Surprisingly, South Korean automaker Kia has announced its ambition to launch a mid-size pickup truck in Australia come 2025. This newcomer is set to compete against prominent market favorites including the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.
The announcement, as reported by the Australian publication, Drive, was disclosed during a confidential gathering with dealers. While Kia hasn’t yet confirmed whether this new model will make its way to the U.S. market, the potential to stand toe-to-toe with the Ford Ranger in worldwide markets is clear.
Kia’s new pickup, currently identified by the internal model code “TK”, is said to boast a new ladder-frame chassis and utilize a diesel engine. The exact engine model remains unspecified, but possibilities include the four-cylinder diesel from the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe, or the 3.0-liter inline-six diesel used in foreign versions of the Genesis GV80.
The design direction for the new pickup, as evidenced by spy photos, suggests a departure from Kia’s 2004 KCV4 Mojave concept, and instead appears to favor a design more akin to conventional mid-sized trucks.
Despite revealing some details to Australian dealers, Kia remains reticent on other specifics about the new truck. The manufacturer confirmed, “Kia is currently developing a future pickup truck model that will be highly capable and fit for purpose. Additional details will be confirmed in due course.”
There are questions about whether Hyundai, Kia’s corporate sibling, will pursue its own variant of this new pickup. Currently, Hyundai offers the Santa Cruz pickup in the U.S., a smaller unibody truck sharing its platform with other Hyundai crossovers.
The exact timeline for Kia’s new pickup truck’s debut is unclear, though it’s likely to remain under wraps until at least 2024. While the U.S. release remains uncertain, the prospect of a new player in the bustling mid-size truck segment could be a game-changer. For now, all eyes are on Kia’s forthcoming truck for the Australian market.
