Kia rolls out another Mohave update

The body-on-frame SUV received a major refresh in 2019, but Kia apparently found it insufficient, so it followed up with more tweaks and improvements.

The scope is rather limited this time around, and the 2021 Mohave model is so far only available in South Korea. Even so, the changes are quite welcome.

For one, the SUV now has a self-driving feature that lets it change lanes and move in traffic jams under 20 km/h (12 mph). The feature integrates with the adaptive cruise control system to drop speed automatically upon entering and exiting highways. Frontal collision prevention now works at turns and intersections, and the car will attempt to evade other cars moving in the same direction when changing lanes.

The overall trim spec has become better thanks to thicker front door glass for improved noise insulation, and added wireless chargers. The throttle pedal is now floor-mounted, and the infotainment display size is 10 inches instead of 8.5. The seats, mirrors and steering wheel can automatically adjust their positions based on the driver’s height – a first on record for Kia.

The only bit of innovation under the hood is that the 3.0-liter TDI engine is now compliant with the Euro 6 RDE standard. The output stays unchanged at 260 PS (256 hp / 191 kW) and 560 Nm (413 lb-ft) of torque sent to the wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The 2021 Kia Mohave is available in South Korea at a slight premium over the old one, costing between 48.69 and 56.94 million KRW.