Chery KP31 – interior of diesel PHEV pick-up revealed

Chery is continuing its slow tease of its forthcoming pick-up truck, codenamed KP31, ahead of its Australian launch in the fourth quarter of the year. The Chinese giant has now released images of the interior, having shown the exterior via a concept in February.

Billed as the world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid pick-up, the KP31 gets a cabin sporting many of the segment’s quirks. These include lots of bluff, chiselled surfaces, exposed Allen bolt heads dotted rather haphazardly all around and a smattering of grab handles on the dashboard corners and the B-pillars.

As is typical for a Chinese vehicle, there is a large instrument display and a particularly massive infotainment touchscreen. Below the latter sits a welcome array of physical air-con controls; these are appearing on more and more of Chery’s vehicles (such as the Q), and it’s good to see Chery following an industry trend that’s actually user-friendly for once.

Elsewhere, you’ll find a two-spoke steering wheel and a tall centre console that lifts more than a few cues from the BYD Shark 6 and Denza B8, such as a flat-topped gear selector and transparent crystal-like toggle switches. We also spot buttons for front, centre and rear locking differentials, as well as what appears to be a tank turn function, similar to GWM’s Tank models.

Behind the Ford Bronco-like schnoz sits a 2.5 litre turbodiesel engine (plus the usual hybrid gubbins) that has a thermal efficiency of 47%, resulting in a 10% reduction in fuel consumption compared to an average diesel pick-up. Chery is also promising a 1,000 kg payload and 3.5 tonne towing capacity in line with the segment, as well as claiming a 30% reduction in NVH. A petrol PHEV variant will join the lineup next year.

As yet, it’s unclear whether the KP31 will be sold under the rather quirkily-named Himla sub-brand for pick-up trucks or the main Chery marque. The former was set to field a smaller model codenamed KP11, badged as the Rely R08 in China; it remains to be seen whether the truck you see here will replace it.

Given that the KP31 already set to be converted to right-hand drive for the Australian market, it does appear likely to arrive here to tackle the Toyota Hilux, the Mitsubishi Triton and the Ford Ranger. That’s especially true given that Chery is due to open a massive CKD local assembly plant in Hulu Selangor, without any of the pricing and export requirements currently holding up BYD’s project.

Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.