By It is time for Kia to enter the most valuable market in the automotive industry. And it’s about to happen next year. The 2020 Kia Pickup Truck is almost ready for the premiere. We could see the first images and hear details pretty soon. According to some sources, Hyundai will launch Santa Cruz truck, and shortly after it, Kia pickup will enter the market. These two trucks will share a lot of things in common. The platform of the Hyundai Santa Fe will make both models more sporty and easier to handle.
This is not the first time the Korean company is trying to pull off such a project. Back in the 2000s, the Kia Mojave concept was an idea of the first pickup. It has anything in common with the Mohave SUV available in some markets. So the prototypes of the Mojave concept were tested on the streets. We can hear that truck could get both V6 and four-cylinder engine. The price of the new arrival will depend on this choice. Also, we could see a hybrid engine in Kia’s vehicles soon. Sedona minivan and models from SUV class are getting it first.
Finally, it is still a question if the 2020 Kia Pickup Truck is heading to the US market. True or false, sooner or later the Korean carmaker will launch this vehicle in the major stage in the automotive industry. The growth of sales by this carmaker is almost unbelievable. The next logical step will be signing up for the new, most profitable segment. Competitors will closely monitor the situation. Kia truck is not going to be a threat right from the start, but in the future, it can make the situation in this segment pretty interesting.
2020 Kia Pickup Truck Concept
The 2020 Kia Pickup Truck will use the same platform as the Hyundai Santa Cruz truck and the Santa Fe SUV. That means the vehicles will ride on a unibody architecture. This has its advantages over body on frame platform. First of all, there is much better handling. The unibody concept is significantly lighter. Besides maneuvering, this version will offer a better fuel economy. Furthermore, the safety is on the higher level. Finally, the pickup is not going to find too many rivals. Only Honda Ridgeline is available in the US market with such architecture. All other trucks are using body on frame. These pickups will be able to tow more, and ladder frame is more durable and resistible. It leads to better off-road capabilities.
2020 Kia Pickup Truck Specs
Well, it’s obvious that the 2020 Kia Pickup Truck will be part of the mid-size segment. The Korean company will test its capabilities before it enters larger truck segments. So, the powertrain options for the new vehicle will be either four-cylinder or V6 units. Most of its rivals will get such powertrains.
If the 2020 Kia Pickup Truck uses the drivetrain from its predecessor, Mojave truck, it will be a V6 engine. The prototype carried a 3.8-liter V6 mill that was capable of producing 280 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Five-speed transmission is not an option anymore.
Nowadays, the largest Kia’s SUV Sorento and Sedona minivan are using a 3.3-liter V6 engine. With it, the truck would get around 275 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque. Towing capacity of 5,000 pounds is not a jaw-dropping, but it is a respectable start for the 2020 Kia Truck.
Four-cylinder options
The 2020 Kia Pickup Truck is a sporty truck with unibody platform. That makes it pretty versatile for tuning. So, engineers will take advantage of and offer a four-cylinder engine, with and without a turbocharger.
The base trucks will probably get one of the most reliable engines Kia vehicles are offering. It is a 2.4-liter inline-four drivetrain with the ability to produce 185 hp. That is a good output that will make the 2020 Kia Pickup competitive on the market. Also, a four-cylinder unit can deliver 180 pound-feet of torque. The towing capacity will definitely drop with this configuration, which also features a six-speed automatic transmission. Also, buyers of the new vehicle will choose between 2WD and 4WD system.
The last option is a turbocharged 4-pot unit. It comes with a 2.0-liter displacement. Power increase does not mean higher fuel consumption. Well, for the cost of 1 mpg, this engine will create 65 ponies more. Also, the torque rating goes up to 260 lb-ft. A sporty truck is not going to be too capable of towing. But the driving impression, handling, and maneuvering are in focus.
Hybrid
We will go back to the V6 unit and vehicles that already use it. Kia Sedona is a minivan that will combine a 3.3-liter engine with an electric motor to create a mighty hybrid. It will compete, Chrysler Pacifica, as the only hybrid minivan. The 2020 Kia Pickup Truck and Sorento SUV are going to take advantage of the same setup. However, a hybrid engine is still in development and it is probably not going to arrive by the time of truck’s debut. Well, it can be an update for the 2020 Kia Pickup coming later next year. The premiere of the new vehicle will be in late 2019. The last quarter seems to be a perfect timing, or even early 2020. Well, the next year Detroit Auto Show is happening in summer, so the major show in the automotive world could host the premiere of a hybrid model.
Competition
The mid-size truck segment is growing. In 2019 we will see the return of the Ford Ranger. Next year, the Jeep comes back to the truck industry after 30 years with its 2020 Gladiator. Rumors are speculating about Dodge Dakota and Chevy Avalanche. Well, these are still unconfirmed gossips.
On the other hand, there are proven models in the market. Probably, the best truck out there is Chevy Colorado. This model has it all – petrol and diesel engines, off-road packages, and luxurious GMC Canyon Denali twin. Toyota Tacoma should get a diesel engine next season and the pickup already offers one of the meanest off-road packages – TRD Pro. Nissan Frontier is the cheapest vehicle in the segment, and the Honda Ridgeline is the only one that comes with a unibody platform.
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