In Korea, Kia’s large sedan isn’t called the Cadenza or the K7. It’s the K8, a name Kia introduced in 2021 for a car built on the K7’s success.
The K8 is on Kia’s Korean lineup but not on its US, UK or Australian ones. This guide covers where the name came from, how big the car is, its four powertrains, its official Korean fuel economy and what it costs in Korea.
The short answer
- What it is: a large sedan, 5,050 mm (198.8 in) long, sold in Korea as The 2027 K8.
- Cadenza link: Kia’s 2021 launch release calls the K8 a new name that builds on the K7, known as the Cadenza in some markets.
- Powertrains: 2.5 gas, 3.5 gas (with an AWD version), 3.5 LPG and 1.6 turbo hybrid.
- Where it’s listed: Korea. Not listed on Kia’s US, UK or Australian lineups when we checked on October 17, 2026.
From K7 and Cadenza to K8
In February 2021, Kia announced the K8 as the first sedan to wear its new logo. The release describes the K8 as a new model name for Kia. It also says the K8 builds on the success of the K7, which it notes was known as the Cadenza in some markets.
By length, the K8 sits between the K5 and the K9 in Kia’s Korean lineup.
We didn’t find a reason in Kia’s materials for the K8’s absence from the US, UK and Australian lineups. It’s one of five models in our list of Hyundai and Kia models missing from the US, UK and Australian lineups. That guide explains how we checked each market.
How big is the K8?
The easiest way to place it is next to Kia’s other Korean sedans. Of the three, only the K5 is also on Kia’s US lineup.
| Sedan | Length | Wheelbase | Powertrains in Korea | Starting price in Korea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K5 | 4,905 mm (193.1 in) | 2,850 mm (112.2 in) | 1.6 turbo gas, 2.0 gas, 2.0 LPG, 2.0 hybrid | KRW 27,630,000 |
| K8 | 5,050 mm (198.8 in) | 2,895 mm (114.0 in) | 2.5 gas, 3.5 gas, 3.5 LPG, 1.6 turbo hybrid | KRW 37,310,000 |
| K9 | 5,140 mm (202.4 in) | 3,105 mm (122.2 in) | 3.8 gas, 3.3 turbo gas | KRW 60,340,000 |
Sizes and powertrains are from Kia Korea’s spec pages for The 2027 K5, The 2027 K8 and The 2026 K9. Starting prices are the “from” prices shown on the same pages, each for the trim that page names. Inch figures are our own conversions.
The K8 is 1,880 mm (74.0 in) wide and 1,455 mm (57.3 in) tall on 17- to 19-inch wheels, or 1,480 mm (58.3 in) on 20-inch wheels. It’s 145 mm longer than the K5 and 90 mm shorter than the K9, by our subtraction.
The four K8 powertrains
Kia Korea’s spec page for The 2027 K8 lists these outputs. Kia gives power in PS and torque in kgf·m. The hp and Nm figures in brackets are our conversions.
| Powertrain | Engine size | Max power | Max torque | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 gas | 2,497 cc | 198 PS (195 hp) | 25.3 kgf·m (248 Nm) | 8-speed automatic |
| 3.5 gas | 3,470 cc | 300 PS (296 hp) | 36.6 kgf·m (359 Nm) | 8-speed automatic (AWD version available) |
| 3.5 LPG | 3,470 cc | 240 PS (237 hp) | 32.0 kgf·m (314 Nm) | 8-speed automatic |
| 1.6 turbo hybrid | 1,598 cc | Electric motor 47.7 kW | 27.0 kgf·m (265 Nm) engine, 264 Nm motor | 6-speed automatic |
For the hybrid, the spec page lists the motor’s output but not a combined system output, so we haven’t given one. AWD appears only with the 3.5 gas engine in the fuel economy listings.
The mix of engines will look familiar if you know Hyundai’s Korean lineup. The Grandeur is also offered with 2.5 and 3.5 gas, 3.5 LPG and a 1.6 turbo hybrid with a 47.7 kW motor, according to Hyundai Korea’s price lists. Our guide to what happened to the Hyundai Azera covers that car.
Official fuel economy in Korea
Kia lists each version’s government-reported fuel economy (정부 신고 연비) in km/L, split by wheel size. Bigger wheels come with the same or lower figures. Here are the combined figures for the smallest and largest wheel each version is listed with. Kia also lists city and highway figures, which the converter below shows.
| Version | Wheel sizes listed | Combined, km/L |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 gas | 17 to 20 in | 12.0 to 11.3 |
| 3.5 gas | 18 to 20 in | 10.1 to 9.9 |
| 3.5 gas AWD | 18 to 20 in | 9.1 to 9.0 |
| 3.5 LPG | 17 to 18 in | 8.0 to 7.8 |
| 1.6 turbo hybrid | 17 to 19 in | 18.1 to 16.1 |
Kia notes that these come from a standard test mode and that real-world economy varies with road conditions, driving style, load, maintenance and outside temperature. They aren’t EPA or WLTP figures, so don’t compare them directly with a US window sticker or a UK brochure.
Kia also lists an 18-inch hybrid with its built-in dashcam (빌트인 캠) fitted, at 16.7 km/L combined. That’s inside the range above, and the converter includes it.
The LPG figure is per liter of LPG, not gasoline, so it isn’t directly comparable with the others.
K8 fuel economy converter
Pick a version and wheel size to see Kia’s official Korean figures in US mpg, UK mpg and L/100 km. Or type in any km/L figure.
Figures from Kia Korea’s specification page for The 2027 K8 (government-reported fuel economy, standard test mode). Last checked October 17, 2026. mpg and L/100 km are our unit conversions, not EPA or WLTP ratings.
The LPG K8
The 3.5 LPG runs on liquefied petroleum gas instead of gasoline, from the same 3,470 cc engine size as the 3.5 gas. Who can register an LPG car, and how LPG is taxed, are separate questions this guide doesn’t cover.
Kia Korea also lists a separate K8 Taxi in its taxi section. That’s a different listing from the regular K8 covered here.
What the K8 costs in Korea
On October 17, 2026, Kia Korea’s K8 page showed a starting price of KRW 37,310,000. That’s for the 2.5 gas in its Noblesse Light (노블레스 라이트) trim. Prices for other trims and powertrains are in Kia’s Korean price list.
Prices and trims can change, so check the current price list (under the 승용, passenger car, tab) rather than relying on this figure. We haven’t converted it to dollars or pounds, since exchange rates move.
Searching for a K8 in Korean
The K8 needs no translation: it’s written K8 in Korean too. Kia Korea’s own pages call the current car The 2027 K8. For the older car, search K7, its name in Korea, rather than Cadenza.
If you only know a car’s US or UK name, our Hyundai and Kia name lookup table lets you type it in and find the Korean name.
Where to check
- Korean specs and prices: Kia Korea K8 specifications and Kia Korea catalog and price lists (in Korean)
- The name history: Kia’s February 2021 K8 announcement on Kia’s global newsroom
- Other markets: Kia US vehicles, Kia UK new cars and Kia Australia
Last checked: October 17, 2026. Sources: Kia Korea specification pages for The 2027 K8, The 2027 K5 and The 2026 K9 (sizes, powertrains, fuel economy, starting prices); Kia’s global newsroom release on the K8, February 2021; Kia vehicle lineup pages for the US, UK and Australia. Grandeur powertrains are from Hyundai Korea’s price lists (checked October 11, 2026). Inch, hp, Nm, mpg and L/100 km figures are our own conversions.
