If you are going to get in the face of the mighty BMW 5-Series or the excellent Mercedes E-Class, then you either have supreme confidence in your car or just like winding-up the Germans with total disregard for the fact that you are likely to be blown out of the water.

That’s why Korean marques Hyundai and Kia take a slightly more subtle approach when they venture into Germanic territory.

Both companies have been successful with their big-value compact cars and SUVs and it was inevitable that they would venture into the luxury sedan market and their battle plan has to be applauded.

Their strategy is to ease into the sector rather than go head-to-head with German cars they know are superior and concentrate on offering a surprisingly good level of luxury for a fraction of the price.

This is a sensible policy because the fact remains that people that currently buy BMWs and Mercedes are usually wealthy and therefore will probably never switch to a Korean car.

However, there are plenty of customers out there who can’t afford a prestigious German car but would cherish a luxury sedan that comes at a price they can afford.

Last week I wrote about the Hyundai Centennial, which offers great value.

This week I got behind the wheel of Kia’s flagship, the Quoris which does an absolutely excellent job of providing impressive luxury whilst undercutting the German price tags.

Hyundai and Kia appear to have copied bits out of BMWs and Mercedes cars and although they are not as plush you can’t help but be impressed by what they have achieved.

The Quoris is a good looking car.

The front vaguely resembles a BMW and the whole aesthetic effect is one of quality.

Inside, comfortable leather seats, nice trims and a pleasing design give the cabin a genuinely classy feel.

The instrument cluster is ultramodern with a TFT screen which comes to life when you push the ignition button and a second screen provides the visuals for the infotainment system which is operated with a dial mounted on the centre console.

Our test car came fully loaded with impressive technology and driver assists found in far more expensive vehicles.

This is also a very spacious car with plenty of room in the back where passengers have two entertainment screens set into the back of the front seats and plenty of controls to ensure their comfort and the perfect climate.

The Quoris has a 3.8 litre V6 engine which delivers power to the back wheels via an eight-speed gearbox.

It has 290bhp and is surprisingly sprightly.

There are four driving modes, eco, normal, sport and a totally redundant ‘snow’ setting.

I drove it in sport mode which made it slightly more responsive.

Last week I complained about body roll in the Hyundai but it was minimal in the Kia and it handles corners and roundabouts with some panache.

It still falls short of European luxury car standards but the Quoris is excellent and the price makes it almost irresistible as the Koreans close in on those German giants.

Why Buy It

• Great value
• Looks good
• Comfortable and spacious
• Good engine
• Excellent technology

Why Not

• Slight image problem with motorists who see Korean cars as a poor-man’s alternative to prestigious brands.

 

Quoris – Specifications

Manufacturer : Kia
Production : 2012 to present
Class : Luxury sedan
Body style : Four seater
Layout : Rear wheel drive
Engine : 3.8 litre V6
Output : 290bhp
Torque : 358nm
0-100km : 7.3 seconds (approx)
Transmission : Eight-speed automatic
Kerb weight : 1930kg
Top speed : 240kmh
Price : Dh169,000

Rating out of 10: 8.5

 

See the KIA Quoris put through its paces in the video below