia K900?

2/7/2017 1:51:22 PM

Ummm, 4 years ago? (for export, else 5 years for KDM)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kia_K9

Kia Cadenza -- 33-45K http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2017-kia-cadenza-test-review
Kia Quoris (K900 in US) -- 50-70K http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2016-kia-k900-v-6-test-review

Love the intricate headlights on the K900... click below and view massic pic at native size to see headlights:

http://core0.staticworld.net/images/article/2014/06/2014_kia_k900-100314541-orig.jpg

Here is another big image, of the headlights only:

http://st.motortrend.com/uploads/sites/5/2013/11/2015-Kia-K900-headlamp-03.jpg

I have sat inside a K900 at an auto show when it debuted several years ago. The back seat was grade-A indulgence. It was the long wheelbase version, so it had reclining rear seats with a footrest that popped up, as in long wheelbase MBs/BMWs/Lexuses/RRs/Bentleys! (maybe all K900s come with that feature) Very comfortable and beautiful inside (Google for images).

Driving dynamics don't compare to the Germans, or even to Lexus/Infiniti, but hey, it undercuts them by anywhere from 15K to 30K+!

The V8 in the K900 is no joke... 420 hp!

Hyundai owns Kia, BTW, so they share platforms and engines: Rio/Accent, Elantra/Forte, Sonata/Optima, Azera/Cadenza, Equus/Genesis/K900.

You probably don't know this either then:

Hyundai has spun off its Genesis sedan/coupe into a standalone luxury subdivision called Genesis Motors, in the same vein as Lexus, Infiniti, and Acura, just over a year ago.

Hyundai Equus became Genesis G90
Hyundai Genesis became Genesis G80

A smaller Genesis G70 sedan coming out next, as well as an all-new coupe, which I don't know what it will be called. And a couple of SUVs, but of course.

https://www.genesis.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genesis_Motors

Here is where it gets very juicy:

Quote :

"Manfred Fitzgerald, former director of brand and design at Lamborghini, is senior vice president.[3] Luc Donckerwolke, former design director of Volkswagen Group's Bentley, Lamborghini and Audi,[4] leads the design brand since early 2016,[5] and works alongside Hyundai-Kia's chief designer Peter Schreyer (formerly at Audi).[6] Albert Biermann, former head of BMW's M performance division, oversees tuning and performance.[7]"

Senior VP poached from Lamborghini
Design Director poached from Bentley/Lambo/Audi
Chief Designer (for Hyundai-Kia) poached from Audi (10 yrs ago)
Tuning & Performance Guru poached from BMW M!!!

Looking forward to great things from Hyundai-Kia in the next few years, particularly from Genesis Motors, especially the new Coupe!

P.S. To answer your question, no, Kias are not expensive. You get a LOT of car for your money, relative to other brands. Sure, a couple of expensive Kia models exist, but in relative terms, they are very cheap.


[Edited on February 7, 2017 at 2:48 PM. Reason : ]

2/7/2017 2:44:58 PM

they outsourced their engines. Got European consulting companies to design them.

2/8/2017 8:47:31 AM

So my next question is, who would buy one of these? I'd be too worried it would be a POS and I have to believe the resale value is crap.

2/8/2017 12:04:56 PM

i haven't driven or ridden in the kia, but I would buy a Hyundai Genesis before any domestic or Japanese sedan currently on the market. I'd probably pick it over similarly priced (entry level) german sedans

2/8/2017 12:10:10 PM

^^It has a 100k mile warranty so I don't think you have to worry too hard.

But you would be correct about bad resale value. Then again, have you seen how horrible resale value is for high end BMWs and Mercedes?

2/8/2017 12:31:19 PM

and its not like they are reliable any more, my BMW was starting to fall apart at the end of the 3 year lease

2/8/2017 1:48:09 PM

Quote :

"I would buy a Hyundai Genesis before any domestic or Japanese sedan currently on the market."

Why? Seems like the relability still lags their Japanese competitors...at least it did for the 2012 Genesis I was looking at.

2/8/2017 2:45:04 PM

Quote :

"So my next question is, who would buy one of these?"

Easy.

People who want a full size luxury sedan with reclining and massaging rear seats and all other bells and whistles, but can't afford an S Class, 7 Series, or A8. They could probably afford the Lexus LS, but the LS is still $15-20+K more than the K900/G80/G90.

As for resale value, well, you always go Japanese, and mostly Toyota and Honda. Resale value of European cars and American cars at that luxury level is crap also.

2/8/2017 3:01:33 PM

Quote :

"Why? Seems like the relability still lags their Japanese competitors...at least it did for the 2012 Genesis I was looking at."

because its not boring and ugly, and hyundai has recently beat toyota and honda in regards to repair frequency. i think reliability is probably fine for a new vehicle that i would own for 5 or 6 years

2/9/2017 3:12:18 PM

My brother has the charged Optima, it will get up and go with the best of them and still get 40 mpg in the long run. For a LOADED sedan it's a great value, i can only imagine anything priced higher.

2/9/2017 7:11:54 PM

almost bought an optima. probably should have, but I preferred teh style of a different car.

2/9/2017 7:29:00 PM

Quote :

"hyundai has recently beat toyota and honda in regards to repair frequency"

Where?

2/9/2017 10:49:50 PM

The cars with the fewest and cheapest repairs
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-cars-with-the-fewest-and-cheapest-repairs/

Quote :

"Repair frequency: Hyundai owners can look forward to fewer visits to the repair shop than owners of any of its competitors' cars. Toyota and Honda also scored well in repair frequency and that elevated their rankings despite their higher cost per visit."

none of these surveys are perfect, but its clear hyundai today isn't the hyundai of 10 years ago

plus the genesis isn't wretchedly boring like every sedan from toyota or honda

2/10/2017 9:53:45 AM

^^^ you got der ford focus deedn't ya?

2/10/2017 12:12:23 PM

eh, not the focus

2/10/2017 1:09:47 PM

I wanted a focus actually until I saw the new body style... now it just looks like a smaller fusion. Makes me strongly consider Hyundai or kia

2/10/2017 4:55:14 PM

Might be just me, but if you are buying a car for the reclining massaging rear seats... Well you probably have a driver. And if you have a driver, that means you can probably afford the Merc or BMW.

2/12/2017 10:00:46 PM

Naw Opie ain't from Saudi

2/13/2017 12:10:20 AM

Quote :

"I wanted a focus actually until I saw the new body style"

New body style? It's been the same for the last 6 years. They refreshed the grill & headlights 1-2 years ago, but that's it.

And regardless you shouldn't want a Focus. It's outclassed by almost every competitor it has.

[Edited on February 13, 2017 at 9:28 AM. Reason : ]

2/13/2017 9:24:14 AM

I got to check out a 2016 Optima. I got the feeling that the car had the "features" so it can compete on a spreadsheet. Their "leather" covered dash is a rather low grade plastic with a small strip of (seemingly low quality) leather, if it was actually real leather. Similarly the infotainment system seemed to have a bezel to look large but wasn't well thought out. That's what I recall of my impressions from over a year ago. Of course that doesn't mean it won't hold up well/be reliable etc. but I didn't like being in it.

2/13/2017 6:32:30 PM

every korean car I've been in has been like that. they can check off a ton of features to have "parity" to the on paper shopper with whatever segment they want to enter, but the cars have no soul. if you're looking for an appliance vs a japanese appliance, I don't think you're compromising much, but upmarket or sporty (genesis coupe) cars you absolutely are

2/14/2017 11:11:13 AM

Right.

From everything I've read the Genesis coupe was a disaster to drive. Vague shifter, lifeless and disconnected steering. And heavy. Surprised they didn't just drop the V8 in there to try and get people to forget about all the bad stuff. Of course then they would have had to price it under the Mustang and Camaro...ah nevermind, lol.

2/14/2017 3:56:01 PM

it drives fine. it feels heavy, but no more than any other heavy luxury sedan, its not supposed to be a sports coupe.

https://youtu.be/xr7ZhvI9c58

2/14/2017 5:22:38 PM

^ if you are replying to ^^, ^^ was actually talking about the discontinued coupe.

the Genesis G80 (rebranded original Hyundai Genesis) is far sportier than the G90 and would be a more engaging drive.

2/14/2017 6:06:17 PM

^^what part about coupe did you miss? lol

2/15/2017 8:30:54 AM

^^^ I don't think I've seen a more thinly veiling lifestyle marketing attempt in my life than that awful video

2/15/2017 1:08:24 PM

^^ obviously, the "coupe" part

but then he also missed the Mustang and Camaro

(and also "Surprised they didn't just drop the V8 in there")

2/16/2017 10:55:43 AM

no, i'm talking about the G90, not the coupe

2/16/2017 11:32:24 AM

2/16/2017 1:00:49 PM