If the incredible Hulk were reincarnated as a military off-roader, he’d look suspiciously like the Kia KM450. Green, square, solid and in possession of massive reserves of strength, this is a vehicle you do not want to have a fender bender with. Made for the Korean military and tested over the years in conflict zones like Korea, the Philippines and now Ukraine, this one-and-a-quarter-tonne (load rating) 4x4 is a cross between an off-road truck and a scout car that’s been right-sized for modern-day military requirements.
Based loosely on the American Kaiser Jeep M715, itself a military version of the Jeep Gladiator from the early ’60s, the Kia KM450 (known today as the KM311A1), like the vehicle it is based on, is so flexible it can be configured for various roles from regular transport to a large gun carrier and even a medium-range missile carrier.
Kia KM450 exterior design
2.18-metre width feels intimidating.
Walking up to it on the outskirts of Pune, the first impressions are of size. Nearly as wide as a Humvee or H1, the 2.18-metre-wide KM450’s square stance and block-like presence look intimidating – probably something to do with the battering ram-like nose, the ‘metal cage’-protected headlights and the protruding wheel arches.
The KM450 emits a purely functional vibe. Don’t think it ever saw the inside of a styling studio. And I think it looks all the better for it. Less is more if you want timeless appeal, and this Kia seems to have it in spades. One thing’s clear: this off-roader clearly isn’t here to impress or draw attention to itself – it’s here to haul, climb, ford, power through battlefields and just keep going. Everything else is secondary.
Reinforced fibreglass parts up front allow for bulletproof conversion.
A big surprise is that the bonnet and some other bits up front are made from reinforced fibreglass. Now, yes, that sounds flimsy, and when you open the bonnet, it feels like it’s made of paper. But fibreglass, remember, can be made bulletproof. And that is important to survivability, widely considered to be the ultimate metric when it comes to military vehicles.
Around the side, there’s plenty of metal with all manner of fixtures and fittings. From a solid stand with a rotating head you can mount pretty much anything on to the enclosed canisters and boxes for batteries, cartridges, shells and assorted assault weapons, the flanks of this off-roader are festooned with all manner of stowage options.
Spare tyre is inside the cabin and oil cooler in the load bay.
Once past the front doors, you have the unique location of the spare tyre and the oil cooler – bang in the middle of the cabin and load bay. It’s a smart bit of military engineering. Placing these vitals inside keeps them much safer than if they were mounted up front or at the rear. The position of the spare is easy to understand, but keeping the oil cool while driving long uphill stretches in low range is also vital to the vehicle’s survival.
Kia KM450 engine and dynamics
3.9-litre diesel engine packs a big punch.
What comes as a surprise for something based on an American platform is the fact that this Kia has a diesel under the hood. Displacing 3.9 litres, this large-capacity Hyundai engine has four massive pistons that give it a huge shove, important when the KM450 is loaded and facing steep terrain with low traction.
Even more surprising is that the engine puts out only 139hp! A specific output of merely 36hp per litre, and that’s with a turbo. But while it won’t win any drag races, pulling power or torque is another matter: the engine delivers 373Nm from just 1,600rpm.
This helps it tackle 60 percent grades, and the efficiency of the diesel also helps give it a range of 700km. What you also have to remember is that the engine has been engineered and tuned to last forever and take all manner of abuse and overloading during conflicts.
Novel electric system assists with cold starts and weapon loads.
Also unique is the 24-Volt electric system that uses twin 12-Volt batteries wired in series. Essential for cold starts, especially with the big 3.9 diesel, this system is also required when it comes to auxiliary weapon loads and other power tap-offs.
Other notable deviations from our norm: it gets a waterproof fuse box for the inevitable swamp dunking, and under-bonnet maintenance is as easy as Lego for the Army field mechanics; the air filter, fuel filters and belt-driven fan are all designed to be changed in minutes, and access to all major parts that could need service or replacement is easy, too.
The frame and suspension are tough and basic as well. Attached to the heavy ladder-type frame are leaf springs front and rear, easily the best option when it comes to loads. The solid truck-like axles get diff locks at both ends for improved traction. Fording depth? 760mm. And the rear hauling hook allows for trailers up to 2,000kg on paved roads. An optional front-mounted winch can deliver a tug of 3,600kg.
Kia KM450 interior and features
Functional cabin is geared towards military use.
Step inside, and you’ll find no leather, no LED mood lighting – just tough vinyl seats and clear analogue dials. Rocker switches and buttons labelled in Korean control everything from headlights to diff locks.
There’s storage for maps, tools and radios, with a mount for a two-way military radio. And the steering wheel on this one has remnants of what looks like a Kia logo (or it could be Asia Motors, which made the original M450).
Also unique is that it comes with an automatic gearbox as well as a long lever for the four-wheel-drive system that allows you to engage the front axle. Push the lever, and half a second later, you are in four-wheel drive... BAANG. So, engaging four-wheel drive is simple and super quick.
Kia KM450 performance and refinement
Feels surprisingly refined and easy to drive.
Once started, the diesel settles into a relatively smooth idle. The compression seems to have been lowered so it can run on even very low-grade diesel, and what also comes as a surprise is that it takes off smartly as soon as I tap the throttle. Have to say, I wasn’t expecting the 139hp Hyundai diesel to feel so effortless and easy to accelerate.
Truth be told, it’s all that torque – so on small throttle openings, it feels like there is a V8 propelling you effortlessly forward. Each piston displaces around 1000cc, after all. And in this configuration, the KM450 isn’t carrying too much weight either.
Steering is light and overall visibility is great.
After 20 minutes behind the wheel, including some over trails and dirt roads, I get the distinct feeling that I’m driving an American cruiser or a Yank tank, not something Korean. This is because of the light steering and the loads of effortless torque just off idle. And, even though visibility is great, the KM450 feels wide and really big.
Even the brakes with their air-over-hydraulic booster tech work well; there’s a good amount of bite when I hit them. Try to ramp up acceleration, however, and the power delivery isn’t linear, with the increase in engine noise not matching the change in pace.
Still, what a fantastic platform the KM450 is! Big, wide and able to take all manner of loads and serve in various roles, this production-based pickup was skillfully evolved into making it suitable for armed forces use. Wish Kia could make a civilian version, one you could walk into a showroom near you and fix an EMI for. What do you say, Kia? Can we have your real badass?
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