A Kia pickup truck to rival the likes of the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger has been confirmed for the Australian market and will arrive in 2025. While relatively few spy shots of the vehicle have emerged over the past couple of years, Kia confirmed that it was working on two separate electric trucks last March. It revealed that one would be based on Hyundai’s E-GMP electric platform and the second truck will be focused on emerging markets. This second model is thought to be the one heading to Australia but it won’t be sold exclusively as an EV.
Kia Australia confirmed the model during
its most recent meeting with local dealerships. The carmaker stated that the
vehicle will be a “genuine and serious rival” to the Toyota Hilux and Ford
Ranger, Wheels reports. It is reported that Kia has purchased Toyota Hilux and
Ford Ranger models for benchmark testing. While limited details about the
vehicle have been confirmed, the mid-size pickup truck will allegedly have
towing and carrying capacities similar to its rivals, meaning it will be able
to carry a payload of up to 1,000 kg and have a maximum tow rating
of up to 3,500 kg.
Kia Australia also confirmed to dealers
that the pickup will launch locally with diesel powertrains with the most
likely candidate being the 2.2-liter CRDi four-cylinder turbo-diesel used for
many years in the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe. The 3.0-liter turbo-diesel
of the Mohave is also a possibility. It is worth noting that an electric version
of the pickup is also anticipated to be introduced at a later stage.
Underpinning the pickup will be a new
ladder-frame chassis that will likely be shared with the Kia Mohave SUV sold in
South Korea. Spy shots from earlier this year showed a prototype adorned with
bodywork from the Mohave, including its grille, headlights, front bumper, front
fenders, cabin, and front doors. It remains uncertain if this prototype was
just using provisional parts or if it will indeed share many exterior
components with the Mohave.
