Used 2020 Kia K900 for sale 

The Kia doesn’t want you to get confused as to what features to choose and what to drop, so the purchase fits your budget. It went overboard and added every luxury and safety feature it can think of and made it into one complete package. The K900 is offered in only one trim - K900 Luxury priced at 59900 USD. It comes with premium elements such as the Lexicon Premium Audio system, Nappa Leather seating & three-zone Automatic Climate Controlto name a few. The list is so long that it looks like Kia left no stone unturned in equipping its K900. There is only one optional VIP package you can choose to upgrade your already loaded build a notch further. The VIP package which sets you back by another 4400 USD includes Power-adjustable Rear Passenger seat, Chamude Premium Headliner, a 12.3-inch Full Digital Instrument Cluster replacing 7 inch LCD Meter Display with Analog dials, Front-Passenger Chauffeur Seat Switch, Rear ventilation and Rear wireless phone charger.

Trim to choose?

You are left with no choice here! You have got the best deal there is. A fully loaded Kia K900 with VIP package and other options such as Wheel locks, Bumper Applique and Paint Protection package will cost you around 64755 USD. With such jaw dropping features being offered as standard at a competitive price, this is a steal deal. You might want to seriously reconsider going for a BMW or Mercedes purchase. Except that it doesn't carry a premium branding badge, the Kia K900’s value proposition is too great to be true!

The 2020 Kia K900 Luxury is powered by a potent and thirsty 3.3L V6 TwinTurbo engine that it shares with the new Kia Stinger GT, K900’s younger sibling. The throaty engine produces a max power output of 365 hp @6000rpm with a max torque of 376 lb-ft @ 1300rpm. The engine is coupled to an 8-Speed Automatic transmission and All-Wheel Drive is made standard. Kia’s driveline system comes with an electronically controlled transfer case that continuously analyzes road conditions so as to automatically adjust optimum power between the front and rear axles. The first generation K900 had a more powerful V8 engine which has been scrapped as a part of the 2019 refresh.

From the above table, you can observe that the K900 is the most expensive choice of all and it has the smallest engine too at 3.3 liters. Its rivals sport a 3.5-3.6L V6 engine but they are all naturally aspirated. The K900’s twin turbo boost skyrockets the power from its smaller 3.3L engine off the charts. The Korean is closely followed by Cadillac CT6 in terms of performance figures at 335hp @6800 rpm which is close to the redline. It is followed by the Acura RLX and Lexus GS 350 which produce similar power and torque almost expect that the former is FWD while the latter is AWD. No matter how you look at it, K900 is the clear winner here despite its higher price which is totally acceptable for the other standard features it offers.

Acceleration - Nothing is rational about it! Oh boy! How do they do it?

The Kia K900 is quick on the 0-60MPH line in just 5 seconds. Much credit to its lightning quick dash goes to the twinturbo which its competitors lack. It can reach a top speed of 149 MPH limited electronically by the speed governor in compliance with US Federal laws.

*2019 values used for reference purposes only

Standing at over 4700 lbs, it is the heaviest of the lot. But still,it tops the table with flying colors. The Cadillac 2020 version of CT6 dropped the 2.0L inline and 3.0L twin turbo V6 which leaves us with the less powerful 3.6L naturally aspirated engine that makes a 5.4 second run on the 0-60MPH line. The Acura RLX and Lexus GS 350 are sluggish in terms of acceleration and finish last in the table. In terms of emissions, not much difference can be seen between the cars except Acura which managed to do a better job of being more environmentally friendly. The primary reason can be that the RLX is FWD, unlike its competition. For your information, FWD based vehicles burn less fuel than AWD because the latter is heavier and needs to send power to all of its four wheels which the former does not.

Ride and Handling

The K900 offers an exceptionally quiet ride thanks to its sound-absorbing laminated glass and underbody cover design which insulates the cabin from ambient noise. The engine itself is ultra quiet producing a sound less than 75 decibels even with the throttle open to hit the 149MPH speed governor. The vehicle comes with Active Air Flap technology which automatically cuts off the airflow through the Front grille to improve aerodynamics. While the car is designed to be marketed as a premium luxury sedan, it also handles corners exceptionally well to our surprise. The vehicle’s electronically controlled Transfer case tech continuously monitors the road conditions to automatically adjust optimum power delivery to the front and rear axles so that the vehicle stays planted to the road at all times. In addition to that, Dynamic Torque Vectoring Control system monitors both driver input and road conditions and if it detects an anomaly, the power delivery and braking force are automatically adjusted to keep stable even in adverse conditions. 

The K900 comes with a Drive mode select feature that allows you to customize your steering weight, engine responsiveness thereby tailoring your ride quality and handling according to your taste. The electronically controlled suspension system continuously adjusts the suspension responsiveness based on its digital projection of road conditions. Overall, you can say that it is not sporty but still it provides a comfortable and composed ride ironing out hard bumps and also jacking up the suspension on those stiff corners. 

Braking - No reeks of burnt pads

The braking system on the Kia is the standard ABS with Cornering Brake Control and Brake Fade Compensation. The K900 has the biggest rotors among its competition. However, it does a decent job on the braking surging just four feet ahead of the Lexus GS 350 before coming to a complete stop from 60MPH. It is to be noted that the K900 pulled this amazing feat while being 800 lbs heavier than the Lexus 350. 

The lightest among them is the Acura RLX and it took a staggering 126 feet before coming to a standstill. Unfortunately, braking performance data on CT6 is not currently available at the moment. While the K900 doesn’t retain the crown in this test, suffice it to say K900 deserved the title when you take into account its weight to braking performance ratio.

The Kia K900 chugs down a lot of fuel because of its twin turbochargers and heavyweight. Despite it, the vehicle offers comparable fuel economy like that of its competitors. From the table below, you can observe that except Acura RLX which is an FWD, all other vehicles have an average combined gas mileage of 21 MPG. Moreover, K900 has the largest fuel tank capacity of them all.

 To counteract the poor fuel economy, Kia added a new feature called Coasting Neutral Control. Coasting Neutral Control improves fuel efficiency by automatically disconnecting the transmission when the driver does not operate the accelerator pedal. This feature gets activated when specific parameters are met while driving in Eco or Smart modes.

The interior although not posh, it is satisfactory for its class & price offered. Wooden inlays and Napa leather are offered as standard. So you don’t have to shell out extra money for the premium feels. The rear seats offer first class cabin experience with power-adjustable seats, three-zone automatic climate control and the optional Front passenger Chauffeur seat switch only takes it a notch up. The interior customization does not have a lot of options with only three styles being offered. If you had opted for the VIP package that costs 4400USD, you get additional rear ventilation, rear ventilated power-adjustable seats and rear wireless phone charger. There is also an interior ambient LED lighting system that can be customized to your moods and preferences.

Seating and comfort - Floating through on cloud nine seats

The car offers great headroom for both front and rear occupants so getting in and out of the car is a breeze. The legroom is great for front occupants and for the rear, it is a bit cramped but still adequate enough to offer comfort. The rear seating offers a lounge-like experience for two people. But you can seat three people easily by folding down the rear center armrest. The leather quality is good and feels premium. The seats come with a heating/ ventilation system for more comfort on those long rides. 

Infotainment - The boredom killer

The infotainment system is a 12.3 inch Central Touchscreen Display with Lexicon Logic 7 premium surround system. Google Android Auto and Apple Carplay come as standard features. The analog meters can be replaced with a 12.3 inch full LCD digital instrument cluster and navigation system. All of the infotainment controls can be accessed easily from the comfort of your steering wheel.

Cargo - Throw all them baggage at the back

The cargo space of 15.3 cubic feet is adequate enough for its class. Its rivals CT6 and GS 350 offer more cargo space. The K900 is neither a winner nor loser here.

Interior Features

• 12.3 inch Central Touchscreen Display
• Lexicon Logic 7 Premium Surround Sound with Quantum Logic & ClariFi
• Google Android Auto and Apple Carplay
• Haptic Steering Wheel
• Wireless Phone Charger,Front (Rear Optional)
• 7.0-inch LCD Meter Display with Supervision Meter Cluster
• Optional 12.3-inch Full LCD Digital Instrument Cluster
• Three-Zone Automatic Climate Control
• Premium Mood Lighting inspired by PANTONE
• Analog Clock by Maurice Lacroix
• Nappa leather seat trim
• Open pore/ Matt finish wooden inlay
• Power-Adjustable Driver and Passenger Seat with Integrated Memory System
• Heated/ Ventilated Seats
• Heated Steering Wheel

The K900 isn’t one of those cars you would fall in love at first sight. But you will fall in love with it every time you drive it. It doesn’t exactly have sleek lines and smooth curves. The exterior elements aren’t stressed enough to stand out and on the downside, it doesn’t have that premium badge Mercedes or Audi carries. You can’t find fault on Kia for trying. Although, you can say it did a decent job on the exterior with its Power sunroof, 19 inch Alloy wheels, Chrome accents, Dual chrome integrated exhaust tips and sound absorbing glass to name a few. The K900’s exterior is based on the company’s “Gravity of Prestige” design concept.

Design and dimension

From the comparison below you can observe that K900 falls short of a few inches in terms of length when compared with CT6. But in terms of width and height, it is the largest which means you don’t have to hit your head while trying to get in or seat cramped. It has good ground clearance at 5.3 inches. The only drawback here is that it is the heaviest of the lot standing at 4733 lbs. Only if it had been lighter, it would have good fuel economy and even good braking distance.

Exterior Features

• Ripple Effect Front Grille
• Dual Lens Full LED Headlights with DRL
• Auto High Beam Assist
• Chrome Accent Exterior
• Dual Chrome Integrated Exhaust Tips
• Auto-Dimming Outside Mirrors
• Power Sunroof
• Power-Operated Rear Side-Window Sunshades
• Smart Power Trunk
• 19-inch Alloy Wheels
• P245/45R19 Front & P275/40R19 Rear All Season Tires
• Active Air Flap
• Sound Absorbing Glass

Being marketed as the company’s flagship sedan, the company decided not to compromise on the safety front. So they offer pretty much all of the safety tech invented by their R&D department as standard features. Kia’s Drive Wise Assist technology actively monitors its surroundings and warns the driver of any imminent collisions. If the driver couldn’t respond in time, its active assist system takes preventive action of its own. The K900 hasn’t been tested and rated by NHTSA or IIHS yet. 

On the reliability front, the company offers class-leading longest warranty of 10 years/ 100,000 miles for the powertrain. It shows the brand’s confidence. Further, it also offers complimentary 5 years/60,000-mile roadside assistance coverage. The second-generation K900 hasn’t received any complaints for faulty manufacturing nor there were any recalls issued.

Safety Features

• Blind Spot View Monitor (BVM), Collision Warning (BCW) & Assist (BCA-R)
• Driver Attention Warning (DAW)
• Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Pedestrian Detection
• Lane Departure Warning (LDW) with Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) & Lane Following Assist (LFA)
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning (RCCW) & Avoidance Assist (RCCA)
• Smart Cruise Control (SCC) with Stop and Go
• Highway Driving Assist (HDA)
• Surround View Monitor (SVM)
• Airbag Protection System with Driver’s Knee Impact Airbags
• Pre-Safe Seat Belt
• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Brake Fade Compensation & Cornering Brake Control
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control System (TCS) & Hill Start Assist Control (HAC)

Kia K900 Luxury vs Acura RLX P-AWS

Between the Japanese and the Korean, Kia K900 offers more value for the money. For 5000 extra bucks, you get a more powerful engine, AWD, premium interior, advanced safety tech which the Acura RLX lacks. So hands down, K900 is a clear winner here.

Kia K900 Luxury vs Cadillac CT6 Luxury

You can’t obviously deny that GM’s vehicles are built solid. CT6 may lack the power but it certainly offers spacious and premium interior combined with a stylish exterior. But it lacks the advanced safety features and the impressive warranty that K900 offers. Once again, K900 takes down the competition with its “Value Proposition” card.

Kia K900 Luxury vs Lexus GS 350

Another hard decision to make. The Lexus GS 350 is the less expensive of the two. But adding optional packages quickly escalates the price close enough to K900’s. Still, the GS 350 with optional packages is priced less than the K900. It is entirely up to the buyer’s preferences of which brand to choose. But if you take into account the performance & value proposition, K900 is a better choice. If you care more about external looks and styling, we suggest you take the GS 350.

Kia K900 is certainly a good car that tries to capture the rich and niche market. Its strong value proposition makes it irresistible, well almost. The company failed to convert its advantage in the segment to sales figures. It's disappointing to see that the model only sold 390 units in 2019. It's partly due to the fact that the brand is being stereotyped for it lacks the brand cachet that Mercedes and Audi enjoy. Kia should probably up its marketing game and make people understand the value K900 offers.

The 2020 Kia K900 for sale at a dealer near you. Break free from the chains of stereotype and take this sweet ride home. Thank us, later!