Hello, the "Kia Mohave," known as the G-Wagen of Korea.
Greetings.
I am Uniji, an automotive influencer.
After its debut in 2008, the Kia Mohave has been a long-standing model for 17 years, and now it is set to disappear from history, sparking various reactions.
The Kia Mohave, often referred to as the "Chung Eui-sun car," is significant as it was the first vehicle developed under the leadership of Chung Eui-sun, who became the CEO of Kia Motors in 2005. The designer Peter Schreyer, who was recruited with great effort, also contributed to creating the Mohave's distinctive design.
The flagship SUV of Kia, the "Mohave,"
at one point was called the "Chung Eui-sun car."
Additionally, the Mohave served as Kia's flagship SUV, emphasizing its premium status through unique emblems and marketing campaigns. However, since the 2003 model release, it has used the Kia emblem instead of its unique emblem, leading to perceptions that the Mohave is no longer the same, resulting in a gradual decline of its premium SUV image.
Despite this, the Kia Mohave has maintained steady popularity, earning the nickname "G-Wagen of Korea." This model features a body-on-frame construction, which is rare among currently available SUVs, boasting impressive durability that attracts a loyal consumer base.
The Kia Mohave stands as a unique large SUV with its appealing body-on-frame design.
Meanwhile, the Kia Mohave measures 193.1 inches in length, 75.6 inches in width, and 70.5 inches in height, with a wheelbase of 114.1 inches, categorizing it as a mid-large SUV. It offers satisfactory specifications compared to mid-size SUVs like the Santa Fe, Sorento, and Torres, maintaining a preferred customer base. Although it currently faces competition from the Hyundai Palisade, it still features a powerful V6 3.0-liter turbo diesel engine, delivering a maximum output of 258 horsepower and a torque of 42.8 lb-ft. However, with the discontinuation of the Mohave, there will be no domestic vehicles equipped with a six-cylinder diesel engine, leaving the Sorento 2.2 diesel model as the only remaining diesel option among mid-size SUVs.
Why has the "Mohave" been pushed out?
The Kia Mohave, which gained popularity due to its distinctive design and chassis platform, has entered a phase of inevitable discontinuation. The increase in competition from models like the Palisade and Genesis GV80 has led to a decline in sales. Additionally, the stricter emissions regulations for internal combustion engines have further diminished the viability of diesel engines, making the discontinuation of the Mohave unavoidable. Currently, Kia reports that the Mohave sells around 300 units per month, reinforcing the need for discontinuation.
Therefore, the discontinuation of the Kia Mohave has raised concerns among existing owners regarding the depreciation of used Mohave prices. However, the Mohave remains an attractive vehicle with its premium six-cylinder diesel engine available at a reasonable price, which could enhance its popularity in the used car market.
Currently, the price of the Kia Mohave starts at approximately $38,000, with the top-tier Masters Gravity trim starting at around $44,000.
What’s next for Kia after the Mohave's discontinuation?
Currently, the Hwaseong Plant 1, where the Kia Mohave is produced, plans to cease production of the Mohave by July and will maximize production of the Kia Sorento, which has a relatively long delivery waiting period. Additionally, during the summer vacation period in the second half of this year, the plant will prepare for the production of the Kia Tasman.
Meanwhile, Kia plans to produce and launch the Tasman next year, targeting a production goal of 65,000 units for 2025. Starting with the domestic launch of the Kia Tasman, Kia aims to release the vehicle in countries with high demand for pickup trucks, including Australia, Africa, and the Middle East. There is also a potential for entry into the North American market, where Hyundai's Santa Cruz pickup truck is available, so this is worth monitoring in the future.
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