The 2020 Kia Cadenza might be last year’s model, but it still beat out the 2021 Toyota Avalon and the 2020 Chevrolet Impala. With Kia’s reliability on the rise across the board, what kind of features helped it pull ahead of the Toyota?

What makes the 2020 Kia Cadenza a solid choice?

U.S. News ranked the best large cars for 2021, and the Cadenza came out on top. The 2020 model was packed with safety features and an upgraded interior. A new touchscreen on the dash added a little upgraded luxury to the Cadenza.

With a score of 8.3 out of 10, this Kia has always ranked high with similar vehicles. The backseat space and cargo storage leave a lot of room for adventure.

One of the drawbacks is the price. When comparing the Kia Cadenza to other similar vehicles like the Kia Optima or the Toyota Avalon, you get similar features for less money. The base model MSRP was around $37,850, which is pretty high for the category.

In addition to the price, the fuel economy could be improved. It is around 20 miles per gallon for the city and 28 for the highway. Not bad, but you would have to fill up more frequently if you were big on road trips.

One of the stand-out features for the Cadenza is the extended warranty. Kia has a five-year, 60,000 warranty. Also, the powertrain warranty is 10-years, 100,000 miles. This is one of the better and longest warranty options out there.

The Cadenza currently has no recalls from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It received 3.5 stars out of five from J.D. Power for reliability.

Is the 2021 Toyota Avalon a less-expensive choice?

The new Avalon is number two on the U.S. News list. It has an above-average predicted reliability rating, which is a good sign. Similar to the Cadenza, it has stylish features and a comfortable cabin.

The V6 engine gets around and has an all-wheel-drive option for your adventures. If you are considering the Avalon or the Camry, the Avalon has more room.

For 2021, the MSRP starts around $35,875. If you want the TRD trim version, that one starts at $42,875. Not a terrible price, but it might be out of a lot of budgets starting so high.

The 2020 model and 2021 model didn’t change too much, but the Avalon did receive some additional USB ports and the XSE trim.

For the Avalon, the mileage is an estimated 25 miles per gallon in the city and 34 on the highway. Not bad for road trips and whatever else you might be doing with your Toyota.

The Avalon is covered by a three-year, 36,000-mile limited warranty and a five-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty to protect your purchase.

The Avalon has one open recall about the steering column. This means the airbag might not deploy properly in the event of a crash. Toyota will replace the steering column at no charge.

J.D. Power gave the Avalon four out of five stars for reliability.

Which car is right for you?

Depending on your needs, one of these cars will work. The Avalon is going to offer better fuel economy and is a little faster. It also has an all-wheel-drive trim if you are interested in that.

The Cadenza has an excellent warranty, a spacious interior, and many safety features that come standard. There are also some benefits to buying a 2020 model over a 2021 version.

The Cadenza wasn’t released with a 2021 version because it had many upgrades the previous year. With more standard features than ever, the Cadenza seems like a pretty good deal. The Toyota Avalon will always be there for you should you need it.