Drove a 2019 KIA K900 yesterday

[YEH]

Hyundai/Kia ..I am sure...would love to be selling this many sedans that sell in that price range

W/ the G80, H/G sells more sedans at a higher price range than does T/L.

The Genesis G90 numbers...while larger than these....have been falling by 40% a year and it too has never had a very good presence/ market share versus some sedans in the same price range

Part of that was due to the dealership issue, but still, that's not bad for a model where buyers are waiting for the refreshed version.

Meanwhile, the still newish LS 500 has lost 43% of sales in its 2nd year.

Would not be surprised if G90 sales recover to their pre-dealership issue sales rate of somewhere btwn 300-400 - which is where LS sales currently reside.

Also, last month in Canada - as many G90s were sold as the LS.

And it's no question that H/G sells way more G90s worldwide than T/L does the LS.

Same goes for the G80 in comparison to the GS.

Which is the main factor in Toyota looking to minimize R&D investment into Lexus' RWD lineup.

 

[Tynee]

What scares me is KIA's build quality and long term reliability. I feel that would sour the good taste from a nearly new and updated K900, and I think Genesis has the edge here.


Our 2018 Kia Stinger GT Is Showing Its Age at 30,000 Miles

Had a chance to drive a friends 2019 KIA K900 and it has my 2018 Genesis G90 ultimate beat all to H__L.
Maybe the new 2020 G90 will up it's game this much.
fit and finish was just as good as my G90.
Inside looks so much nicer
Like the seats better
Tech is way ahead of the G90
Rides just as nice as the G90
And $10,000.00 less.

 

[NLJ]

What scares me is KIA's build quality and long term reliability. I feel that would sour the good taste from a nearly new and updated K900, and I think Genesis has the edge here.


Our 2018 Kia Stinger GT Is Showing Its Age at 30,000 Miles

Kia build quality? You know the build quality is identical to Hyundai right. The only thing Genesis has on Kia and Hyundai is higher end materials!

 

[Tynee]

I hoped they were the same, but the long term test of the Stinger has shown they have issues. Maybe just that model, but it's enough to make me rethink considering KIA in favor of Huyndai/Genesis. I know they are sister companies, but does that directly translate to build quality, or not entirely?

Kia build quality? You know the build quality is identical to Hyundai right. The only thing Genesis has on Kia and Hyundai is higher end materials!

 

[RCH04]

Motorweek had this to say about the 1st gen K900 after one was in their Long Term Test:

"We found the first gen K900 to be one excellent surprise, even after a year in our long term fleet."

 

[unhappymeal]

You always need to give the actual sales numbers per month...for instance you say its a "dying "market...but there are still 2500-3000 Toyota Avalons sold every month in the United States...and even more Lexus ES models

Hyundai/Kia ..I am sure...would love to be selling this many sedans that sell in that price range

Toyota has proven yet again ..with the Lexus ES and LX, that they can rebadge a vehicle , add some extra trim , a little bit more warranty and a thousands to the price and sell more of them

Warren

Yes, the Avalon still moves a decent number of vehicles per month, but the volume is dropping at an alarming rate. It's never a good thing when an all-new model moves 32% less metal than the previous year. By the way, it's not just Avalon-specific, the entire full sized FWD segment is losing volume en masse.

 

[glennk]

Yes, the Avalon still moves a decent number of vehicles per month, but the volume is dropping at an alarming rate. It's never a good thing when an all-new model moves 32% less metal than the previous year. By the way, it's not just Avalon-specific, the entire full sized FWD segment is losing volume en masse.

Domination by the CUV/SUV market.

 

[ogogolby]

I just hate the Kia badge. Looks bad on a luxury car - it's very blah and pedestrian. I know they just filed a TM for a new badge but it's too pop-sci for a luxury car too:

View attachment 22469

Kia also makes an "E" badge that stands for excellence. I was considering a Stinger GT2 rebadged that way to replace my wife's 016 G80 but when I drove it I wanted it for myself. 0-60 in about 4.5 sec and handles like a charm compared to my G90 Ultimate.

 

[Gunny]

I also recently test drove a K900 and was equally impressed. The interior of the 2020 G90 is clearly derived from the K900, or perhaps vice versa. Looking at what Hyundai is doing with the 2019 K900 vs the 2020 Genesis G90 reminds me of what they did with the Equus and the 2015 Hyundai Genesis I now own. At the time I wanted the more luxurious Equus but it was an aging design and lacked many features found in the lesser Genesis model.

Hyundai seems to take a reverse approach compared to other manufacturers in that they introduce new tech in lesser expensive models and then expect it to "trickle up." Sadly, no V8 available in the K900 as of 2019.

 

[16gen]

New 2019 K900s in the Chicago area are being offered for under $50k!

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[Gunny]

Today I previewed a 2017 Mercedes Benz S550 priced at 71K and with about 22K miles. I didn't bother driving it because I would only actually consider purchasing the 2018 model [updated exterior features and a few other things] yet the experience was still quite revealing. I sat in it, started it and went through many of it's features.

We all know the S-Class is a remarkable sedan but there were still things the 2019 K900 could do that the 2017 S550 could not. Some of the things I noticed were as follows.

1) The K900 can split its infotainment screen to allow simultaneous viewing and control of Nav, Media and Climate. The S550 [according to my brief time in the car and the salesman's comments] cannot. Surprising since it is a 12.3 inch screen.

2) The K900 can display the rear view [blind spot] camera image for either side in the instrument cluster when signaling for a lane change. As far as I'm aware, no other car [except select Honda models to some degree and the upcoming 2020 G90] can do that.

3) The S550 had most other options available but not as standard equipment. If you're considering a pre owned model that clearly restricts you to available inventory. A notable example of this was the heads up Display. You have to pay extra for that and it wasn't included on the car I previewed.

There's a lot more. These are just some quick observations. Again, I'm not trying to directly compare these two vehicles. I know the Benz will offer more overall appeal [tech, ride quality, performance, etc] but, for the price, I think the K900 easily trounces the S550 and includes pretty much anything a real world normal person would reasonably want or need. I'm probably going to test drive this car again and do some serious soul searching before I make my decision.

 

[YEH]

2) The K900 can display the rear view [blind spot] camera image for either side in the instrument cluster when signaling for a lane change. As far as I'm aware, no other car [except select Honda models to some degree and the upcoming 2020 G90] can do that.

Honda's lanewatch only shows a video feed from the passenger's side (right turns) and is shown on the nav screen (much prefer it within the gauge cluster).

The Hyundai Palisade has the same system as the K900, but oddly enough, Kia's Telluride only has a digital screen btwn the analog gauges where it shows the video feed (the full digital gauge is definitely cooler).

The F/L Cadenza also has the full digital cluster, as does the KDM Sonata (not sure of the US-spec will get it).

But yeah, the K900 is one heck of a bargain.

Don't particularly care for the K900's sheetmetal (but the interior is gorgeous), but then again, never liked the sheetmetal for the S Class since the W220 - so on that front, it would be a wash (also actually prefer the interior/dash design of the K900), so considering the price disparity (and purchasing new vs. used), would be a pretty easy choice.

Would, however, need to replace/debadge the Kia badges - not so much of it being a Kia, but the current Kia badge simply does not belong on a lux vehicle (the new Kia logo, which may only be for their BEVs, is better)

 

[Gunny]

Honda's lanewatch only shows a video feed from the passenger's side (right turns) and is shown on the nav screen (much prefer it within the gauge cluster).

Right. I summarized that point by saying Honda's system could do it to "some degree." I haven't personally experienced it.

Would, however, need to replace/debadge the Kia badges - not so much of it being a Kia, but the current Kia badge simply does not belong on a lux vehicle (the new Kia logo, which may only be for their BEVs, is better)

My thoughts, exactly. I guess Hyundai has their corporate hands full trying to build the Genesis luxury brand but, why go through the considerable trouble of designing the 2019 K900 if your're not going to market it properly. I really think Hyundai is still not fully understanding the mind of luxury car buyers in N. America. Features and tech are awesome but, north of 50K, the badge also matters.

 

[Gunny]

Check out this preview of the 2020 Sonata. Looks a lot like the 2019 K900. Hyundai is clearly intent on "trickling up."

2019 Hyundai Sonata Overview | Hyundai USA

 

[carsareus]

Just out of curiosity I checked availability of the K900 from Kia dealers yesterday within 100 Miles of Sacramento and nobody had one in stock! Even within 100 miles of LA they only showed 6 in stock. If they had them in stock going for under $50K like 16GEN is saying I would definitely be at least looking at them. I have to wonder what the future is with this car with this much limited availability.

 

[Gunny]

Just out of curiosity I checked availability of the K900 from Kia dealers yesterday within 100 Miles of Sacramento and nobody had one in stock! Even within 100 miles of LA they only showed 6 in stock. If they had them in stock going for under $50K like 16GEN is saying I would definitely be at least looking at them. I have to wonder what the future is with this car with this much limited availability.

Interesting. I had no trouble finding one in the Atlanta area but it was the only one in stock. Another nearby dealer showed two on their website but I haven't visited just yet.

I don't expect production of the K900 to continue beyond maybe a few years from now but most of it's parts are shared with other vehicles in the line [primarily the Stinger] so I don't think long term servicing would become an issue.

 

[YEH]

^ While Kia may eventually discontinue offering the K900 here (tho, I think they are OK using the K900 as a halo model for the lineup), don't think the K9/K900 will be going out of production any time soon (unless Kia decides to replace it entirely w/ a new BEV model instead of just electrifying it).

The K9/K900 sells better in Korea than the LS 500 does in the US and Japan combined.

 

[turnne]

Yes, the Avalon still moves a decent number of vehicles per month, but the volume is dropping at an alarming rate. It's never a good thing when an all-new model moves 32% less metal than the previous year. By the way, it's not just Avalon-specific, the entire full sized FWD segment is losing volume en masse.

Maybe because its Lexus ES model more expensive variant is outselling it handily...its like people are making the choice to buy the more expensive
model

Toyota has sold about 35,000 Lexus ES models in the United states though the end of August(48,000 total in 2018)
I guess I am not seeing this masse volume drop you speak of

Then there is that extremely strong resale value of both the Avalon and the Lexus ES

meanwhile...what I have seen advertise is $12-13K off the sticker of the Kia K900
They only show 280 K900 being sold this year

To your point about the 32% drop in sales...you should look at the luxury Kia/Genesis models...they never sold in high numbers and they have dropped to levels far below sedans that are far more expensive....that is not a good sign

Warren

 

[turnne]

^ While Kia may eventually discontinue offering the K900 here (tho, I think they are OK using the K900 as a halo model for the lineup), don't think the K9/K900 will be going out of production any time soon (unless Kia decides to replace it entirely w/ a new BEV model instead of just electrifying it).

The K9/K900 sells better in Korea than the LS 500 does in the US and Japan combined.

And this is not Korea....clearly different strokes

I bet Kia/Genesis would love to have its flagship cars sell anywhere close to what the numbers of the Lexus LS...and truth be told you can get a larger discount off a K900 or G90 than a Lexus LS

They are adverstising $12-13K off sticker of K900's now....to date I only see sales of 275

The Lexus LS ( to date) has sold almost double the volume of the G90 and K900 sales combined...and its a more expensive car

Warren

 

[XBOHDPuKC]

And this is not Korea....clearly different strokes

I bet Kia/Genesis would love to have its flagship cars sell anywhere close to what the numbers of the Lexus LS...and truth be told you can get a larger discount off a K900 or G90 than a Lexus LS

They are adverstising $12-13K off sticker of K900's now....to date I only see sales of 275

The Lexus LS ( to date) has sold almost double the volume of the G90 and K900 sales combined...and its a more expensive car

Warren

Where do they advertise $12-13K off sticker? That would be a great deal.