2022 Kia K8 replacing the oft-forgotten-about Cadenza in company's lineup

Eileen Falkenberg-Hull
Mar 5, 2021, 2:04 pm

A diamond mesh grille fronts the 2022 Kia K8.

PhPhoto courtesy of Kia Motorsoto courtesy of Kia Motors

Goodbye, Cadenza. Hello, K8. The Kia Cadenza is one of those cars that is easy forgotten about (if you ever knew about it in the first place) and frequently passed over in favor of the Toyota Avalon or the like. Still, most every automotive journalist who has driven it likes it.

So, Kia's taking the lessons learned from the Cadenza and some from the K5 and Stinger, and rolling them into a new large sedan, the 2022 Kia K8. This week the company unveiled the first official images of the car ahead of its debut. This is the first vehicle named the K8 in Kia history.

2022 Kia K8 The K8's headlights have integrated turn signals.Photo courtesy of Kia Motors

2022 Kia K8

"Following our recent company rebrand, we keep moving toward our new brand values with a new model – the K8. This modern sedan has been designed with innovation and elegance at its very core," said Karim Habib, Senior Vice President and Head of Kia Global Design Center. "While paying homage to the K7, the K8 looks to the future. Its progressive exterior takes on character and emotion, and combines those qualities with an expressive looking front and a dynamic swooping rear, giving the K8 a high-quality, premium presence that takes direct inspiration from some of the world's most technically advanced yachts."

As seen in the photos, the car wears Kia's new logo on its badging, and has design lines reminiscent of the vehicles it has taken lessons from. There's a frameless tire nose grille with diamond lattice, turn signals integrated into the headlights, an elongated side profile, chrome finish along the bottom of the doors, and a roofline that trails off into the trunk. It's all very much from the Kia sedan lineup.

Kia promises that the car will have a "first class" interior that establishes "new benchmarks in premium quality". The sedan will deliver a high-performance driving experience yet be comfortable to ride in, according to Kia messaging.

The rear of the Kia K8 features elongated taillights.Photo courtesy of Kia Motors

The Kia K8 is expected to arrive in showrooms later this year but the U.S. might not get it until after it's arrived in Korea and Europe.

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Updated compact car

Kia announces updates for 2022 Forte

Kia revised the Forte's styling for 2022.

Kia

While many automakers cut cars to focus on highly profitable trucks and SUVs, Kia has remained dedicated to cars and continues improving them year after year. The Forte was updated for 2022 with new tech, massaged styling, and revised advanced safety features.

The new Forte offers a revised front-end design, new bumpers, updated wheels, and updated headlights. Though the car's overall shape and style are familiar, the detail work around the grille, lower front fascia, and headlights adds a sharp, modern look to the car. The same is true for the car's rear end, as the new bumper, taillights, and trunk lid spoiler all add to the car's appeal but don't drastically differentiate it from its predecessor.

2022 Kia Forte The Forte can be had with a powerful turbocharged engine.Kia

Inside, the new Forte features a standard 4.2-inch color driver information display and an eight-inch touchscreen that runs wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A massive 25-inch wide touchscreen system is standard for the GT and GT-Line trims that includes navigation and over-the-air map updates. The car can be optioned with SynTex synthetic leather upholstery and the available smart key system now includes remote start.

The Forte is still offered with two engine choices for 2022. They include a 2.0-liter inline-four that produces 147 horsepower and returns 41 mpg on the highway. A continuously variable transmission is paired with the 2.0-liter engine. The upgraded engine is a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four that produces 201 horsepower through either a seven-speed dual clutch automatic or a six-speed manual transmission.

2022 Kia Forte The Forte comes packed with standard tech and safety features.Kia

A host of advanced driver aids are standard: Forward collision-avoidance assist, forward collision warnings, lane departure warnings, lane keeping assist, and a driver attention warning system. The Forte is available with highway driving assist, navigation-based adaptive cruise control, safe exit warnings, blind spot collision avoidance assistance, forward collision alerts, pedestrian and cyclist detection, and rear cross-traffic alerts.

2022 Kia Forte Synthetic leather is available in the Forte.Kia

The Monterrey, Mexico-built Forte should begin arriving on dealers' lots soon. Kia offers the car in four trims: FE, LXS, GT-Line, and GT. The mid-level EX trim was dropped for 2022.

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Safety and technology awards

Four Hyundai cars earn top marks for teen drivers

Best SUV for Teens $35 to $40k: 2021 Santa Fe Hybrid

Hyundai
Each year, U.S. News & World Report ranks vehicles in several categories. One relates to teen drivers and how well a vehicle performs in areas such as safety and available technology features. The 2021 rankings for Best New Cars for Teens were just released and one automaker hit it big. Four vehicles from Hyundai's 2021 lineup took top spots in various categories. They include:
  • Best Car for Teens $20k to $25k: 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid
  • Best SUV for Teens $20k to $25k: 2021 Hyundai Kona
  • Best Car for Teens $25k to $30k: 2021 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid
  • Best SUV for Teens $35k to $40k: 2021 Santa Fe Hybrid


2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Best Car for Teens $20k to $25k: 2021 Hyundai Elantra HybridHyundai


All vehicles that earned awards in the 2021 survey are available with safety features that include forward collision warnings, forward automatic emergency braking, lane departure warnings, and lane keep assist. The vehicles also carry safety features and controls that allow parents to monitor their teen's behavior. Through the available smartphone app, parents can receive alerts when the vehicle goes over a set speed or if the teen leaves a set geographic area. The idea is that the functionality allows parents to coach their young drivers on their driving habits.


2021 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid Best Car for Teens $25k to $30k 2021 Hyundai Ioniq HybridHyundai


To earn a spot on the U.S. News Best Cars for Teens rankings, a vehicle has to score well in several categories that include crash test scores and available advanced driver assistance features. The vehicle must also have scored well in the publication's rankings for its segment and price level.


2021 Hyundai Kona Best SUV for Teens $20k to $25k: 2021 Hyundai KonaHyundai

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