- Kia has unveiled the facelifted K8 in Korea with 4-cylinder and V6 engine options.
- The fastback sedan features a fresh face and new dashboard inspired by the EV9.
- The K8, launched in 2021, replaced the K7/Cadenza and is related to the Hyundai Grandeur.
Big sedans haven’t been a fixture in Kia’s American showrooms since the Cadenza was dropped in 2021, but they are alive and kicking on the other side of the Pacific, as this refreshed K8 reminds us.
The car we know as the Cadenza was sold as the K7 in Korea, where Kia replaced it with the K8 in 2021. The original K8 had a sleek fastback design, but a rather ugly nose that’s been banished in the mid-life refresh.
Related: 2025 Hyundai Grandeur Gains Black Exterior Package And Improved ADAS
So the K8 gets a much squarer front-end look that features vertical headlights connected by a slim LED light bar. The updates are less radical at the rear, though we can make out a new bumper design which seems to have ditched the old car’s fake exhaust tailpipes.
Many facelifts we report on these days consist of nothing more than tiny changes to the head- and taillight graphics, but Kia’s design confidence is growing so rapidly that it tends to make much bolder changes. And the changes in this case are focused on making the K8 appear more imposing, while also giving it Kia’s latest corporate look, as seen on models like the EV9 and EV3.
The family connection between the K8 and other recent models like the K9 and facelifted Sorento continues inside, where the standout feature is a wide, slim digital display that merges both the instrument cluster and the infotainment screen into one unit.
Also: Kia’s Flagship K9 Sedan Updated With A New Grille And Fresh Features
The pre-facelift car had something similar, but the new dashboard layout favors a geometric layout that emphasizes horizontal lines, which seems to amplify the sense of space. The interior materials have also been given a quality boost and equipment includes dual smartphone charging pads.More:
Powertrains available at launch this month include 2.5-liter four and 3.5-liter V6 petrol engines, plus a 3.5-liter V6 that runs on LPG. Sounding rather more in keeping with the times is a 1.6-liter hybrid option, though that won’t be ready for order until the end of the year.
Do you think Kia should bring the K8 to the US, or has that big sedan ship sailed?
