Body shops will notice some significant changes on the exterior and brains of the 2020 Kia Cadenza following a refresh unveiled Thursday.

The refresh comes just three model years after Kia unveiled the next-generation 2017 Cadenza. That car included more than 50 percent advanced-high-strength steel, more than double the previous-generation Cadenza.

The OEM said it changed the hood and grille, adding a “deeper vertical waterfall fascia” and used a new lower front fascia housing the turn signals. The trunk lid and rear bumper have also been altered. Multilens LED headlights now come standard on all trims and include revamped LED daytime running lights, and KIA redid the rear LED taillights that already came standard.

In short, all of the prime collision repair real estate will be new for private-passenger and fleet repairers.

Repairers will also encounter an altered suspension, notably “reinforced rear sub-frame cross members.”

“NVH improvements for 2020 include reinforced rear sub-frame cross members and resonator wheels (19-inch only) that help to reduce road noise entering the cabin,” Kia wrote in a news release. “Redesigned shock valves reduce vibration and larger rear dampers improve rebound over rough surfaces.

Shops working in the interior will also note a “Completely redesigned dash and instrument cluster with relocated audio controls above the climate switchgear” and a huge new standard touchscreen — 12.3 inches versus the 7- or 8-inch editions on the 2019 Cadenza. 

The Cadenza only sold 1,630 units last year, but Kia suggested it might fare better.

“The Cadenza continues to introduce new and luxury-minded customers to the Kia brand,” Kia Motors America President Michael Cole, president said in a statement. “We recognize there are many customers who don’t want or need an SUV, but still desire a vehicle with plentiful interior room and a large trunk.  The Cadenza is the perfect choice for these people and the refreshed 2020 model is well-suited to their needs.”

The 2019 Cadenza only offered rear cross-traffic, parking distance, blind spot and lane change warnings standard across the board. More aggressive ADAS like autobraking was standard on some trims, but not all. But OEM eliminated the tech-light Premium base trim for the 2020 Cadenza and kept the Technology and Limited higher-end versions.

Every Cadenza you see will be loaded with standard Drive Wise ADAS suite features (It’s unclear if any of these have been upgraded further beyond their 2019 editions). Kia on Thursday highlighted:

• New standard “Sensor Fusion” combines Forward Collision Warning, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with pedestrian/cyclist detection, Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go and High Beam Assist

• Lane Following Assist follows visible lane markings or a preceding vehicle and provides steering inputs to maintain the vehicle’s position in the lane

• Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist – Rear with Lane Change Assist

Kial also described some standard 2020 Cadenza ADAS concepts we haven’t reported on much before.

“Highway Driving Assist” will automatically keep your Cadenza within the posted speed limit, and “Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control – Curve” will reduce your speed itself if navigation data tells the car a curve is near, Kia said.

Kia also provides Safe Exit Assist standard. If the car senses a car is coming, it will prevent the driver from disengaging the child safety lock and unwittingly dispensing their rear passenger out into the path of traffic.

More information:

“REFRESHED 2020 KIA CADENZA DEBUTS AT CHICAGO AUTO SHOW”

Kia, Feb. 6, 2020

Kia OEM repair procedures

Images:

The 2020 Kia Cadenza is shown. (Provided by Kia)

The 2020 Kia Cadenza offers a 12.3-inch touchscreen. (Provided by Kia)