Korean car manufacturer Kia is preparing to enter the medium pickup truck market and compete with Toyota, Isuzu, and Ford. In a recent social media post, Kia announced that it is developing a pickup truck that is scheduled to be launched in 2024. This means that Kia is ready to take on popular models like the Toyota Hilux, Isuzu D-Max, and Ford Ranger. The project is codenamed TK (Truck Kia).
An official spokesperson for Kia in Australia confirmed the development of the pickup truck and stated that it will be highly functional and suitable for its purpose. Kia also informed its dealers that the truck will be diesel-powered, offering a payload capacity of 1,000 kg and a towing capacity of 3,500 kg, similar to the Hilux and Ranger.
The truck will be available in single and double-cab variants, with the option of 4×4 or rear-wheel drive depending on customer preferences. Kia has not revealed specific details about the truck’s design.
The new Kia truck may be equipped with Kia and Hyundai’s 4-cylinder and V6 turbo diesel engines. Potential engine options include a 2.2-liter 4-cylinder turbo-diesel engine with 198 horsepower and 440 Nm of torque, as well as a 3.0-liter turbo diesel V6 engine with 246 horsepower and 560 Nm of torque.
Kia plans to expand the project to other markets in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East, but will initially focus on capitalizing on the demand in Australia, where the pickup segment is highly competitive.
