Forget A New Corolla. This V8 Luxury Barge Costs A Fraction Of The Price

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Saturday, 7 Nov 2026 13:00 0 3 autotech

What a difference just eleven years can make. We say eleven specifically because that is when the Kia K900 first hit the market for the 2015 model year. Now? Full-size luxury limousine-length sedans are not only unpopular; they’re just flat out not selling. So much so that brands like Lexus gave their flagship LS the chop for the 2026 model year. The fact of the matter regarding full-size luxury sedans is that they just don’t hold up in the used market or the market in general. People want utility and the perception of safety that an SUV can offer.

The Kia K900 Is A Luxury Flagship Not To Be Missed

2016 Kia K900 front 3/4

Kia

First and foremost, this is a rare, dedicated luxury product from a company that is considered the sportier (and perhaps less premium) of the three Korean brands. Hyundai also dipped its toe into the luxury segment with the original Genesis, but as we all know, that was spun off into its now incredibly successful standalone Genesis brand. The Kia K900 is unique not only in its looks but also in its offerings. It was able to offer everything else established luxury brands could at a much, much lower price.

History Of The K900

Why’d They Try To Go Upmarket?

Kia basically wanted to offer the same equipment and features that you could find on a Mercedes-Benz S-Class at the time for significantly less money. There were even VIP and VIP Plus packages that made the back seat more akin to the longstanding counterpart’s backseats and the comfort and convenience they bring. Many outlets criticized the K900 for its inability to drive like the other competitors and were skeptical of its quality. Kia, at the time, was not known for long-lasting, reliable quality (see: the Theta II engine disaster). The K900 was a way to get out of that rut.

A V8 Engine If You Can Believe It

Kia was mostly only known for four-cylinder, turbocharged four-cylinder, and some V6 engines. Of course, you can’t forget the Kia Borrego that had a V8, but for the most part, Kia employs smaller, more efficient engines. The K900 used Kia’s first-ever V8, called the Tau (also used in the Borrego), in the larger 5.0-liter variant. It powered the wheels of a near 5,000-pound car and had an abysmal EPA rating of 15 MPG in the city and 23 MPG on the highway. It had a ton of power, though.

The Tau V8’s Spec Sheet

The naturally aspirated 5.0-liter Tau V8 made a pretty impressive 420 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque. Independent testing showed that it could achieve 0 to 60 MPH in just 5.5 seconds. It came coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission with manual shift capabilities. It had a limited top speed of 149 MPH and could apparently do a quarter mile in 14.1 seconds at 101 MPH. Did we mention that it was direct injection?

Other Specifications And Qualifications

Depending on what model year and trim you get, there are several variations of suspension offerings as well. The second generation benefited from an electronically controlled suspension. Independent reviews stated in an article, however, that no amount of specialized suspension setup helped manage the immense body roll that was a result of its sheer size and weight. Some at least praise it for having a supple, comfortable ride, befitting a luxury car.

Bargain Bin Pricing/Luxury Offerings

2016 Kia K900 rear 3/4 shot
Kia
2016 Kia K900 side shot
Kia
Side view of 2015 Kia K900

It’s actually kind of incredible how cheap these are now. The second generation is holding at least 20% of its value, with the current KBB fair purchase price for the 2020 model being $22,100. The first generation, on the other hand, has absolutely plummeted to rock bottom. According to KBB, you can get a base model K900 for $6,475 and the Luxury is around $10,000. A slightly newer 2017 does have a bit of a better asking price of between $12,000 and $15,000, but it’s still pretty abysmal for what the original asking price was.

All The Tech And Features

A 2015 model, however, comes with a ton of features that shouldn’t count you out of considering it as a contender. Standard features for this year included a panoramic sunroof, a 9.2-inch navigation display (big for 2015!), heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a rear power sunshade. If you got the luxury trim, that added a 900-watt, 17-speaker Lexicon premium sound system. You don’t get half of those features in a Toyota Corolla.

Comparison To A New Corolla

Red 2026 Toyota Corolla Hybrid Front 3/4 Pose

We certainly recognize that this is a strange cross-shop, but it’s just to show that you can buy a full-size luxury sedan for tens of thousands of dollars less than one of the cheapest new compact sedans on the market. From a power perspective, the only thing that could keep up with the K900 in a straight line is the Toyota GR Corolla with a 0 to 60 MPH time of 5.1 to 5.4 seconds. The GR Corolla, however, could absolutely smoke the K900 around any and every corner. Additionally, the Corolla does come with some nice, new modern features that are comparable to the K900’s, but again, the Kia is going to have nicer features at the end of the day.

Overall Ownership

Especially when it comes to the original launch model year, the K900 didn’t—and still doesn’t—have much, if any, brand prestige. It’s competing against some of the biggest heavy hitters in the world, and they’re not even doing well right now from a sales perspective. Notably, J.D. Power did not produce a reliability score for it. There have been a few recalls, but, if you can believe it, the Tau V8 is generally lauded as a perfectly reliable engine that can last well into the 100,000-mile mark. Of course, it’s not perfect and has so many luxury components that will eventually fail and need fixing. There have been known suspension issues and electrical problems, and the fact that it’s an extremely rare car in the US makes it difficult to find parts.