The Korean company is finally making a move towards the production of its first pickup truck. While we were guessing for the last few years, now it has names and possible release date. The 2022 Kia Mohave truck is going to be based on the SUV with the same name, one of the most popular units outside the US. Mojave was the concept the company intended to launch 15 years ago. With a huge delay, Kia will finally enter the new market.
We could see this coming. First of all, the manufacturer is doing well in all other segments, especially SUV. Kia expanded the lineup with the Telluride seven-seater, which hides a capable V6 unit under the hood. This one is the favorite to occupy the engine room. Outside the United States, the company will also make the 2022 Kia Mohave truck available with a diesel plant. Finally, another Korean carmaker and partner, Hyundai, is already out with a production-ready concept called Santa Cruz. Two new pickups will share a lot of things in common, you can be sure.
2022 Kia Mohave Truck Specs
The engine for the 2022 Kia Mohave truck is going to be borrowed from one of the existing models. We assume the US version will take a 3.8-liter V6 from the Telluride SUV. It is the best option that perfectly suits the mid-size pickup class. With 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, the Mohave truck will be at the same level as the main models in this segment. Still, Kia has a lot of things to do before becoming competitive. An eight-speed automatic gearbox is a power router that ships power to front wheels on the Telluride. For the pickup, we might see the shift to the rear axle. All-wheel drive will be optional. We assume that towing capacity will also get a boost compared to the big SUV since this kind of vehicle is there to work.
2022 Kia Mohave Truck Styling
The platform comes from the Mohave SUV and it is a body-on-frame architecture. The advantages of this concept are higher towing capabilities and off-road durability. On the other hand, the production is slightly more expensive, fuel consumption higher, and safety ratings will drop. Nevertheless, the 2022 Kia Mohave truck will be a refresh for the market.
The styling will be borrowed from the Telluride. We expect to see a single and double cab configurations, as well as different bed lengths. Trim levels will be similar to the existing packages in the family. The L is the base package, and we are sure the LX and EX are also going to be there.
Release Date and Price
One thing is sure – the MSRP of the 2022 Kia Mohave truck will be competitive. With a V6 engine, we can expect it around $25,000 in the base form. Higher trims will jump over $30k. The company could add a lighter variant with a four-cylinder engine, which will make the price go down, as well as the interest. Truckers want a working machine, and more towing capacity comes from a V6. The truck will have a debut during mid-2021.