 The Kia K2900 – the power to surprise b
by Helen James
The Kia K2900 claims to make the work of driving easier and more enjoyable, so as the driver of a small car, it was good to put Kia’s market positioning to the test plus put the truck to good use to complete my Labour Weekend building project.
The modern and rounded aerodynamic cab design that Kia has adopted for the K2900 gives the vehicle a distinctive look and immediate aesthetic appeal.
 As standard, the K2900’s cabin comes with air-conditioning, cloth trim, power windows, stereo and central locking, which surprised me as they resembled features I’d have expected from a quality passenger car. I immediately felt comfortable in it.
The K2900’s 2.9 litre turbo diesel engine with front and rear suspension is designed for big cargo hauling, and will comfortably manage a heavy payload of 1740 kg. The easy-to-use drop-down sides on the cargo deck enable it to be utilised for a wide range of loading applications.
At 3.11 x 1.63 m, the cargo deck was just slightly short for my 3.5 m lengths of timber, but conveniently placed anchor points along the length of the truck body made tying the load down easy.
Other user-friendly features included a folding-type load securing stopper, rubber wrap-around rear gate chains, rounded covers on the fold-down tray sides and reinforced gate hinges.
For safety, Kia has invested in features you’d expect to find in a full-sized truck or passenger car. The K2900 has an extended front overhang for improved resistance to frontal impact, a strengthened cabin, additional door impact bars, back panel reinforcement and side cross-members, plus a new brake system incorporating front disc brakes.
At 5.12 m long, the vehicle is large enough to be effective for a wide range of commercial haulage applications, but manoeuvring the vehicle was far easier than anticipated for a small-car driver like me, due to the power-
assisted steering system, the well-placed convex rear mirrors and the K2900’s 10.04 m turning circle.
 Engine and road noise were minimal and this, combined with the ease of handling, meant it felt more like I was driving a passenger car than a commercial vehicle.
Kia’s attention to detail in the cab design has resulted in well-positioned handles inside both doors to allow the driver and passenger to pull themselves up into the cab itself. Leg room is ample to accommodate two passengers and the driver comfortably, and the well-designed interior provides good storage for maps and delivery dockets/books. The centre seat folds down to incorporate a tray to hold drinks and a flat surface for filling out any paperwork if needed.
Overall, Kia has integrated their knowledge of passenger vehicles and trucks to produce in the K2900 an extremely user-friendly and hugely enjoyable commercial light vehicle to drive.
The K2900 is available in New Zealand at a driveaway price of $32,940 inc. GST.
For further information, visit
www.kia.co.nz
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