The Kia Pregio is a four-door van and four-door minivan series offered from 1995 to 2006 until it was replaced by the Kia Carnival or the Kia Sedona. It features a boxy exterior designed with smooth edges, two sliding doors on both sides, and wide windows. Inside, it is fitted with a generous number of driver and passenger amenities meant to provide a safe and reliable riding experience. Included in the series is the best-selling passenger vehicle in Latin America, the Kia Pregio Grand, acclaimed for its 16 to 19 passenger capacity. The Kia Pregio was offered in three engine options: a 2.5-liter turbodiesel, a 2.7-liter diesel, and a 3.0-liter diesel engine.
Launch
The Kia Pregio was launched in 1995 as a replacement for the Kia Besta. The newly introduced minivan shared a 2.7-liter engine with the Kia Bongo J2. During its active years, the Kia Pregio received external and internal updates. In 1997, Kia Motors Corporation fitted the van with a 3.0 OHV overhead valve engine.
In 2001, the Korean carmaker produced a variant mated with a four-speed automatic transmission. Also, the series offered a 2.5-liter turbodiesel TCI engine from Mitsubishi.
The Kia Pregio also was marketed as the Kia Besta in other parts of the world, became one of the most in-demand vans due to its versatility and superb passenger-carrying capacity. In 2003, the van received another notable facelift to compete with emerging models from other brands. In 2006, Kia Motors Corporation decided to discontinue the Kia Pregio series to give way to the Kia Carnival or the Kia Sedona.
Exterior
The Kia Pregio measures 4,900mm long, 1,810mm wide, and 1,980mm tall. Kia Motors offered the minivan in an eight window passenger and as a six-window cargo business vehicle. Notable exterior features include a pair of wide headlamps, sturdy front and rear body-colored bumpers, broad radiator grille, sliding doors on both sides, black door handles and heated side mirrors, tall tail lights with brake lights, and a set of 14-inch alloy wheels.
Interior
The Kia Pregio offers a comfortable and spacious cabin courtesy of its 2,580mm wheelbase. Interior highlights include fore-aft and adjustable driver’s seat, three-spoke steering wheel, ergonomically-designed dashboard, room lamp, cupholders, glove box, efficient air conditioning system, and three to 12 folding and reclining passenger seats with heating function.
Technology & Safety Features
The Kia Pregio is equipped with an anti-lock braking system, traction control, a good number of airbags, seatbelts, and more.
Platform & Chassis
The Kia Pregio is built with a Double Wishbone suspension with coil springs at the front and a five-link rear suspension with stabilizer bar and leaf springs. Its braking system is assisted by ventilated discs at the front and duo servo drums with a self-adjuster at the rear.
Engine & Drivetrain
The Kia Pregio is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive vehicle. It was offered in a 2.5-liter Mitsubishi Astron turbodiesel, a 2.7-liter J2 diesel, and a 3.0-liter JT diesel engine paired with either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission.