Kia Bongo K2500, Hyundai Porter or GAZelle Next: how to choose a 1.5-tonne truck
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We break down the three most popular chassis in the 1.5-tonne class — what they share, how they differ and what body COND fits on each.
The 1.5-tonne class is the most popular with small and medium businesses: a category B licence, low loading height, city manoeuvrability. In this segment people most often choose between three chassis — Kia Bongo K2500, Hyundai Porter and GAZelle Next. We break down how they differ and what body to fit on them.
Quote is based on body, chassis and temperature range.
What unites the class
All three share what matters for city work: a category B licence, a loading height under a metre — loaded by hand, without a ramp or a forklift — and dimensions that get the truck into courtyards a heavy truck cannot reach. Beyond that the differences are wider than the outward similarity suggests: from 1.36 to 1.5 tonnes of payload and from seven to seventeen cubic metres of body.
Chassis comparison
| Parameter | Kia Bongo K2500 | Hyundai Porter | GAZelle Next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chassis payload | 1,500 kg | 1,360 kg | 1,500 kg |
| Gross vehicle weight | 3,500 kg | 3,050 kg | 3,500 kg |
| Licence category | B | B | B |
| Engine | KIA THETA 2.4 LPI, LPG, 159 hp | D4CB 2.5 L turbodiesel, 130 hp | Cummins ISF2.8 diesel or Evotech 2.7 petrol, 107 hp |
| Wheelbase | 2,615 mm | 2,640 mm | 3,145 or 3,745 mm |
| COND body length | up to 3,250 mm | up to 3,200 mm | 3,200 or 4,200 mm |
| Body volume | 8.7–12 m³ | 7.6 m³ | 12.8–17.6 m³ |
| Euro pallets in the body | 4 (3.25 m body) | 3 (3.2 m body) | 6 (4.2 m body) |
| Chassis warranty | 2 years / 150,000 km | 2 years / 150,000 km | 3 years / 200,000 km |
Chassis figures come from the data sheets of vehicles built at the COND plant. The payload shown is that of the bare chassis: the body takes part of it, so less remains for cargo — we calculate the exact figure for each specific body.
| Chassis | Strong point | Worth considering |
|---|---|---|
| Kia Bongo K2500 | One of the most common in the class, a wide service and parts network across Kazakhstan | Popularity — high demand on the secondary market at resale |
| Hyundai Porter | A compact manoeuvrable cab, convenient for frequent stops on a route | A slightly smaller internal body volume than its counterparts |
| GAZelle Next | The most affordable servicing in Kazakhstan, familiar to local drivers | More demanding of regular maintenance under intensive use |
What body to fit on a 1.5-tonne truck
On all three chassis we make insulated vans and dry-freight bodies, and on Kia Bongo and GAZelle Next also refrigerators for distributing chilled and frozen products. When choosing a body it's important to settle on the temperature mode: a detailed checklist is in the article 'How to choose a refrigerator'.
What to choose for you
If you plan to distribute food and want the most offers on the secondary market when selling the vehicle — take a Kia Bongo. For courier delivery with frequent stops, the compact Hyundai Porter is more convenient. If minimal service cost and service availability in any region matter — GAZelle Next.
We fit bodies on all three chassis — both a new one bought to order and one you already have. See the brand pages: Kia, Hyundai, GAZ.