Price-wise, the K900 (roughly, depending on options) fits in about halfway between the G80 and G90.

The American-market K900 also comes with something rare (outside of Subarus), even for this class of luxury-sedan......standard AWD. Both the G80 and G90 charge extra for it.

 

Holy cow that is ridiculous and should be on every car with an LCD instrument cluster.

 

Interesting feature.

Well, Jill.....there's one reason why the K900 starts at 59K.

 

Yes. It is pretty cool.

 

The problem with the Kia K900 in North America is similar to the problem Volkswagen had with the Phaeton. Mass market brands try to move upmarket but their customers don't buy the concept and don't buy the car. The premium car just does not fit with a mass market branding.

The K900 would probably sell better under another, dedicated luxury brand.

 

True.
The K900 is a decent looking luxury car.
The Kia badge is just awful.

 

While, yes, technically that's true, it also, IMO, shows what an uninformed state some vehicle-shoppers are in, letting brand-image rule their decisions. One must judge and evaluate a vehicle, not the logo on the hood. Even with Buick (which is arguably my favorite brand), I am very careful to judge each of their products by what it truly is underneath, not by just a simple tri-colored logo. Several of them, in fact, are rebadged Opels.

 

I'm sure I'm in the minority, but I would gladly take a current Kia over any comparable Buick. Kia is on the upswing and Buick is just trudging along. I can remember when all Japanese vehicles were considered junk. It takes time for perceptions to change. It takes hard work. Kia seems to be doing a good job at trying to accomplish this. Time will tell, but I'm rooting for them.

 

I have always liked the Buick Regal and the Buick Cascada. The new wagon version is really cool. Not at all a fan of their cross overs.

 

Speaking of Buick and Kia, the Telluride blows away the Enclave.

 

What do you base that statement on? Have you looked at or driven one? I wouldn't be surprised, though, if the Telluride turns out to be more reliable than the Enclave. The Enclave doesn't have the Opel-derived solidness that other, smaller Buicks have. Enclaves, because of their size and weight, have also had a history of prematurely going through inadequately-sized transmissions for their bulk.

BTW, I plan to look at a new Telluride shortly, though I probably won't do a whole review on one unless I get requests for it.

 

You can’t start a brand with one model. Also, they already have that brand, that’s Genesis which is slowly progressing. But sure, the K900 is a tough sell at Kia dealers... but for buyers like me, who don’t care about brand, or fancy showrooms, it represents an opportunity to drive an amazing car at a price far better than anything comparable.

 

Right now, Genesis doesn't really have that fancy a line of showrooms....they still sell basically out of Hyundai shops, although, in my area, some of those Hyundai shops can themselves be very nice. And, where I do a number of my reviews (and shopping with others), the big Kia shop, right down the road from the Hyundai/Genesis, also runs a pretty nice place.

 

Yeah I agree. The Enclave is not bad. But it’s a little too much of a re-badge model.

 

this is off topic, but i test drove an enclave avenir and was unimpressed, except for the roominess, although that's less than the cheaper cousin, chevy traverse. there was pretty much nothing i liked about it except it's pretty good looking, and as i said, roominess. but materials, features, drivetrain, chintzy small infotainment screen, ride, noise, were all sub sub par. but then, it's not a cadillac.

here we go, "opel-derived solidness" - i have not a clue what that means. reviews here on the enclave are very mixed but many complain bitterly about the poor seats.
https://www.edmunds.com/buick/enclav...sumer-reviews/