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2022 Kia Pickup To Feature Dual Cab, Single Cab, Diesel, Gasoline Options

Towards the end of July 2019, chief operating officer of Kia Australia confirmed that a dual-cab ute will be sold in the Land Down Under as early as 2022. Damien Meredith also mentioned that “work has begun” on the mid-size pickup truck, which will also be offered as a single cab.
Hyundai Santa Cruz Crossover Truck concept 15 photos
Photo: Hyundai
Hyundai Santa Cruz Crossover Truck ConceptHyundai Santa Cruz Crossover Truck ConceptHyundai Santa Cruz Crossover Truck ConceptHyundai Santa Cruz Crossover Truck ConceptHyundai Santa Cruz Crossover Truck ConceptHyundai Santa Cruz Crossover Truck ConceptHyundai Santa Cruz Crossover Truck ConceptHyundai Santa Cruz Crossover Truck ConceptHyundai Santa Cruz Crossover Truck ConceptHyundai Santa Cruz Crossover Truck ConceptHyundai Santa Cruz Crossover Truck ConceptHyundai Santa Cruz Crossover Truck ConceptHyundai Santa Cruz Crossover Truck ConceptHyundai Santa Cruz Crossover Truck Concept
Cars Guide further understands that customers will be treated to gasoline and turbo diesel options, but Meredith didn’t mention more about the said engine choices. Kia is targeting around 10 percent of the market, namely 21,000 sales from a grand total of approximately 210,000 pickup trucks.

Success in the light commercial vehicle segment would take Kia and Hyundai to a different level, more so because Mazda is struggling a bit with the BT-50 pickup. It should be mentioned that this workhorse is a proper one of those, not a crossover-based unibody such as the Santa Cruz.

The body-on-frame workhorse is described as “a pretty powerful package” by Meredith, claiming that it’s “a great product” with “great pricing and a seven-year warranty.” Considering that Kia is one of the more reliable brands out there, we’re keeping our fingers crossed the yet-to-be-named model will mirror the dependability of the Tucson and Santa Fe.

Targeting the Ranger and HiLux from Ford and Toyota won’t be easy, and both Hyundai and Kia know it firsthand. The South Koreans are also known for rigorous R&D whenever they come up with an all-new product, more so if it’s all new from the ground up like these two mid-size trucks.

“Australia isn't the only market Hyundai is targeting,” according to Cars Guide. Local executives confirmed with the motoring publication “the product would need to be international to get final approval.” In other words, Europe is more than certain to get this truck and the Kia version.

The big question is, will the U.S. receive it as well? Watch this space for further info, and look forward to a concept within the next 12 months.
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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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