2020 Kia Cadenza, improved exterior styling and enhanced driver assistance features.

Kia divides its mid-size sedan lineup in several ways. While the Optima carries heavy responsibility as the most popular model, Kia also offers two higher-end models. The Stinger is a sportier sedan, while the Cadenza aims for luxury.

We saw an update last summer to the 2020 Kia K7, the Korean name for the Cadenza, but that was a Korean market model. On Thursday, Kia revealed details of the 2020 Cadenza at the Chicago Auto Show. The new Cadenza has a new interior and exterior appearance, expanded driver assistance features, and a smaller lineup.

There will be only two trim levels, Technology and Limited. The current Premium trim will not return.

Exterior changes make a good-looking car even more attractive. The nose features a taller waterfall grille, a finely tuned lower front fascia with integrated turn signals, LED headlights with new LED daytime driving lights, and a revised hood shape with a prominent ridge that flows from the edge of the grille. The rear bumper and decklid have also been changed, and the LED taillights have been updated. Standard 18-inch and optional 19-inch wheels are also new.

On the interior, the Cadenza has been further modified. The newly designed dashboard comes standard with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 4.2-inch digital TFT display screen is standard on the instrument panel. Limited models add mood lighting, remote start as standard, an upgraded wireless phone charger, three additional USB charging ports, and new saddle brown and gray leather.

Kia's Drive-Wise suite of driver assistance features has been updated. Forward Collision Warning, which detects pedestrians and cyclists and activates automatic emergency braking; automatic high beams; active lane control, which follows the lane and the vehicle in front; blind spot monitoring with steering assist; occupant Exit Warning System, which warns occupants not to open the door when approaching a vehicle, and other features have been added. Adaptive cruise control now includes a stop-and-go function, a speed limit recognition function that changes speed when the speed limit changes, and a function that reduces speed on curves based on navigation information.

The K7 will be powered by a new 2.5-liter inline-four and a 3.0-liter V-6, but the 2020 Cadenza will return with the same 290-horsepower 3.3-liter V-6 from last year. an eight-speed automatic transmission will also return, sending power to the front wheels.

Kia claims to have improved noise, vibration, and harshness. Reinforced subframe crossmembers and resonator wheels on models with 19-inch wheels reduce cabin noise, improved shock valves reduce vibration, and larger rear dampers improve rebound on rough roads.

The 2020 Kia Cadenza will go on sale later this year, with pricing to be announced closer to launch.

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