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- The Kia Tasman is eyeing the category-leading Ford Raptor PHEV and BYD Shark 6, with plans for a hybrid model reportedly in the works.
- Kia Australia (KAU) product planning manager Roland Rivero told CarsGuide that an electrified hybrid is the “priority”.
- The Tasman hybrid would feature a 2.5-litre petrol as the base, along with a ‘plug-less’ hybrid powertrain.
- Reports also suggest a full-battery electric version would also be a possibility later, but no confirmations have been made.
The Kia Tasman has already bagged a sizeable number of orders, but the carmaker is already plotting its next chapter. Reports from across the industry have suggested that both a hybrid and a full battery electric version are in discussions, with the former looking the most likely for the immediate future.
At present, the Kia Tasman has a diesel engine only, but with rivals having electrified powertrains and Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES) coming into effect earlier this year, a hybrid version seems like a logical step. Plus, it will give the new Kia the right arsenal to fend off rivals like the popular BYD Shark and the GWM Cannon Alpha plug-in hybrid (PHEV).
Kia Australia (KAU) product planning manager Roland Rivero told CarsGuide that while the automaker is aiming to take on the category-leading Ranger, it is far more concerned with breaking hybrid ground.
“With NVES currently in play, the priority would probably be more of an electrified hybrid, for example, to try and see us through to the longer term,” he told CarsGuide. “So, I’ll probably put a hybrid up first before I look at a Raptor or a (Toyota HiLux) GR equivalent.”
Importantly, Kia is no stranger to hybrid vehicles. The brand’s existing PHEV lineup pairs a 1.6-litre petrol engine with an electric motor powered by batteries ranging from 11.1kWh to 13.8kWh. That being said, the Kia Tasman’s Rear Wheel Drive configuration would introduce some complexities in packaging this complicated powertrain.
The vast majority of hybrid models in the Kia range are on a front-wheel-drive platform, meaning significant upgrades would be required to make this configuration viable. Notably, the same hybrid system is being developed for the RWD Genesis cars, and it could also trickle down to the Tasman, albeit with further changes required to accommodate the different off-road-centric requirements. That may prove pivotal moving forward, particularly after the brand debuted an off-road-focused Tasman concept known as the WKNDR earlier this year.
If you ask me, the hybrid Tasman needs to come sooner rather than later. The current Tasman’s 2.2-litre diesel has a quoted 200 to 214 grams per kilometre of CO2 in four-wheel-drive dual-cab pick-up form, which, under the stringent New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) rules, could lead to some costly fines. Where Kia goes from there is anyone’s guess, but rumours of an all-electric Tasman date back as far as 2024, when Christo Valentyn, Kia South Africa’s marketing boss, told US mag Carbuzz: “I’m probably not supposed to say this but… an electric is coming.”
For now, Kia is happy with the response to the Tasman as it enters the fiercely competitive pick-up truck segment. Prices start at AUD$42,990 for the 4×2 variant and stretch up to AUD$74,990 for the X-Pro 4×4 trim. Kia has also confirmed that a single-cab iteration will arrive later this year, continuing the marque’s goal of nabbing a spot amongst the nation’s top five best-selling utes.
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