Model Year | 2012 | 2017 | |
Model | Toyota Highlander | Kia Cadenza | |
Engine | 3.5L V6 DOHC-4v 270 hp@6200 248 lb-ft@4700 |
3.3L V6 DOHC-4v 290 hp@6400 253 lb-ft@5200 |
|
Transmission | 5-speed shiftable automatic | 8-speed shiftable automatic | |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | |
Body | 4dr SUV | 4dr Sedan | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 109.8 in | 112.4 in | -2.6 in |
Length | 188.4 in | 195.7 in | -7.3 in |
Width | 75.2 in | 73.6 in | 1.6 in |
Height | 68.1 in | 57.9 in | 10.2 in |
Curb Weight | 4045 lb. | 3633 lb. | 412 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 19.2 gal. | 18.5 gal. | 0.7 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 40.6 in | 40.2 in | 0.4 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 59.7 in | 58.3 in | 1.4 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 56.7 in | 56.5 in | 0.2 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 43.2 in | 45.5 in | -2.3 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 40.1 in | 37.9 in | 2.2 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 59.5 in | 56.5 in | 3 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 56.5 in | 56.3 in | 0.2 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 38.3 in | 37.2 in | 1.1 in |
Headroom, Row 3 | 36.3 in | 0.0 in | 36.3 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 3 | 55.0 in | 0.0 in | 55 in |
Hip Room, Row 3 | 42.3 in | 0.0 in | 42.3 in |
Legroom, Row 3 | 29.2 in | 0.0 in | 29.2 in |
Total Legroom | 110.7 in (over 3 rows) | 82.7 in (over 2 rows) | 28 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 10.3 ft3 | 16.0 ft3 | -5.7 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 42.3 ft3 | 16.0 | 26.3 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 95.4 ft3 | 16.0 ft3 | 79.4 ft3 |
2012 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2013 | 4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Perfect for two car seats. Really neat trick - the middle seat for the 2nd row rolls up into the center console. I did not remove it nor attempt to sit in it but that does make the 3rd row more likely to be used for those with car seats. I did not attempt to sit in the 3rd row (looked at it before folding into the floor for cargo space for the entire trip) so cannot opine on it. Use at your own risk. see full Toyota Highlander review |
2012 | 4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
I am 6 foot tall, and there is plenty of head and leg room in the driving position. Easy access as well. see full Toyota Highlander review |
2012 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2012 | 4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
3rd row seats are useless to me. Too little room for adults. Should have been an option for families with small children. With 3rd row seating, you lose storage space. see full Toyota Highlander review |
2011 | 4dr SUV 245-horsepower 3.5L V6 Hybrid CVT AWD |
Third row minimal legroom see full Toyota Highlander review |
2017 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 2017 Kia Cadenza.