Kia K2500 work truck gets updated with creature comforts

Kia updates the Bongo/K2500 workhorse with new standard features

Believe it or not, the Kia K2500 is now over 40 years old. Essentially Kia's answer to the Mitsubishi L300, the K2500 (AKA the Kia Bongo or K-Series) traces its roots back to the Ceres and Besta work vans/trucks of yesteryear.

Fast forward to 2024 and the K2500 is now on its fourth generation. More importantly, it has received several new upgrades to keep it fresh and up-to-date. While Kia will soon have the Tasman as its lifestyle pickup truck, the K2500 will continue to serve as the brand's workhorse that can serve multiple roles like a dropside pickup, a utility/cargo van, and more.

So what did Kia change to the K2500? The automaker focused on giving the work truck more standard features as well as additional creature comforts. It's available with an optional 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, power-folding side mirrors, ventilated seats, and tweeter speakers. For extra peace of mind while on the road, Kia even gave the K2500 intelligent driver aids such as collision avoidance assist and lane departure warning.

For extra convenience, the Kia K2500 can be paired with a 5-speed automatic gearbox instead of the standard 6-speed manual transmission. In its home market, the K2500 is powered by a 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated gasoline engine that makes 159 PS and 294 Nm of torque when paired with the automatic. The manual variant, meanwhile, makes 138 PS and 255 Nm of pull. On long road trips, drivers will be happy to know the K2500 can come with cruise control for a more relaxing drive.

The K2500 may be a work truck through and through, but it's nice to see Kia updating and refreshing its commercial vehicles with extra amenities and features to keep drivers safe and relaxed. Hopefully, Kia Philippines also make some of these features available soon to the local-spec K2500.