Kia's diesel moves

KIA is to expand its local diesel offerings, having enjoyed some success with the compact SUV Sorento diesel, but will have to be patient. An oil-burning version of its big Grand Carnival people-mover is expected to go on sale in September, while the smaller Rondo people-mover (which goes on sale in May, priced from under $25,000 in petrol form) will not get the 103kW/304Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel from the Sportage until at least this time next year. Kia Australia hopes the Rondo seven-seater will provide an affordable and more economical alternative to people with older 4WD vehicles as a second car for ferrying kids around and has targeted sales of 200 a month by the end of the year. Company boss Peter Nochar said he is concerned that Kia Australia is turning into the Rio car company, with sales of the budget-priced 1.4-litre entry-level model accounting for 44 per cent of total sales.

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