The Kia Cadenza and the Kia K900 have both been discontinued in the United States and will not return for the 2021 model year, the Korean automaker has confirmed.
The Kia Cadenza served as a direct rival to other mainstream full-size sedans like the Toyota Avalon and Nissan Maxima, but it only generated 1,265 sales in the U.S. in 2020, making it the second poorest selling Kia product behind only the K900. The K900, a full-size rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan, only attracted 305 buyers in the U.S. in all of 2020.
The decision to kill off the Kia Cadenza and K900 is indicative of the shift in consumer tastes from sedans to crossovers and SUVs, although Kia still has several sedan models in its portfolio in the way of the Rio, Forte, Stinger and the new-for-2021 K5. It’s worth mentioning that the discontinuation of the K900 also falls in line with Hyundai-Kia’s strategy to bring all of its luxury models under the umbrella of the fledgling Genesis luxury brand.
“As the auto industry shifts its focus from full-size sedans to SUVs, Kia is poised to succeed with a robust range of utility offerings which includes Telluride, Sorento, Sportage and Seltos,” the automaker said in a statement Tuesday. “As we realign our model lineup to meet consumer demands, the K900 and Cadenza will be discontinued for the 2021 model year.”
In a similar move, General Motors also killed off several of its sedan models over the past couple of years, including the Chevy Impala, Chevy Cruze, Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac CT6 and Cadillac XTS. Ford previously ended production of its sedan models as well, including the Fiesta, Focus, Taurus and Fusion. Both of the American automakers have indirectly replaced some of these hatches and sedans with equivalent crossover and SUV models, which not only sell better but in some cases offer stronger profit margins.
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Comments
Here is another example it is not just GM.
Car sales are in decline for everyone.
I don’t know why. Cars are cheaper, offer more features, and generally give better mileage. SUVs offer only two things in return: height and space.
CUV’s are now priced similarly to cars, their MPG isn’t that much different either depending on the size and CUVs offer more convenience of cargo space.
Maybe it’s different where you live but over here CUVs are still easily 2-5k more expensive on average and they consistently offer less power. HRV is underpowered compared to the Civic. The Trailblazer offers less power and torque than a Malibu. If someone wants the space, that’s great, but if you care about mpgs and/or power, you can get more of both in a car.
Rich – maybe you should compare similar size classifications. An HRV is a much smaller size when compared to a Civic, thus the reason for a smaller engine. Compare power in the Civic and CRV and power trains are similar. The Equinox would be the comparable model to the Malibu and they have similar engine options. Skip the AWD features on the cuvs and pricing isn’t much different.
The CRV is even more expensive than a Civic. It’s not in the same price category. The Equinox is also more expensive than the Malibu and suffers from a weak 1.5t. If you choose the 2.0, then the price is even higher.
the civic is related to the CRV not the HRV.
HRV is related to the Fit
Rich cars today are not what they once were. Most are small Cramp and are difficult to haul much in. My 63 Ford could haul a Ten Speed and completely built and other cargo with the trunk shut. but my Malibu today has a large trunk but a small opening that little fits in.
Today it CUV and SUV models have the same or more features. No AWD on a Malibu. As for MPG my Acadia gets the same as my Malibu.
The hight is often liked by older people as it is easier to get in and out. Cars today have such low seating and roofs they are hard for them to get in or out.
To be honest most of todays SUV and CUV models are tall versions of the cars we used to like. People want utility today and some space inside.
My wife changed over and she is not going back. She is just one of many doing this.
We could have purchased a Impala for the same price as our Acadia. We have the same power and the same MPG. More room and as good of a ride. We also have AWD and can haul six if needed. We can haul larger cargo and more of it. Ride is actually better. We even have more options.
I know as we purchased a Impala for my wife’s aunt. She wanted a car so we got her the top Impala there was. The price of the car was the same but the discounts were greater as they wanted to move it since it had been there for a while.
All good points, but you demonstrated my point that the car is cheaper with the discounts on the Impala. You also compared the Malibu to an Acadia which are (please correct me if I’m wrong) at different price points and in classes with the Malibu being far more affordable. When compared class to class, there are many sedans that offer better mpg and power for a similar price. Especially in the lower segments (Trailblazer vs Malibu, for example). The problem is cars are being squeezed out of the market so the comparison is not as fair as it once was. Take the Buick Lacrosse for example. It was a beautiful car that had a V6 and AWD. Now the closest thing Buick offers to the Lacrosse is the Enclave that seats 7. It’s just not the same thing and won’t produce the same experience.
Apparently those two items are what more people find appealing. Seniors appreciate sitting in a raised position to enter and exit the vehicle as well as better visibility. Families use the third row option. Others love the better use of cargo space. SUVs answer nearly all the concerns of nearly all drivers. Cars simply do not. I offer this opinion up as the owner of a sedan, a convertible and an SUV. Each has its own purpose for me.
I don’t think you can use nixing of these two vehicles to backup up GM’s decision, These vehicles were DOA for US market anyway and even Hyundai knew this. I don’t think they expected them to sell like hot cakes, they just took their chances while using them to raise Kia’s brand perception, basically they were just temporary marketing tools.
Sad, but again it’s the way things are going. Everyone will continue this trend no matter how much customers don’t like it, as it’s all about the money. But because GM is so big, I really do wish they would do the two Buick sedans built off the same platform as two Chevy sedans. Maybe the sales numbers wouldn’t be huge, but make them in the USA. Keep them simple and be ready for when the market shifts again.
Only way you do this is if the car is shared with cuv’s and SUV’s platform.
Kirt: That should be totally possible.
People like to ride high up. Easy entry and exit. Fold them back seats down and its cavernous. Ground clearance, and so on………
Sedans are good for high performance vehicles now, and that’s about it. Just can’t beat the practicality of a suv, and the sales #s show it.
Looks and naming of most sedans play into a big part of the slow sales of sedans. Truth is some sedans like the Ford Fusion, Lincoln MKZ and Chevy Malibu where still good seller but pushed out to Force customers into SUVs which cost more. Tesla model 3, Toyota Camry, Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger are all over the place. Taurus got no body changes from 2010 to 2020 , The rear of the Continental was ugly while the front looked like the MKZ. The sedan market was neglected in favor of higher costing SUVs when gas hit 3.50 or higher that will change
I remember when these were first introduced. So many here started crying: “Look Out Cadillac! They’re coming to eat your lunch!”
When the CT6 was cancelled, many complained GM was handing the market to the Koreans (among others).
I’d already made a prediction that the Malibu will be “standard Chevy” while the trucks and utilities make up the real sales. A larger Malibu takes care of leftover carbuyers while Spark and Onix will be the entries in America.
Kia Cadenza and K900 discontinued due to poor US sales which confirms that we’re now a crossover society and the average buyer will not even entertain the thought of buying a sedan no matter how well it is manufactured; the average consumer now ask whether a crossover is available with a 3rd row or has an optional towing package.
You can buy a Genesis G90. same car but nicer.
Kind of off topic, but has anyone on here seen lifelongGMowner? I’m quite surprised that I haven’t read anything from him as of late.
What about XJUG. That guy was good for entertaining comments also.
Not sure, but he might be going by the name NUNYA BIDNIZ now.
Please don’t jinx us…
Haha. Sorry. I may have already done it.
LifelongGMowner did (does) have some good points, but he just didn’t seem to know when to stop at times. I know my comments can get long at times, but wow. Not like his. But no matter, I do or try to appreciate everyone’s comments in some way. I may not always agree with others, but what they say is still some form of wisdom (or entertainment)!!
He lives in South Dakota, I think he’s hibernating.
Dan Berning
I think Lifelong has to catch up on his reading. He has made a few recent comments on older articles.
Good thing I bought my Stinger when I did. Awd, good power and can haul just as many grocery bags in the back as our Jeep Grand Cherokee. Plus, it’s not a boring suv.
For me, it’s a shame the Cadenza was discontinued. As a lifelong Chevy Impala/Monte Carlo guy I found the Cadenza to be every bit as capable. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I found the lines and interior of this vehicle to be quite attractive. I owned a 2014 Limited, 2017 Premium and now have a 2019 Technology.
Plenty of punch with the 3.3 8 speed, and 33 mpg on long hauls.
I do agree with a few earlier posters that KIA never expected Cadenza to be a long term vehicle, just a means to upgrade their brand. There were never a lot to choose from, you had to search the dealers, who typically only carried a few units.
I enjoyed all 3 and would have purchased again in 2023. Genesis is in a whole different pricepoint, outside my budget. Perhaps GM will bring back a sedan in some form once the scarcity for these type vehicles creates new demand.
Dan,
You said you were a lifelong Impala/Monte Carlo guy but settled for a Kia. Did you drive a 14-20 Impala?
Not sure how to respond. I had a 2007 and 2011 LTZ if that’s what you are asking.
Jofa, I did test drive the 2016, but after adding the options that were standard on the Cadenza, the price was significantly higher for the Impala. Allowing for a warranty that was twice that of the Impala, I chose the Cadenza. That was a tough decision for a long time GM buyer, but the value of the Cadenza swayed me.
Dan Mackey: Serious question for you. On here I read a lot of comments from people who say they are quite upset with GM for dropping so many (nearly all) sedans from the portfolio. These same people seem to say they will go to another brand to buy the next sedan. What about you?
I understand when people are upset about GM dropping a model that they own and/or want to buy. But I also understand that GM and all brands must make money. They must sell and sell what people are willing to buy. What I don’t understand is when these same people claim to have been loyal GM buyers all these years only to say they will abandon GM now due to lack of sedans. So I ask myself what these same people will do when Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Kia, etc also drop more and more sedans. Will they come back to GM?
Dan, great question!
I am a “car” guy, never liked SUVs and I’ve rented enough and been a passenger in enough to know they aren’t for me.
No knock on SUVs, just not my preferred vehicle.
Based on this article, I figured I’d chime in on the plus side for the Cadenza. Cross country jaunts have been a pleasure, tech is really good, performance is respectable and price was within my budget.
No regrets about my choice of the Cadenza, just disappointing to lose the option for a full size, V6 efficient vehicle going forward.
I “was” a gm guy. Only owned Pontiac’s. GM killed them off awhile ago. They don’t have an affordable sports sedan anymore, no more G8 or Chevy SS and don’t tell me an impala is a sports sedan. Now they have the CT4/CT5 v. Stinger is a better value imo. That’s why I own a Kia now. Couldn’t be happier.
What is everyone complaining about. In the USA there are about thirty different manufacturers sell vehicles here. Buy what you want in our free enterprise economy of every type that you can imagine and no where else in the world. If GM or Ford were worried about market share they still be ICE sedans, but the demand is dropping so why try to keep a market open when all it is doing is shrinking. With new EV platforms coming out, they will be easy to switch to a sedan style or CUV as the market demands. Look, the Mustang-E is a sedan. 100’s of millions of dollars invested so that Ford can get into the EV ( sedan) market.
The Mustang mach-e is not a sedan. It’s just boring cookie cutter EV SUV with Mustang grille tail lights and badges. I had the opportunity of drive it and I didn’t like it. It doesn’t feel like a Mustang, it doesn’t behave like a Mustang, it doesn’t look loke a Mustang, it doesn’t drive like a Mustang and it doesn’t have the character of a Mustang. It just pretends to be one. Personally nor me or my wife like SUV’s and crossovers and will not buy one no matter what.
I’m waiting for the GT to test drive. Also did you test it in it’s pedestrian drive mode or switch to unbridled mode at all?
Jorge, other than what you described, it’s a Mustang! 🙂
Jorge, stick to fossil fuels and keep your head in the sand.
Mick1, My comment doesn´t have to do with the kind of fuel the car uses, but with the behaviour and character of the car. I owe a Chevy Volt and am looking for another EV. That´s why I drove the Mach-e. And after driving some EV´s, it seems that I will finally buy a Tesla Model S.
Don’t you want Mary’s Chevy Bolt Golf Cart? It runs on soy milk fresh squeezed from Biden’s breasts.
The point of using the Mustang name is to bring buyers over to it. The name carries more sway than most other names in the industry. First time Ford buyers are buying them as well as Ford fans. The best part is that it’s a very good product. Don’t take my word for it of course. I haven’t driven one. Read up on them. All this carping about using the Mustang name doesn’t change a thing. You want a V8 you get one one. You want an electric you get one. Now that time has ticked by its looks like a shrew move on Fords part. Also it pushes gm to do better. And doing better fits a needed criteria anywhere anytime.
Kia isn’t dropping sedans the way GM and Ford are. They are still making 2 or 3 other models. Buick, no sedans at all in USA. Chevy Malibu, hopefully 4 more years. Cadillac, 2. That’s it. So, 3 sedans, two priced out of most people’s price range. GM gave up on minivans here, now sedans. Meanwhile Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia, all keep pumping them out. Lower numbers than before, sure. But for GM to abandon another whole market niche makes no sense. NONE.
Agreed Big, despite a reduced overall market, there is still a market for a quality sedan with some amenities and a decent power plant. Not having any choice save for a overpriced German product, there’s nothing coming out of GM at all. That’s a shame.
As I noted, the Cadenza was a worthwhile purchase if you were looking for a full sized cruiser. Good handling and 290 horses was the perfect balance. KIA did not market this vehicle at all, so not many even knew it existed. Very Chevy / Buick worthy alternative.
Markets are changing and with the Electric Revolution this will all evolve into something new over the next decade I suspect.
Big: Technically, GM still has 4 sedans with the two Cadillac’s (CT4 and CT5) and two from Chevy (Spark and Malibu). I have no idea why nobody from GMA will confirm what the Spark is considered, but they don’t call it an SUV/CUV or a sedan. However, it’s much more aligned with a small “car” than CUV. Anyhow, there are really 4 to look at.
As for the two from Cadillac being priced out of range for most people, that’s not really true. I just picked up my 2020 (brand new) CT4 base luxury with the sunroof/Bose/Nav package and extra on the paint. It had an MSRP of $37,115.00 but I only paid $28,600.00 for it before tax and state fees. You can’t hardly touch a Mazda 6 GT for that after discounts. A mid-level Camry will run you that. Now, not all people can find those deals like I did, but my point is that the Cadillac’s are not that much more than lesser cars. Next logical question one should ask is why such a great deal on my car? This dealer had this one and a black one (twins) for the same price. They couldn’t move them and so I took advantage of that. Just one more reason why sedans will probably be gone in only a few more years. People are just not buying them. Same why these Kia’s are going away.
That’s too bad. I was considering one of these cars as a replacement for my Impala.