Quick answer: if you are moving palletised stock, builders rubble or anything that needs a tail-lift on an open load bed, the Kia K2700 dropside bakkie is the right call — it is cheaper to buy used, cheaper to service and lifts up to 1 305 kg payload. If you need a secured, weather-tight load space for couriers, electronics, alcohol delivery, or anything thieves like, the Kia Sedona / Grand Sedona wins on practicality despite the higher running cost.
Key Takeaways
- K2700 is a workhorse light commercial bakkie — open load body, leaf-spring rear, 2.7L diesel only in SA
- Sedona / Grand Sedona is a car-based van/MPV — enclosed cargo, coil rear, 2.7 V6 petrol or 2.2/2.9 CRDi
- Used K2700 prices in SA: R120k-R230k depending on year and condition (2026 values)
- Used Sedona prices: R150k-R420k for tradesman- and family-spec units
- K2700 wins on simplicity, payload-per-rand, and parts price
- Sedona wins on cargo security, NVH, and dual-purpose use (cargo + people carrier swap)
What These Vehicles Actually Are
The Kia K2700 sold in SA is a forward-control 1-tonne light commercial with a leaf-sprung live rear axle, longitudinally mounted J2 2.7 natural-aspirated diesel. It has been on sale here continuously since the late 1990s in dropside, single-cab and chassis-cab configurations. The market sees it as a Hyundai H100 / Isuzu / Mahindra Bolero competitor — basic, durable, repairable.
The Kia Sedona (sold globally as Carnival in most markets, and later as Grand Sedona / Grand Carnival) is a much more modern unitary-construction van/MPV. The VQ/YP-generation (2006-2020 in SA) uses a transverse front-engine layout with a D4CB / D4HB 2.2 CRDi diesel (or the earlier J3 2.9 CRDi) and a G6EA 2.7 Lambda V6 petrol option. Coil-sprung rear, 4- or 5-speed automatic, much more car-like to drive.
J2 & D4CB Diesel Engines
The J2 2.7 is the indestructible older engine in the K2700. The D4CB / D4HB 2.2 CRDi powers most Sedona vans — common-rail, turbocharged, more power but injector-sensitive.
Spec Sheet Head-to-Head
| Spec | K2700 Bakkie | Sedona Van (VQ) |
|---|---|---|
| Engine (typical SA) | J2 2.7 NA Diesel | D4CB / D4HB 2.2 CRDi |
| Power | 61 kW | 125-145 kW |
| Torque | 167 Nm | 392-440 Nm |
| Payload | Up to 1 305 kg | 700-950 kg |
| Load space | Open dropside, 2.5 x 1.6 m | 4.0 m³ enclosed |
| Used price range (2026) | R120 000 - R230 000 | R150 000 - R420 000 |
| Service cost / year | R3 500 - R6 000 | R6 000 - R10 000 |
| Fuel economy (real-world) | 8.5 - 10.5 L/100km | 9 - 11 L/100km diesel |
| Transmission options | 5-speed manual only | 4AT or 5AT |
| Turning circle | 11.2 m | 11.4 m |
Source: Kia SA spec sheets verified May 2026, plus AutoTrader pricing data and our own fleet customer feedback.
When To Buy A K2700
The K2700 is the right answer when:
- You move bulky / open / awkward loads — building materials, scrap metal, agricultural feed, garden refuse
- Cost matters more than comfort — your driver does 8 hours a day at 80 km/h on rural roads
- You need maximum payload — the dropside lifts 1 305 kg
- Repair cost matters — the J2 2.7 engine is a generation behind common-rail tech, no electronic injectors, no DPF, no AdBlue
- You can fit a canopy / tonneau later if you eventually want enclosed cargo
The K2700's weak spots are NVH (it is noisy on the highway), the dated cabin, and the absence of safety kit by modern standards. ABS only became standard mid-life; airbags are basic; no traction control.
When To Buy A Sedona
The Sedona is the right answer when:
- You carry valuable / weather-sensitive cargo — couriers, alcohol delivery, mobile workshops, electronics
- You need to swap between cargo and passengers — the Sedona's removable seats make the conversion cheap
- Driver comfort is part of retention — the Sedona cabin is car-like, with cruise, aircon, and a proper auto box
- You run a longer-route operation — the CRDi engine cruises at 120 km/h all day and the coil-sprung rear is far easier on the lower back
Sedona weak spots: D4CB / D4HB CRDi injector failures are the headline reliability issue (see our CRDi injector failure symptoms guide), and the DPF on later units gets blocked if the van does short stop-start work without highway clearing runs.
Running Cost Reality Check For A Small Business
We see two patterns at the yard:
A two-vehicle delivery business running a 7-year-old Sedona plus a 10-year-old K2700 typically spends:
- Sedona service & parts: R12 000 - R18 000/year including consumables and one injector replacement every 80 000 km
- K2700 service & parts: R4 500 - R8 000/year including a clutch every 150 000 km
Over five years the Sedona will cost roughly R30 000-R50 000 more in maintenance, but the Sedona will likely command R60 000-R100 000 more at resale. For most operators the Sedona is the better business decision because:
- Cargo loss to weather and theft on a K2700 (especially without a canopy) cuts into margin
- Driver fatigue on the Sedona is markedly lower over long shifts
- The Sedona doubles as a passenger vehicle when needed (eg. office-to-airport runs)
That changes the moment your work involves anything dirty, heavy, or oversized — at which point the K2700's open load body becomes priceless.
K2700 & Sedona Clutch Kits
A loaded K2700 or Sedona chews clutches. We stock OE-spec clutch kits (cover, plate, release bearing) for both — fitted at a preferred independent workshop, or supplied as a part-only quote nationwide.
What To Check When You Inspect A Used Unit
For a K2700:
- Leaf spring condition — sag and cracks are common after years of overload
- Diff oil colour — silver flakes mean axle bearings are going
- Fuel pump priming bulb (J2) — if it stays soft, the lift pump is dying
- Cab corner rust on the door pillars, especially on coastal-province units
For a Sedona:
- Listen for injector chatter at idle — a click-click that goes away at 1500 rpm is a common D4CB / D4HB injector tell
- Check the DPF restriction warning history on a scan tool — multiple regen failures point to a future blockage
- Sliding door rollers and tracks — they get sticky after 200 000 km
- Aux belt tensioner — failed tensioners eat alternators
Final Verdict
For a furniture removal, pest control, plumbing or building business — buy the K2700. The lower running cost compounds and the dropside body is worth its weight in gold for off-loading.
For couriers, e-commerce last-mile delivery, mobile services and anything secured and weatherproof — buy the Sedona. The cargo security plus driver comfort win on total cost of ownership.
Get a used K2700 parts quote or a used Sedona parts quote from us in Durban — same-day and next-day delivery across KwaZulu-Natal, nationwide overnight via insured courier. If the J2, D4CB or D4HB engine needs replacing, our Kia engines for sale page lists current stock and pricing for both commercial diesel variants.
Sources
- Kia South Africa — K2700 and Sedona specification sheets, May 2026
- AutoTrader SA used-vehicle pricing data, May 2026
- Engine Finder SA used-engine pricing index (https://www.enginefinder.co.za/)
- Our own fleet customer service records, Pro Kia Spares Briardene
