Kia KND-4 Concept

OVERVIEW
Designed by Kia’s studio in Korea, the KND-4 Concept provides an idea of what future Kia compact SUVs will be like, as most concepts do. Despite the well-worn observation that most SUVs never see terrain any more demanding than the parking lot at Trader Joe’s, the KND-4 has good ground clearance and short overhangs, so, in conjunction with its all-wheel drive system, the vehicle has some degree of off-road capability.

Power comes from a 2.2-liter diesel engine equipped with a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT), the cabin sports various toys like a Blu-ray DVD player and Bluetooth connectivity, and seating is for four. The rear window is described as “panoramic.”

OUR TAKE
Like Hyundai, Kia is moving into the mainstream, becoming a more serious player. The last Sportage SUV was actually pretty good, so there’s no reason to think that this one won’t be up to snuff. If it ever makes it into production.