New Mohave to bolster Kia in booming SUV market
Kia Motors Vice President Kwon Hyuk-ho, second from left, with company executives and the Mohave the Master SUV during its launch event in Incheon, Thursday. Courtesy of Kia Motors
By Nam Hyun-woo
INCHEON ― Kia Motors launched its new Mohave the Master SUV, Thursday, fueling the intensifying competition among large SUVs in the domestic market.
“With its strong and bold exterior, the Mohave the Master boasts overwhelming driving performance and cutting-edge features for driver and passengers,” Kia Motors Vice President Kwon Hyuk-ho said during the launch event in Incheon.
“More than 7,000 customers have already signed contracts since we started the Mohave the Master preorder sales on Aug. 21. And we are quite sure that we will smoothly meet the annual sales target of 20,000.”
The new Mohave is a mass-production version of the Mohave Masterpiece concept, which drew keen attention for its rugged styling, highlighted by its “tiger-nose grille,” when it was unveiled at the Seoul Motor Show in March.
Embodying the concept, the 4.93-meter-long Mohave has a V6, 3.0-liter diesel engine yielding 256 horsepower and 57.1 kilogram-force a meter. Several updates also were made on its rear-wheel suspension, dash panel and chassis so it can provide better ride comfort and noise masking.
Drawing most attention is the oversized grille ― which integrates four-point LED headlights ― that the company said represents “Kia's signature tiger-face look.” While embracing “a progressive” look, its overall body shape remains blocky, reflecting the concept of a sturdy and trustworthy SUV, the company said.
The interior of the Kia Mohave the Master. / Courtesy of Kia Motors
Along with the eye-catching exterior, the new Mohave has had major interior changes to provide a wider and more luxurious look that features an oak panel across the center fascia. By arranging the second and third rows, the new Mohave can provide five, six or seven seats.
For drivers, the new Mohave features navigation-based smart cruise control, highway driving assist and a slew of other advanced driver-assist technologies.
The Mohave comes in two versions ― the Platinum and the Masters. Prices start at 47 million won ($39,222) and 51.6 million won, respectively.
The Mohave's debut is expected to heat up competition in the large SUV segment in the domestic market.
With the Hyundai Palisade's domestic delivery accounting for more than 80 percent in the first half of this year, GM Korea released the Traverse full-size SUV, and Mercedes-Benz and BMW rolled out the new GLE and the X7, respectively.