The new Kia K900 caused a divide here at Top Speed headquarters. Some of us liked the way it looked, but some of us were less thrilled about. By contrast, everyone agreed that the Genesis G70 was designed like a proper luxury sedan. There lies the (perceived) divide between the two saloons. When it comes to all-around design, the G70 takes the cake over the K900.

If given a choice between the two models, which model would you park in your driveway? Do you like the K900 over the G70, or is it the other way around? On my end, the G70 wins this discussion hands-down. That’s not a slight on the K900, which has its own stately design qualities. Kia’s Tigernose front grille is clearly present in the sedan, and anytime it’s included in a car, it’s a good thing for the said model. The K900 also isn’t lacking in headlight technology. Those two LED rings at the bottom give the sedan some personality. Unfortunately, that’s also where the problem starts.

Apart from those LED rings that serve as daytime running lights, there’s very little personality to the K900. The design is way too conservative, especially for a car that’s supposed to be Kia’s flagship model. It has a boxy element to it that suggests that Kia disregarded any attempts at giving it a sleeker and more modern look. Some people may like the K900’s style now, in large part because it does look dignified in some ways. But that same look does not age well in the auto industry. Five years from now, we’re going to look back at the 2019 Kia K900 and wonder if Kia decided to bring the 1990s into the 2010s.

The good news is that the Genesis G70 doesn’t suffer from similar bouts of nostalgia. It may not sit in the same flagship rung as the K900 — that’s reserved for the G90 — but it succeeds in its presentation because it looks like a proper luxury car. It’s styled according to its status as a mid-size luxury sedan. There are hints of sportiness — the subtle spoiler at the back is a nice touch — that combine with elements of luxury to create a modern-looking vehicle that isn’t going to get dated anytime soon. The G70 was also styled so that it won’t be confused for a Hyundai. Sure, there are some Hyundai elements mixed in, but for the most part, this is a distinct Genesis model that exudes the right amount of confidence.

Given a choice between the two, it’s a no-brainer. The Genesis G70 not only looks better than the Kia 900 in the present, but it’s also going to age much better than Kia’s flagship luxury sedan.

Think of it this way: if in the next 15 years or so, you chance upon a used car dealership — if they still exist by then — and you see a 2019 Kia K900 and a 2019 Genesis G70, which of the two would you think was the newer model? It’d be the G70, right? You probably wouldn’t even remember that they were launched on the same date at the exact same place.

References

Genesis G70

Read our full review on the 2018 Genesis G70.

Kia K900

Read our full review on the 2019 Kia K900.

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