The Kia Trade was a light commercial truck that Kia built from 1988 to 2000. It replaced the Titan and was its wide-cab version, based on the second-generation Mazda Titan, and it was itself replaced by the Pamax.
Kia Trade at a glance
| Maker | Kia Motors |
|---|---|
| Production | 1988–October 2000 |
| Based on | Mazda Titan, second generation |
| Role | successor to the Kia Titan, wide-cab model |
| Rivals | Hyundai Mighty, Kia Jumbo Titan |
| Facelifts | April 1993 and January 1997 |
| Successor | Kia Pamax, October 2000 |
Based on one short source, the Korean Wikipedia article on the Trade; no free photograph of the truck was found.
History of the Kia Trade
The Trade appeared in 1988 as the successor to the Titan and as its wide-cab version. It was based on the second-generation Mazda Titan, and it competed with the Hyundai Mighty and Kia’s own Jumbo Titan. Its wider cabin gave more interior space and better visibility than the Jumbo Titan, which was an important argument in its favour.
1993 facelift
In April 1993 the Trade was facelifted: the headlamps changed from a four-lamp round arrangement to a two-lamp rectangular one, and a window was added to the right-hand door. At the same time the truck was brought into line with the rest of the Kia commercial range of the period, including the first-generation Power Bongo, the second-generation Wide Bongo, the Jumbo Titan, the AM815 New Combi, the second-generation Wide Boxer, the first Rhino, the AM818 Cosmos and the AM truck, and side indicators were added to both doors.
1997 facelift and the end
A second facelift in January 1997 gave the Trade headlamps similar in shape to those of the Hi-Besta. In October 2000 the Pamax replaced it, ending twelve years of production.
Design and features
- Wide cabin: more space and better visibility than the Jumbo Titan.
- Mazda basis: second-generation Titan engineering built in Korea.
- Two facelifts: rectangular headlamps in 1993 and Hi-Besta-style lights in 1997.
- Range consistency: shared styling cues with the Bongo, Boxer, Rhino and Cosmos.
Kia Trade versions
- Trade (1988–1993): the original with four round headlamps.
- 1993 facelift: two rectangular lamps and a window in the right door.
- 1997 facelift: headlamps in the style of the Hi-Besta.
The Trade replaced the Kia Titan and was replaced by the Pamax, while its wide-cab styling was shared with the Rhino. More Kia models are in the Kia collection.
Sources
- Kia Trade, Korean Wikipedia: dates, base model, facelifts, successor
- Hyundai Mighty, English Wikipedia: the rival model in the same class
