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Building on its reputation for producing high-quality unibody crossovers with models like the Telluride, Kia is now turning its attention to the more robust body-on-frame SUVs.
Kia Australia’s product planner, Roland Rivero, highlighted the Toyota Land Cruiser and Prado—essentially the rebadged Lexus GX—as examples of what a flagship SUV for Australia could resemble. In a discussion with Carsales, Rivero stated, “If we were to introduce a larger SUV, it would need to be built on a ladder-frame structure. In the Australian market, the perception of larger SUVs is closely tied to the [Toyota] Land Cruiser or Prado. A ladder-frame SUV provides specific advantages, particularly in off-road performance and towing capacity that unibody vehicles simply cannot match.”
Rivero elaborated, “To effectively enter this segment, we would need a product similar to a ladder-frame vehicle. Alternatively, if it were developed alongside a large SUV, built on a ute platform, it could offer comparable capabilities. It would be beneficial for us to have a ladder-frame SUV.”
Currently, Kia’s largest SUVs, the Sedona and Telluride, do not feature ladder-frame construction, and notably, Hyundai’s upcoming unibody Santa Cruz pickup also does not utilize this design. However, Carsales reports that Kia’s contender against the Land Cruiser is expected to enter production around 2023. The publication further notes that development has been underway for “several years,” with the company using the Nissan Armada (known as the Patrol in other regions) as a reference point.
While nothing has been officially announced yet, if Kia does proceed with a “true” truck model, anticipate the inclusion of standard “true” truck features such as two-speed transfer cases, locking differentials, 4×4 capabilities, and an overall ruggedness that distinguishes it from Kia’s smaller crossovers.
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