Although the local commercial vehicle segment is dominated by staples like the Mitsubishi L300 and the Hyundai H-100. Other light-duty workhorses such as the Isuzu Traviz and the Kia K2500 look to outdo the aforementioned industry stalwarts.

Today, we pit both the Traviz and the K2500 to find out which of these compact trucks will best suit your budget and your business needs.

To kick things off, let’s look at this matchup’s tale of the tape.

Exterior

Isuzu Traviz

• Dimensions: (L x W x H): 4,600mm x 1,695mm x 1,955mm
• Wheelbase: 2,400mm
• Ground Clearance: 200mm

Kia K2500

• Dimensions (L x W x H): 4,825mm x 1,740mm x 2,105mm
• Wheelbase: 2,415mm
• Ground Clearance: 200mm

In terms of overall size, the South Korean has a lot more to offer than the Japanese. Depending on your preference, the large size can mean difficulty in maneuverability or larger cargo space for your daily deliverables.

That said, you’ll be surprised to know that the Isuzu Traviz offers a maximum payload capacity of 1,655kg while the Kia K2500 comes in short at 1,235kg.

Both vehicles are neck and neck in terms of wheelbase and ground clearance.

Because of its ability to haul heavier loads, we give this round to the Isuzu Traviz.

Interior

Interior amenities aren’t exactly what this segment is famous for. On that note, the Isuzu Traviz offers basic interior features with plenty of gray plastic with black accents. The driver gets a dual-gauge instrument cluster with an elevated vehicle audio system.

Although the Kia K2500 offers the same set of cabin amenities — hard plastics and the standard dual-gauge instrument panel — it does take utility vehicle interiors up a notch with its touchscreen audio system.

Because of its somewhat upscale interior amenities, the Kia K2500 gets this round’s win.

Engine

The Isuzu Traviz is powered by the Euro 4-compliant 4JA1 diesel engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission. This powertrain setup allows the Traviz to generate 76hp and 176Nm of torque.

On the other hand, the Kia K2500 offers a more powerful 2.5-liter inter-cooled turbocharged diesel engine mated to a six-speed stick shift. The powerplant can generate a maximum power of 128hp and 255Nm of torque.

Clearly, this round goes to the South Korean.

Safety

Both commercial vehicles are equipped with their respective seatbelt setups to keep driver and the passenger safe while on the road.

The Isuzu Traviz is supported by a double-wishbone suspension setup (with coil springs) at the front and semi-elliptical leaf springs at the rear. They are complemented by ventilated disc brakes at the front and drum brakes (leading and trailing) at the back.

Isuzu’s compact workhorse also features a hydraulic brake assist system and DSPV (deceleration-sensing proportioning valve).

Meanwhile, the Kia K2500 uses a torsion bar spring suspension at the front with a multi-leaf spring setup at the rear. Providing the South Korean carrier stopping power are discs brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear.

Because of the additional hydraulic brake assist system and the DSPV, this round goes to the Japanese.

Pricing and variants

Isuzu Traviz:

• Traviz S – P962,000
• Traviz L – P992,000

Kia K2500:

• C&C 4x2 Karga Dual Aircon – P1,110,000
• C&C 4x2 Kargo Front Aircon – P970,000
• C&C 4x2 C-Van Dual Aircon – P920,000
• C&C 4x4 Karga Dual Aircon – P1,215,000
• C&C 4x4 Double Cab – P955,000
• C&C 4x4 Single Cab – P908,000
• C&C 4x2 S. Cab Dropside – P865,000
• C&C 4x4 S. Cab Dropside – P955,000
• C&C 4x2 D. Cab Dropside – P995,000
• C&C 4x2 Single Cab – P820,000

Verdict

We’ve chosen the Isuzu Traviz as the overall winner because of its more generous cargo space and added safety features. Its smaller engine size may not provide the Traviz the same pulling power as the K2500 but it does make for a fuel-efficient mill.

On the other hand, if your business requires something with more beef (and variants), then the Kia K2500 would make a good choice.

Photos from Isuzu and Kia

Also read: 

War of the workhorses: Hyundai H-100 vs. Kia K2500

Mitsubishi L300: The old vs. the new

Compact crossover tussle: Geely Coolray vs. Ford Territory