The Kia Telluride Truck Could Arrive Before Its Electric Siblings
Are you ready for Kia to make the automotive marker even wilder? The Kia Telluride already took over the three-row SUV segment. Now the Kia Telluride truck might be coming for more blood before new Kia electric trucks arrive.
The Kia Telluride truck leads the way for new EVs
According to Motor1, Kia has some significant electrification plans. Kia is going all-in on electrification efforts as Hyundai and Genesis plan to launch a combined 17 electric vehicles by 2030. The Kia Telluride truck might pave the way for a few of these options.
Not one, but two Kia electric trucks are on the way. One is referred to as a dedicated model. It will ride on a bespoke electric platform. The other truck is strategic, meaning it’s tailored for emerging markings and could use an ICE-based architecture.
ICE stands for Internal Combustion Engine, and the Kia Telluride rides on a pretty nice ICE platform. It could be a smart move to place the Telluride truck on the same platform to test the waters before the electric truck arrives.
What to expect with the Telluride truck
The 2023 Kia Telluride will sport a midcycle refresh with some exterior and interior updates. So, the Kia Telluride truck may arrive a few months after we see the refreshed SUV mode. This syncs up with the timeline. Kia plans to release an electric ute in the United States by 2024.
But what’s an ute? It’s a utility vehicle that’s based on a sedan. It’s basically a car with a cargo bed. There have been some utes in America, but they’re generally called compact trucks instead. Pickup trucks often have more interior storage space.
The Ford Maverick and Hyundai Tucson are both based on midsize SUVs instead of cars. They are like utes with limited space while still providing the utility of a pickup truck. So, could the Kia Telluride truck be a compact option? Also, what platform will the ute be based on?
We envision the Telluride truck as a rival to the Honda Ridgeline. The Kia truck could have a body-on-frame platform like the Ridgeline. Also, the Telluride can tow up to 5,000 lbs, like the Ridgeline. The Telluride rides on the same platform as the smaller Kia Sorento SUV too.
It’s unclear if the 2023 Telluride will have more power. But the 3.8-liter V6 engine with 291 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque provides plenty of power. The Toyota Tacoma can be equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque, so the Kia engine is on par with rivals.
The Kia EV9 may provide more clues
While the Kia Telluride truck may ride on an ICE-based platform, the Kia EV9 will ride on the E-GMP platform. This platform is a dedicated EV chassis. The two new Kia electric trucks, or at least one of them, could use this dedicated platform. Perhaps the dedicated electric truck.
The other new Kia truck or the strategic option might not use this platform. While the Telluride truck could use an internal combustion engine, the other electric trucks could share components with the Kia EV9 SUV.
The EV9 is expected to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about five seconds. It could also have an electric range of up to 336 miles. It will most likely be faster and sportier than the Telluride. But it’s only one of the 17 new electric vehicles to consider.
We know that Kia has a lot on the way, including two new electric trucks. We will keep an eye on things to update you with official specs and information.
