LOOKS

Some vehicles are more attractive inside than out, or vice versa. That is definitely the case here.

The K900’s exterior doesn’t dazzle as it should -- especially considering its price point and competition. The styling leaves something to be desired.

But the interior will leave even the “Kia can’t do luxury” crowd impressed with its quality overall design and look. Every stitch looks and feels high-end, perhaps just a tick below the quality level on some of the more established luxury brands.

Sizewise, you get a large interior, with plenty of headroom and legroom all around (which would make sense, as this is a full-size sedan). There is also a set of controls for climate and radio in the back seat for convenience.

You get a panoramic sunroof, and power rear shade to keep out the sun if you wish. Front and rear seats are heated, if you’re wanting to warm up quickly.

The big test for a car that claims to be luxury-level is whether a driver sitting in that car feels like its a luxurious ride while they are driving it, and I can definitely say that was the case here. The German competitors have done this luxury thing for a while, so they have Kia beaten at this point on style, but for a first attempt Kia didn’t do that bad and should get even stronger in their efforts as the years go on and they grow in this segment.

ENGINE, HORSEPOWER

The Kia K900 test vehicle I had featured a roaring 5.0-liter, direct injection V8 engine that cranked out 420 horsepower. There is also the option for a 3.8-liter V6 engine (311 hp), which will save you a good chunk of change, but also take a good chunk of the fun out of this ride. Transmission on both is an eight-speed automatic.

Unfortunately, there is no all-wheel drive option on the K900, only rear-wheel drive is offered. So that limits its appeal somewhat in certain climates.

While it isn’t the fastest thing I’ve driven lately, the K900 was definitely up there knocking on the door. And it has a lot of personality, so it was one of the most fun cars I’ve driven in a while. For a vehicle this size it’s got a strong amount of get-up-and-go, plus the handling isn’t shabby either so it’s definitely fun on windy roads.

I had a similarly enjoyable experience in the Hyundai Equus, a corporate cousin of the K900 with many similarities.

The ride was quiet and enjoyable in the K900, blocking out the excess road noise and handling unruly roads well.

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY FEATURES

While not my favorite tech interface overall, Kia’s UVO eServices tech interface is easy enough to use and learn how to master, and my test vehicle’s large display allowed me to see the information on the screen quite clearly.

Voice commands were hit and miss; sometimes successful and other times not so much.

On the display directly in front of the driver, there are plenty of menus to scroll through to tell you everything you want to know about the car. And the vehicle was kind enough to alert me of low tire pressure in one tire, which is a nice thing for you car to do to help you avoid a blown tire and everything that could come with that.

The optional head-up display is a strong tech feature on the K900, and it allows you to keep your eyes squarely on the road ahead. Not only can you see the mph you are driving, you can also see on the display whether cars are on either side of you, so you know whether changing lanes is safe.

Smart cruise control will slow the car down if another driver jumps in your lane, another helpful safety feature.

Other safety features that bring peace of mind include: Blind Spot Detection system, Lane Departure Warning system and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

MPG
The K900’s official mpg numbers are 15 city/23 highway/18 combined. I averaged about 20.

The official numbers are slightly below its competitors from the mainstay luxury brands, but nothing too drastic.

PRICE, BOTTOM LINE
At first glance, the top-level K900’s price of $65,500 (plus $900 destination charge for a total of $66,400) seems steep. After all, this is a Kia. But a practical person will note that full-size luxury competitors from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi and Lexus all clock it with a starting price at least $10K higher, some double that.

I respect Kia for going all-in with this stab into the luxury car segment, but the real question for Kia that will determine their success (or lack of it) is this: Will folks who buy luxury cars really can much about saving $10K or $20K?, or is it all about the brand name?

Kia isn’t a name associated with luxury cars, and that’s the biggest battle the K900 has to overcome. It’s a strong and powerful ride that’s affordable by comparison, but in a world where names mean so much it’s going to be interesting to see how many people pick up a K900.

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Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.