Kia fills gap when size matters

A one-tonne load of wood hardly makes a dent in the carrying capacity of the Kia K2700.

A ute is beaut until it's time to carry heavier loads and a couple of quick calculations confirm it doesn't have the one-tonne payload that owners tend to take for granted.

Some utes, particularly the well-equipped double cab wellsides, fall well short of the benchmark one-tonne payload.

Don't blame the manufacturers - they all provide tare and gross weights in their specifications, but often buyers either don't ask or assume a one-tonne cargo payload, even when it's loaded with extra people, tools or equipment.

Clearly, those who want to haul heavy loads legally may need a Plan B, but what's a bloke to do when a ute's too small and a truck too big?

Sliding in with a solution is Kia, whose new K2700 mini truck offers a genuine 1.5-tonne payload.

Oh no, not a truck! Too big, can't be driven on a regular licence, needs an expensive certificate of fitness rather than a warrant ... Hassle all the way.

As it happens, none of those objections apply, which makes the K2700 an interesting proposition for those who need something in between a typical Japanese ute and a truck.

And Kia has seen to it that its little hauler is easy to drive, making the transition from a ute or van a non-issue.

"We started bringing in the K2700 this last summer as a New Zealand-new alternative to the used import light Japanese trucks and as a vehicle for those who might otherwise buy a ute, but need to carry heavier payloads," says Kia's New Zealand general manager John Keenan, who has a long background in trucks.

So far, he says, they're selling around six a month of the 2.7-litre 57kW three-seat diesel that lists at $27,000.

He says that's about the volume Kia expected.

The truck is the leader in its segment in Australia.

Its good payload is due to a relatively light 1700kg tare weight and the use of dual 12-inch wheels on the rear axle. The front wheels are 14-inchers.

Although the K2700 is relatively light in weight, it's no lightweight in the build department.

Maybe because of its long background as a supplier of military vehicles, Kia hasn't spared the metal. The cargo deck is particularly rugged.

While it looks long and large, most dimensions are not far off a typical ute's. Its 2615mm wheelbase is actually shorter than most current Japanese utes and its overall length, at a little under 5900mm, is also relatively modest.

Because the passenger compartment is a compact cabover design, in which the occupants sit over the engine like a conventional Japanese van, the 3110mm tray seems almost long enough to land a microlight on and its generous size is a strong selling point.

A byproduct of the small rear wheels is a low cargo tray; the lip is only 750mm from ground level, making loading and unloading particularly easy thanks to the dropping sides.

Climb aboard and the dash looks similar to a ute's and controls and instruments are all where you'd expect them to be. It's easy to get a good seating position and driving is a breeze thanks to good power steering, a nice five-speed gearbox and superb outward vision.

The driver and two passengers sit higher than they would in even a 4WD ute and enjoy a panoramic view of the traffic ahead, while excellent two-part rear-view mirrors reminiscent of the best European designs keep up with play at the back.

There's also a great turning circle of just under 10m that makes the Kia a breeze to manoeuvre in tight spots.

However, the Kia lacks some of the safety gear that buyers now expect even in light commercials. There is no ABS-assisted braking and there are no airbags.

On the other hand, the standard specification includes air conditioning, power windows and central locking.

If the K2700 proves popular here as the next step up from the ute, crew cab and 4WD versions are waiting in the wings.