Refined and classy

It’s rare to find a luxury car for a wallet-friendly price but the Kia Cadenza manages to deliver just that.

First impressions matter and the moment you lay eyes on this sleek sedan, you know you’re in for a good time behind the wheel. 

The exterior looks masculine and luxurious which not only makes it easy on the eyes, it gives you a small preview of the refinement inside.

How do you get inside? No need to ever take the key out of your pocket, the remote sensor unlocks the car when you’re within range. All you need to do is press the button on the door handle and slip inside.

Most things inside the car work with a simple touch of a button, even turning it on, thanks to the push-start ignition.

The interior is just as comfortable, classy and driver-friendly as it appears from the outside. A ‘welcome’ system turns on the exterior puddle and interior lights to ‘greet’ the driver; I’ve never had such a warm welcome from a car.

The memory adjustable leather seats can be positioned for extra lumbar support, a handy feature for those long drives or nightmare traffic jams.

These super seats also boast built-in air conditioning, a great idea for drivers in Bahrain who are more used to sticking to their seats in the summer than the lane they’re supposed to be driving in. 

In terms of performance, the Cadenza doesn’t disappoint. Under the bonnet is a powerful 3.5-litre V6 Lambada engine that gives this sporty sedan a real presence of the road. 

It’s so responsive, all you need to do is tap the accelerator and you’re off. In fact, the Cadenza goes from 0-100kmph in about 7.1 seconds. I found it really useful while attempting to find a safe gap in traffic at the Alba roundabout.

Although it’s quite a long car, it is surprisingly easy to manoeuvre and handles very well at speed which makes it ideal for highway driving in Bahrain. 

Safety is a vital component of any car and this one ticks all the boxes for a reassuring drive. It offers four-wheel antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control and a plethora of airbags. 

Furthermore, you needn’t take your hands off the steering wheel thanks to the built-in controls which can be used to adjust the volume, Bluetooth and entertainment mode.

One of my favourite features is the rearview camera which makes reversing into parking spaces a real doddle, especially at night thanks to the night vision camera.

The infotainment is all controlled via a touch-screen display in the centre stack. Here you can access, radio, CD, USB plug-ins, satellite navigation and climate control.

The Cadenza has an added bonus for Muslims, a Mecca button which brings up an arrow on the navigation map telling you which direction to pray in. 

After my weekend with the Cadenza I began to question at what point the upper limit of a budget brand trespasses into the premier marque’s territory.

Prices start from BD13,000 on-road with a five-year warranty from the factory. For more details contact the Kia showroom on 17408800.