Versatile and affordable
In its current guise, the Kia K2700 has been around since 2011. But it remains one of the most versatile and affordable little trucks around. From the “standard” versions with load boxes and dropsides, there are also the chassis cab versions that can be converted into just about everything – from a tipper to a refrigerated unit.
But, for us, the really impressive thing about the K2700 is its warranty. It’s an astounding five years/unlimited kilometres (just like all Kia’s cars). This makes it one of the most affordable little trucks on the market – because that warranty will have a massive impact on the cost of ownership. It also makes the K2700 a really good choice for a small-to-medium business that clocks up high mileages, as is the case with many operators of commercial vehicles. That warranty brings immense peace of mind – it means you can drive to the moon and back in five years without having to worry about warranty claims.
Comfortable drive
So, it’s a cost-effective and sensible purchase. But what’s it like to live with on a day-to-day basis? Well, it’s a workhorse and so it drives like one. Having said that, we tested the K2700 over a couple of days in Johannesburg and we found it quite easy to live with. It’s very easy to enter and leave the truck; there is a single step but, quite frankly, I never used it – I climbed straight in and out. There’s also a handy grab handle on the A-pillar if you need to hoist yourself up.
The interior is practical as opposed to plush but it’s surprisingly nice for a commercial vehicle. The LED gauge cluster is clear and very easy to read, and the entire dash layout is neat and logical. I found the cabin very spacious and reasonably comfortable. I use the word “reasonably” quite intentionally; while Kia says that the cloth-covered seats – which feature extra-thick cushions in the seat back and bottom of the driver’s seat – are designed to provide maximum comfort and support for people of all shapes and sizes, I found that they didn’t have quite enough padding for me. Maybe I just have a bony butt. Who knows? On a positive side, I could easily manoeuvre my seat into the ideal driving position and I also found the tilt-adjustable steering wheel easy to get into exactly the right spot. There is space for three people up front (including the driver).
Power steering and electric windows are standard. There is an adequate amount of storage space in the cabin. I particularly liked the fact that the front centre seatback folds down to reveal a multifunctional console for storage purposes. I stuck my handbag in there, so it was out of sight. There’s also a storage space within the centre console and an 11-litre glovebox.
Speaking of storage space, the K2700 has a 2 810 mm long deck and 1 630 mm wide bed. The railed truck bed has a low height of only 733 mm for easier access when loading and unloading. I also liked the steps at the back of the truck (below the rear licence plate). They made it very easy to climb up and into the cargo deck. The rear chain gate is covered to minimise corrosion. The curb weight is 1555kg, the Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) is 2850kg and the loading capacity is 1 300kg.
There’s an exterior panel below the windscreen, which pops open easily and allows for easy checking and refilling of fluid levels.
Driving
There we have it: this Kia is just fine for a ride about town. But, what about the mechanical bits and pieces?
The K2700 is powered by a 2.7 litre, four-cylinder, eight-valve naturally aspirated J2 diesel power plant that delivers 62 kW of power at 4150 r/min and 165 Nm of torque at 2400 r/min, which is matched to a five-speed manual transmission. This powertrain is adequate but not breath-taking; its performance definitely matches that of a workhorse and not a racehorse. But that’s okay – it is, after all, designed to be a workhorse. (The K2500 has a turbocharged engine; we will be reviewing it later in the year.) The gearbox does a perfectly good job and the gear ratios are well suited to the task at hand. According to a spokesman for Kia, the transmission offers “improved fuel efficiency and durability as well as smoother gear shifts and NVH performance, resulting in an enhanced ride and overall driving comfort”. In theory, the K2700 has a top speed of 120 km/h; I never got there.
This particular Kia has a 60-litre diesel tank and the claimed city fuel consumption is 11.4 l/km. The claimed highway fuel consumption is 5 l/km while the claimed average fuel consumption is 8.2 l/km. I think you would need to be quite patient and a very economical driver to achieve these figures). I’m neither, and so I couldn’t even come close. However, that’s fairly typical in the world of wheels; those claimed figures are always achieved under ideal circumstances and by highly skilled drivers (which certainly doesn’t describe yours truly).
The K2700 has 261 mm disc brakes at the front and 220 mm drum brakes at the rear; I found the braking performance to be more than adequate.
Conclusion
This Kia comes in four different models: Workhorse Chassis Cab (R287 995), Workhorse (R304 995), Workhorse with Aircon (R320 995) and Workhorse Tipper (R338 995). The Workhorse is equipped as standard with the dropside load-box; it's therefore a plug and play-type solution. The Workhorse Chassis Cab is sold without the load bay and is usually chosen by customers who intend fitting a different type of load bay, such as a refrigerated unit. The prices include a 60 000km/36-month service plan. Given the outstanding warranty and the honest performance of this workhorse, we think it’s a very good deal.
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