Kia and Hyundai utes are still on track for Australia

Long-overdue utes from both Kia and Hyundai remain on track for Australia and other markets, despite the Hyundai Motor Group prioritising development of more lifestyle-oriented and electric models over traditional diesel-powered workhorses that are so heavily favoured Down Under.

Following the first-ever spy photos of an all-new Kia pick-up truck mule undergoing testing in South Korea, the photoshop gurus over KDesign have come up with renders based on the spy pics, which clearly show a Kia Mohave-inspired front end.

It's not clear if Kia's first ute will borrow the rugged SUV's headlight clusters but these renders show what it would look like... with a touch of Ford Ranger body work thrown in for good measure.

For years, Australian senior management from both brands have lobbied their South Korean headquarters for utes that would allow them to take the fight up to the top-selling Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger and fill a massive hole in each brand’s model line-up.

To date, however, HMG has concentrated on the softer-core Hyundai Santa Cruz – which remains a prospect for Australia – and, more recently, has confirmed development of a larger all-electric pick-up.

The new large EV pick-up for both brands is also a prospect for an Australian launch from about 2026, but carsales understands that a medium-size ute with conventional combustion engines remains in development and would be launched around the same timeframe.

These line-ups for both Hyundai and Kia should include four-cylinder and six-cylinder turbo-diesel engines that would be primed to take on HiLux, Ranger and other utes in what is the top-selling market segment in Australia.

We’d expect that an entry-level petrol engine could also be offered, filling out a range for each brand that would eventually span single, space and dual-cab body styles.

It’s unclear whether the mid-size utes will be based on the same platform as the larger battery-electric pick-up that’s expected to be slightly smaller (and therefore more affordable) than full-size US trucks like the Ford F-150 Lightning and Chevrolet Silverado EV.

The EV pick-ups would be niche propositions for both Hyundai and Kia in Australia, but the smaller mid-size utes are certain to be high-volume players designed to meet customer expectations across all key parameters, from circa-one-tonne payloads and 3500kg towing capacity to advanced safety and infotainment technology.

Huge demand for the new-generation V6 diesel-powered Ford Ranger – and the incoming related Volkswagen Amarok – will spur a six-cylinder response from the Korean stable, with Hyundai’s luxury brand Genesis likely to donate its 3.0-litre inline-six oil-burner for the new utes.

Global executives have confirmed commercial vehicle applications for the diesel straight-six, which should produce at least 204kW of power and 588Nm of torque.

Australian officials from the two brands have been asked not to comment on any ute program, which was previously confirmed as being underway.

With the program now running full steam ahead, both Hyundai and Kia are believed to be studying separate production sites.

There’s virtually nowhere in world where Kia and Hyundai vehicles roll out of the same factories, and so the utes are likely to follow this pattern.

It’s understood that Kia will leverage an existing plant – South Korea, Mexico and India are in the running – while Hyundai may be targeting a greenfield site.

Hyundai’s factory is unlikely to be set up in Thailand, which is the base for many utes sold in Australia, but other locations in the region such as Indonesia – where Mitsubishi is investing heavily – are under consideration.

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