If we can rely on the latest reports, the Kia Pickup Truck could arrive already in 2020. It’s no secret that pickup trucks are getting more and more popular these days. These vehicles are in higher demand than ever. Traditionally, the full-size segment is reserved for North American manufacturers, as well as for a couple of Japanese companies. On the other side, the mid-size segment is still open for all, especially in a so-called unibody subsegment, were the new Kia Pickup Truck is expected to belong.
The new model is expected to have a lot of things in common with the new SUV called Telluride. This is a brand-new model from the Korean manufacturer, which brings a lot of interesting design solutions, not just in terms of aesthetics, but in other aspects as well. As we already mentioned, the new truck could arrive already in the next year.
Kia Pickup Truck Design
When it comes to base design characteristics, the first thing that comes to mind is the platform. You probably know that the Korean manufacturer doesn’t actually have a pedigree of making trucks. Therefore, it doesn’t have a classic body-on-frame platform in its offer. This leads us to a simple conclusion that the new Kia Pickup Truck is about to ride on a unibody platform.
This may sound odd to you, but the fact is that there are already some pretty successful models on the market with such design, starting from the excellent Honda Ridgeline. Moreover, Hyundai’s pickup truck is coming soon, so the Kia Pickup Truck definitely has a perfect basis. The two sister companies have many models that share most of the parts, so these two new trucks shouldn’t be an exception either.
Kia Pickup Truck Exterior Design
Of course, another important thing about the Kia Pickup Truck is its exterior design. First of all, this will be a mid-size pickup truck. According to the latest reports, it will have a lot of things in common with the new Telluride SUV. This refers no just to mechanics, but to the aesthetical aspect as well. The two models will share a lot of sheet metal, especially at the front. We presume that the Kia Pickup Truck will feature the same design language, which means the same face, characterized by a prominent grille and large squarish headlights. Of course, a number of unique details are expected as well.
On the other side, the rest of the truck would come in a typical pickup manner. Compared to the SUV sibling, it will probably feature a slightly longer wheelbase. After all, the Kia Pickup Truck needs enough space to accommodate both two spacious rows of seats and decent cargo size. Without any doubt, a crew cab is the only layout we expect to see.
Interior
The Kia Pickup Truck will without any doubt share a lot of things with the new Telluride. However, it seems very hard to believe that the cabin design is about to be exactly the same. Simply, the new SUV is very luxurious. It comes with a lot of refinement in all aspects. First of all, materials are super fine, which isn’t the best choice for a pickup truck. Therefore, the new model may come with a little bit more rugged cabin, with more durable materials and without too many luxury details like wood trim and similar things.
Still, we have no doubt that the new cabin will still feature very high quality. Also, count on a lot of standard equipment, which includes various kinds of advanced safety systems and other tech goodies. As we already mentioned, a crew cab should be the only layout in the offer, so count on a lot of comforts as well.
Kia Pickup Truck Engine
The is one of the rare aspects where we are 100% sure about the new Kia Pickup Truck. Without any doubt, the new truck will come with the new version of a familiar 3.8-liter V6 engine, the same one that powers the Telluride. This unit features a max output of 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. The engine comes with the company’s new 8-speed automatic gearbox, which guarantees a pretty smooth and comfortable ride.
Despite plenty of power, the new Kia Pickup won’t bee among most capable models in the class. Due to a unibody platform, a max towing capacity probably won’t go much over 5.000 pounds. On the other side, count on superior ride quality.
Kia Pickup Truck Release Date and Price
As we already mentioned, the Kia Pickup Truck could arrive already in 2020. Still, keep in mind that we are still waiting to hear something from the officials, so more precise details are still unavailable. When it comes to the price, we presume that the company will tend to offer more affordable price compared to rivals like Honda Ridgeline, so base models will definitely go under 30.000 dollars.
