Five-Point Inspection: 2014 Kia Cadenza

Behind the Cadenza’s “Tiger Nose” face sits a thoroughly modern powerplant that’s ready to deliver a torrent of smooth performance as dictated by the terminal portion of the driver’s right-most load-bearing appendage (read: foot).

All Cadenzas sold in America feature a muscular 3.3-liter V6 engine. With an aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection and variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust camshafts it delivers a fuel-efficient wallop. Peak output is 293 horsepower with 255 lb-ft of torque. That’s plenty of beans to deliver more-than-acceptable, though not neck-snapping performance.

A “Sportmatic” six-speed slushbox handles gear-related duties. It’s a supremely slick transmission that slurs between ratios like a drunkard mangling the lyrics of Don’t Stop Believin’. Saving even more money at the pump, Cadenzas are setup to burn run-of-the-mill 87-octane regular-grade gasoline. Add it all up and the car is rated at 19 miles per gallon around town and 28 on the highway.