Model Year | 2013 | 2018 | |
Model | Acura MDX | Kia Cadenza | |
Engine | 3.7L V6 OHC-4v 300 hp@6300 270 lb-ft@4500 |
3.3L V6 DOHC-4v 290 hp@6400 253 lb-ft@5200 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed shiftable automatic | 8-speed shiftable automatic | |
Drivetrain | AWD | FWD | |
Body | 4dr SUV | 4dr Sedan | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 108.3 in | 112.4 in | -4.1 in |
Length | 191.6 in | 195.7 in | -4.1 in |
Width | 78.5 in | 73.6 in | 4.9 in |
Height | 68.2 in | 57.9 in | 10.3 in |
Curb Weight | 4550 lb. | 3633 lb. | 917 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 21.0 gal. | 18.5 gal. | 2.5 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 39.2 in | 40.2 in | -1 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 61.6 in | 58.3 in | 3.3 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 59.0 in | 56.5 in | 2.5 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 41.2 in | 45.5 in | -4.3 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 38.6 in | 37.9 in | 0.7 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 61.5 in | 56.5 in | 5 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 59.1 in | 56.3 in | 2.8 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 38.7 in | 37.2 in | 1.5 in |
Headroom, Row 3 | 37.5 in | 0.0 in | 37.5 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 3 | 57.1 in | 0.0 in | 57.1 in |
Hip Room, Row 3 | 42.0 in | 0.0 in | 42 in |
Legroom, Row 3 | 29.1 in | 0.0 in | 29.1 in |
Total Legroom | 109 in (over 3 rows) | 82.7 in (over 2 rows) | 26.3 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 15.0 ft3 | 16.0 ft3 | -1 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 42.9 ft3 | 16.0 | 26.9 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 83.5 ft3 | 16.0 ft3 | 67.5 ft3 |
2013 Acura MDX Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
That's it for the significant advantages of the new Acura MDX. Most things it does well, but not significantly better than the generally good segment averages. It's quick, but not thrillingly so. The front seats are comfortable and supportive, and cushier than those in the Infiniti, but provide less lateral support than those in the smaller Acura RDX and are no match in comfort or support for those in a BMW X5, a Lexus RX, or the big buck Mercedes reviewed a few weeks ago. Ride quality, like the seats, is good but short of luxurious. With additional sound deadening and laminated front door glass, the 2014 MDX is quieter than the 2013, but this only brings it in line with the others. By the same token, there aren't many clear reasons to reject the 2014 MDX. The most obvious follows from its relatively compact size: though (as already mentioned) cargo volume is more than competitive, there's less room in the rearmost row than in the QX60. By sliding the second row up a couple of inches (it has a half-foot of travel), adults of middling size will fit back there. But with their butt low and knees high they won't be comfortable. The QX60 offers far more combined legroom based on the spec sheets, and a couple more inches in the real world. (The Acura's specs seem to under-represent reality for passengers even as they might over-represent it for cargo.) But the Infiniti's seats are flatter and less comfortable. The new Hyundai Santa Fe offers more legroom than the Infiniti, while Ford's large crossovers could be best of all for transporting up to seven adults--if still not as good as the typical minivan. see full Acura MDX review |
2013 Acura MDX Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2012 | 4dr SUV 300-horsepower 3.7L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
The interior prioritizes appearance over actual utility; it's surprisingly cramped for such a large vehicle. For example, my Highlander is roughly the same size externally but seems downright cavernous on the inside in comparison. A rear passenger can fully stretch out in the Toyota. Not so in the Acura. see full Acura MDX review |
2018 Kia Cadenza Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Comment | |
2017 | Due to its shorter greenhouse and taller, more intrusive center console, the Buick's front row doesn't feel nearly as roomy as the Kia's, or even as roomy as the related Chevrolet Malibu's. Large sedans aren't what they used to be. While in the past they were both longer and wider than midsize sedans, these days they more often than not share platforms with the latter, and thus are not significantly wider, only longer. Even in the official specs the LaCrosse has nearly an inch less front shoulder room than the "smaller" Malibu. Likewise, the Cadenza's front row dimensions are within fractions of an inch of the Optima's. If you're seeking more front seat room than in a midsize sedan, you won't find it in these cars. To be fair, midsize sedans have grown. Both the Cadenza and LaCrosse have comfortable front seats, with the Buick's cushion perhaps slightly cushier. Take a turn aggressively, though, and you're much more likely to slide off the Buick's non-bucket, as it provides hardly any lateral support. The Cadenza's bolsters are more effective. The payoff for the additional size of these largish sedans can be found in the back seat, where each offers about two inches more legroom than its junior partner. On paper, the Kia Cadenza offers only slightly more total legroom than the Buick LaCrosse. In reality, it offers much more. With the front seat positioned for my 30-inch inseam (I'm not long of leg), I had about ten inches of knee room in the Kia's back seat. The Kia's rear seat cushion is also a little more supportive and comfortable than the Buick's. Not so good: in both cars there's not enough space under the front seats for the rear seat passengers' feet, essentially robbing them of about a half-foot of legroom. This design flaw is more the rule than the exception in upscale sedans. Still, it's not right. see full Kia Cadenza review |
None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2018 Kia Cadenza.