The Kia K900 is a Luxurious Winner

As the reviews start to roll in for the new Kia K900, one thing is very clear. Dealers, reviewers, and drivers alike are starting to put the Korean automaker’s first luxury sedan on their radar.

From the outside, it looks like a German luxury vehicle with curves and nuances similar to a full-size BMW or Mercedes. Inside, it’s even more striking, especially when compared to other Kia models that people have grown accustomed to over the last decade.

The company has been in the midst of a brand makeover for several years as they have gone from “cheap” to “acceptable” in the eyes of consumers. It’s a transformation similar to the way that Honda and Toyota changed themselves in the early 80s. Gone are the days when Kia was the option for those who couldn’t afford anything else. The K900 brings this transformation to nice crescendo.

“It’s a world-class luxury vehicle despite the lower price tag,” said Charlotte Kia. “We were expecting a lot of interest but so far it’s been much higher than we anticipated.”

Built on the same basic platform as the Hyundai Equus, the K900 hopes to expand on the success of its sister’s flagship and go after a different demographic.

According to one review:

So the K900 is a huge leap. Costing almost twice as much as its previously most premium offering, the $35,100 Cadenza sedan introduced last year, the K900 may be a celebration of Kia’s 20 years in the U.S. market, but it is also a grand experiment to test the idea that a luxury experience trumps brand status.