Updates and Features
Tailored to small businesses, the Bongo is also available as a driver-training vehicle with an automatic transmission. Previously, it had been offered only with a manual. Customers can get Kia’s truck with two- and four-wheel drive and a payload capacity of up to 2,645 pounds. The bed is 112.5 inches long and 64.1 inches wide. As for size, the truck is slightly longer than a Ford Maverick, at 203 inches. The utilitarian vehicle has been updated throughout the years, so it has modern amenities like a ventilated driver’s seat, a start/stop button, and a 10.25-inch infotainment. Kia has also given it a wide array of safety tech, varying from forward collision avoidance assist to lane departure warning.
Powertrain Options
Power is provided by a 2.5-liter engine that runs on liquified petroleum gas (LPG) and produces 157 hp and 217 lb-ft channeled to the road via an automatic transmission. Stick to the manual and output drops to 136 hp and 188 lb-ft. Kia also sells a fully electric Bongo with 181 hp and 291 lb-ft on tap. The EV uses a 58.8-kWh battery pack with enough juice for 131 miles of range. It charges at a maximum 100 kW, in which case it takes 47 minutes to replenish the battery from 10 to 80 percent.
Pricing and Value
Pricing starts at a refreshingly low $14,700 but that’s for the base model with a lower payload capacity of 2,200 lbs instead of 2,645 lbs. Even the stronger one in its highest trim level doesn’t cost more than $18,500. Should you want to skip the combustion engine, the two-wheel-drive-only Bongo EV kicks off at the equivalent of $31,700 and rises to $33,000. The Bongo is a rare breed by being an honest-to-God pickup without the extra frills that would’ve jacked up the price. Toyota is doing the same with the new Hilux Champ, a work truck devoid of fancy features to keep the price down to around $13,000 in Thailand.