[EscalonJon]

There have been a few comments on this forum regarding the passenger seat on the Cadenza being too low and not height-adjustable.

For any one interested, here (below) is a conversation on the Optima Forums wherein this is discussed. It seems that the Sonata suffers the same "shortfall" with their passenger seats. Some people seem to not have noticed, some are bothered by it, and some are neutral. There is, however, a company that has taken notice and designed seat riser kits for the Optima and Sonata.

http://www.optimaforums.com/forum/5-optima-general-discussion/14193-higher-passenger-seat.html

The question is: Have you noticed that your passenger seat is too low for your comfort? Does it really matter much to you (or your passenger)?

What say you?

 

[GoChill]

My wife and another passenger both mentioned it and didn't like it. I don't know that it's a show stopper or worth an aftermarket fix but it should be a little higher or adjustable.

GoChill

 

[MBL]

I purchased a small pillow like used on a kitchen chair from Walmart in the Kitchen isle area for $5.00 and it solved the problem for my passenger's regarding the seat being low. Cheap fix. Maybe with enough complaints the future Cadenza's will have this fixed. Enjoying my Cadenza so far.

 

[Guy Scharf]

It's close to a show stopper for us. We test drove a Cadenza yesterday. It's a lovely car but my wife couldn't see out from the passenger seat. What is especially frustrating is that the Azera has an adjustable height passenger seat, but I prefer the feel of the Cadenza to the Azera.

 

[roadrunner_clams]

I agree the seat is too low. There is a link in that Optima thread for the seat height conversion kit to raise the seat. The kit is also available for the Cadenza. Looks like a very simple and inexpensive fix. The seat does not have to come out to install the kit and it there are only four bolts to loosen and tighten.

 

[SunnyDay]

Comments from a passenger

My husband has the Limited. I am 5'2" and the seat is definitely too low. Adding a cushion takes away the heating and ventilating advantages, but the seat is uncomfortable at this height. I tried a generic cushion, but it flattened out relatively quickly. I have been trying to find a cushion that elevates me while not looking awful (the light gray leather interior is lovely). I thought I finally found the solution with the gray wedge Compact Tush Cush. It is exactly the right width for the seats and very comfortable, but it is so dense and distributes the weight so evenly that the seat sensor doesn't activate the passenger airbag system. I really don't want to mess with fooling the sensors so I am still in search of a better solution. My personal rant is that if this car has been available in South Korea for five years, why hasn't this been addressed? It's not as if we're talking about a nation of tall people. It leads me to believe that Kia has no intention of coming up with a solution.

 

[SunnyDay]

additional info for previous post

I realized that I left off some info in my previous post. I have looked at the srautoshop conversion kit. It would raise the seat, but I wonder how safe it would be. There is the added problem of what happens if a tall person tries to use the seat. The elevation is constant once you install it, and our son and friends of my husband who might use the passenger seat are around 6 foot tall. I think this would put their heads too close to the ceiling? Has anyone used this kit, and would you please share what you know about it? Thank you!

 

[K5 Optima Store]

Passenger Seat Riser Kit for the Optima/Sonata/Cadenza

Sorry to bump an old thread here.

However anyone interested in the passenger seat riser kit, can find it on our site below:

K5 Optima Store - (New) Passenger Seat Riser Kit

I realized that I left off some info in my previous post. I have looked at the srautoshop conversion kit. It would raise the seat, but I wonder how safe it would be. There is the added problem of what happens if a tall person tries to use the seat. The elevation is constant once you install it, and our son and friends of my husband who might use the passenger seat are around 6 foot tall. I think this would put their heads too close to the ceiling? Has anyone used this kit, and would you please share what you know about it? Thank you!

We have been selling this kit for some time now and have sold over 40 kits. There is absolutely no safety concerns with this kit as it would be no different if someone who was 1.5 inches taller than another person were to sit in the seat.

So if you're 5'9 and your wife is 5'7 this kit would merely bring the seat height to about the same as where you would be sitting in the seat without the kit installed.

The kit only raises the seat by 1.5 inches. So if you're 5'4 and your friend is 6'4, that's an entire foot difference. There is no way raising the seat 1.5 inches would affect anything whatsoever regarding safety.

 

[lrj]

Passenger seat too low

I recently purchased the 2014 Cadenza and so far I love the car. However, the one serious problem my wife and others have noticed is the passenger seat is just too low.

It also bothers me because while driving and talking with my wife, I don't like her being 6 or so inches below me. It just feels as if Kia just did not care about the passenger.

I will probably get the kit to rise the seat, but in the future I believe Kia should upgrade the passenger seat to have the ability to adjust the height.

 

[thedunk300]

2015 Kia cadenza's already do have 6 way passenger controls. Although I am curious if anyone has done the seat riser yet? any problems?

 

[brandontaz2k2]

Nope, I don't see how anyone could spend $80 on a few pieces of metal that you could have some local shop do for $20 (if that). I'm just cheap that way, however, I'm sure it's a great fix for the low seats.

 

[Ad Verum]

2014 Passenger seat too low

I am generally very happy with my Cadenza, but the passenger seat is too low and I would be pleased if KIA developed a way to adjust the passenger seat height. I recently gave a 6 foot plus friend a ride and his knees were just under his chin. Thanks.

 

[thedunk300]

I am generally very happy with my Cadenza, but the passenger seat is too low and I would be pleased if KIA developed a way to adjust the passenger seat height. I recently gave a 6 foot plus friend a ride and his knees were just under his chin. Thanks.

Well like stated before there is the seat riser kits but would have to be done either by yourself or at a shop. My girlfriend is 6'1 and i'm 6'8 but I feel its too risky to mess with the seats. Heres the link: K5 Optima Store - (New) Passenger Seat Riser Kit. Although the new 2015 have 8 way passenger seats, which is too bad.

 

[Ratso]

Installed Seat Riserrs in a Cadenza??

I have read a lot about these seat risers in the Optima Forum. Sounds like the can be difficult to install. Has anyone have experience installing these in a Cadenza? I'm considering buying a 2015 Limted with the new improved seats but the deals and rebates out there on the remaining 2014's are very enticing. The 2014 standard passenger seat is a no go for both me and my wife! Are these risers a viable option or should I wait for the 2015s without the Delete Package. The current 2015s in the dealers do not include surround backup camera, cross traffic alert, etc.

 

[Dave H]

I have read a lot about these seat risers in the Optima Forum. Sounds like the can be difficult to install. Has anyone have experience installing these in a Cadenza? I'm considering buying a 2015 Limted with the new improved seats but the deals and rebates out there on the remaining 2014's are very enticing. The 2014 standard passenger seat is a no go for both me and my wife! Are these risers a viable option or should I wait for the 2015s without the Delete Package. The current 2015s in the dealers do not include surround backup camera, cross traffic alert, etc.

I ordered a set from K5 Optima; and installed with help of a younger more flexible friend. It's a two person job as the bolt holes are angled a bit, but, the kit's holes are straight up and down so aligning them to get the bolts screwed in takes wiggling and jiggling and patience.

But, once they are in it solves the height problem and they are as steady as a rock; I recommend them! Totally solves the height problem.

Besides, the 2015's have a slight price increase of several hundred $ even with the delete package; there is really very, very little difference in 2015 vs. 2014 due to the delete package; go for a good deal on a 2014 and get the kit from K5!

good luck!

 

[K5 Optima Store]

I am generally very happy with my Cadenza, but the passenger seat is too low and I would be pleased if KIA developed a way to adjust the passenger seat height. I recently gave a 6 foot plus friend a ride and his knees were just under his chin. Thanks.

See below:

Well like stated before there is the seat riser kits but would have to be done either by yourself or at a shop. My girlfriend is 6'1 and i'm 6'8 but I feel its too risky to mess with the seats. Heres the link: K5 Optima Store - (New) Passenger Seat Riser Kit. Although the new 2015 have 8 way passenger seats, which is too bad.

Thank you for sharing the link for us.

I have read a lot about these seat risers in the Optima Forum. Sounds like the can be difficult to install. Has anyone have experience installing these in a Cadenza? I'm considering buying a 2015 Limted with the new improved seats but the deals and rebates out there on the remaining 2014's are very enticing. The 2014 standard passenger seat is a no go for both me and my wife! Are these risers a viable option or should I wait for the 2015s without the Delete Package. The current 2015s in the dealers do not include surround backup camera, cross traffic alert, etc.

We have sold around 2 dozen seat riser kits for the Kia Cadenza in the last couple of months and can tell you we have only had 1 return so far. Some customers have a small problem using any sort of force to install the kit, in fear of damaging something. However we have never had any issues with a customer damaging their vehicle from installing one of our kits. If installed correctly, there is a noticeable difference with the kit we sell. You can also see our forum thread with comments from other users here:

http://www.cadenzaforum.com/forum/k5-optima-store/4105-vendor-fs-kia-cadenza-passenger-seat-riser-kit.html

I ordered a set from K5 Optima; and installed with help of a younger more flexible friend. It's a two person job as the bolt holes are angled a bit, but, the kit's holes are straight up and down so aligning them to get the bolts screwed in takes wiggling and jiggling and patience.

But, once they are in it solves the height problem and they are as steady as a rock; I recommend them! Totally solves the height problem.

Besides, the 2015's have a slight price increase of several hundred $ even with the delete package; there is really very, very little difference in 2015 vs. 2014 due to the delete package; go for a good deal on a 2014 and get the kit from K5!

good luck!

Thank you for your comments and review. I agree 100% that once installed the seat riser kit works great.

 

[SG1]

seat riser kit

Bought the seat riser kit from the Optima store.

The bolts are not completely vertical so when you raise the seat up the holes don't match.

15 minute job turned into over an hour of making the seat rail holes bigger.

Finally got it together - works as advertised seat is much better positioned.

 

[bizjet]

I have a Cadenza and it is too low. I had a 2012 Optima and it had the same issue. Has anyone ever contacted Kia and asked about the height issue?

 

[K5 Optima Store]

Bought the seat riser kit from the Optima store.

The bolts are not completely vertical so when you raise the seat up the holes don't match.

15 minute job turned into over an hour of making the seat rail holes bigger.

Finally got it together - works as advertised seat is much better positioned.

Thank you for your order with us. Sorry to hear you had an issue with the installation. I can assure you and anyone else that any sort of modification to the seat rail or risers is not required to install this kit. It may be a little tricky to get installed, however there is no need to modify anything to get it installed.

I have a Cadenza and it is too low. I had a 2012 Optima and it had the same issue. Has anyone ever contacted Kia and asked about the height issue?

All models of Kia and many Hyundai have this same issue. Many people have contacted Kia about this and they really had nothing to say about it. We are now selling our kits to a few dealerships across the country.

 

[Jpiatchek]

Works like a champ. Take front and back bolts at the same time.