Kia Quietly Watches Ford's New Ranger While Plotting Their Next Move

If there’s anything we’ve learned about Kia ever since it unveiled the Stinger GT exactly a year ago, it’s to never underestimate it. Speaking at Detroit with Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning for the US, the subject of pickup trucks came up in light of the reveal of the new US-spec Ford Ranger. Is a pickup truck something Kia is thinking about? Possibly a re-skinned version of the upcoming (car-based) Hyundai Santa Cruz urban truck?
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TomM - 1/18/2018 5:13:03 PM

0 Boost

KIa had an opportunity to take the Minivan market - and blew it when they failed to include some type of stow and go system for the second row seats - which only fold forward and are not easily removed.

For years - toyota could be depended on to produce the blandest cars that they could possible build as well.

THe problem is - as SOME have seen - the American market is different from the European market - and Americans simply do not buy European small cars that much. Kia is just another entry level manufacturer - and producing still another 3 row CUV - unless it had breakthrough styling or some type of new propulsion system that uses Solar Power to keep the batteries charged - is simply just another check on the list.

MDarringer - 1/18/2018 7:50:20 PM

-1 Boost

I think the Santa Cruz will be a market hit, so doing a Kia version is a no brainer.

A Ford Ranchero off the Escape would be great as would a Chevy El Camino off the Equinox.

skytop - 1/19/2018 11:14:50 AM

+2 Boost

I just rented a Hyundai SUV last week. I assure you that I would NEVER purchase a Hyundai (or sibling Kia) vehicle ever. Very poor vehicle design and low quality look and feel of the vehicle was everywhere in the build. Even the seating left me with a back ache.