About a year has passed since the launch of the Hyundai Porter 2 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) truck. The LPG 1-ton (Porter 2, Kia Bongo 3) truck, which was launched in December 2023, sold over 100,000 units within a year until January this year, with the Porter 2 alone accounting for 64,001 units, or 62.5% of total sales.
I tested the 'Porter 2 LPG' (long wheelbase regular cab automatic 5-speed) equipped with an LPG engine. Contrary to the perception that LPG trucks lack acceleration power compared to diesel trucks, it climbed steep hills and moved smoothly on the highway. Its fuel efficiency was good, and it was equipped with advanced features typically found in passenger cars, demonstrating excellent practicality.
Starting the Porter 2 LPG truck revealed a rattling engine sound along with noticeable vibrations, but once I began driving in earnest, the cabin was quieter than expected. The steering wheel was large yet moved lightly and stably. The acceleration was also smooth. The truck gained speed without slipping back on inclines, and overtaking on highways was not a problem.
The vehicle is equipped with next-generation LPG direct injection (T-LPDi) engine. It directly injects high-pressure liquid LPG into the engine combustion chamber, applying the principles used in gasoline and diesel engines to enhance output and efficiency. It features 159 horsepower, which is 18% higher than equivalent diesel trucks (135 horsepower), with torque at a comparable level of 30.0 kgf·m.
Compared to diesel trucks, the ride comfort has improved; however, the seats were somewhat stiff, and my body swayed side to side depending on the road conditions. There was no bothersome engine noise while driving, but due to the structural characteristics of the vehicle with a cargo bed, it often sounded like metal banging from the rear.
The relatively low fuel costs are a benefit. As of the second week of February, the national average price of LPG fuel was 1,074 won per liter, which is about 67% of the diesel price (1,597 won). The annual fuel cost for the Porter 2 LPG, based on 18,000 kilometers, is 2.97 million won, which is about 300,000 won cheaper than the equivalent diesel truck (3.27 million won).
The charging time is also relatively short. The Porter 2 LPG has a tank capacity of 94 liters, and it takes about 3 minutes on average to fill the actual charging capacity of 75 liters. When fully charged, the driving range is 488 kilometers for automatic and 525 kilometers for manual. For the Porter 2 electric truck, it takes about 8 hours and 30 minutes to fully charge, with a maximum driving range of about 211 kilometers.
Despite its long body exceeding 5 meters, the front end is slender and has a high clearance, allowing for comfortable driving on narrow roads. The overall length of the Porter 2 is about 5,100 mm, but its width is 1,740 mm, making it narrower than most passenger cars. The height is 1,970 mm, which is higher than large sports utility vehicles (SUVs).
Various advanced safety and convenience features commonly found in passenger cars have also been applied. Features assisting driving include forward collision prevention assistance, lane departure warning, hill start assist, and cruise control. The infotainment system including displays and audio is somewhat rudimentary, focused on basic functions.
The prices for the Porter 2 LPG by trim are 20.28 million won for the regular cab (2WD long wheelbase), 20.39 million won for the super cab, and 21.66 million won for the double cab. The differences relate to the size of the cargo bed based on the driver's seat space. The regular cab has a length of 3,110 mm, the super cab is 2,860 mm, and the double cab measures 2,185 mm. The regular cab has no space behind the driver's seat, the super cab has a small space for some cargo, and the double cab has a second row allowing for three additional passengers.