‘Radical’ Kia Tasman Unveiled: New Ute to Rival Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux

• Kia has unveiled the ‘Tasman‘; its first-ever ute vehicle.
• The Tasman global launch is slated for mid-2025.
• No pricing has been confirmed with further details expected in the coming months.

South Korean automotive giant Kia has thrown down the gauntlet to Toyota and Ford, unveiling the much-awaited Kia Tasman Ute. The all-new vehicle was revealed at a blockbuster showing at the Jeddah Motor Show on Tuesday night, with Kia’s local distribution team confirming that the Australian rollout will kick off in the middle of next year. The new addition marks the brand’s first foray into the lucrative lifestyle ute segment, which domestically is dominated by the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux models. That isn’t deterring Kia, however, with the brand outlining aggressive growth targets for the burgeoning region.

“Kia’s first-ever pickup truck was created from the ground up to transform the market and respond to the growing preference for lifestyle-oriented trucks with advanced features,” Ho Sung Song, president and CEO at Kia, said. “The Kia Tasman is a progressive pickup truck that follows its own path – not the competition. The Kia Tasman combines true pickup values with exceptional capability and practicality and advanced features that defy conventional thinking.”

If by conventional thinking, Ho Sung Song meant ‘aesthetically appealing’, then the internet would have to agree. The exterior styling of Kia‘s new Tasman pickup truck has divided many, with the blocky front end drawing confused responses from several automotive journalists. Looks aren’t everything, however, so it is important to take a peek at just what Kia is promising with the new Tasman ute.

Kia Tasman Unveiled

With Australia representing a key market for the South Korean brand, the Kia Tasman has reportedly been developed with Aussies in mind. The laundry list of features and add-ons has been crafted with input from local engineers and seems to point to Kia’s overall plan of stealing market share from the popular Toyota HiLux and the Ford Ranger models.

Kia Tasman Models

• There are three trims on offer: Double cab base model, X-Line, and off-road focused X-Pro trim.
• Kia has also provided customisable chassis cab variants and a single cab option.

Specifically, there are three trims on offer: a double cab base model, an X-Line, and the off-road-focused X-Pro trim. The X-Line has 18-inch alloy wheels and is more towards on-road driving with highway and terrain tyres while the X-Pro has more ground clearance at 252mm (standard is 224mm) and 17-inch gloss black wheels with all-terrain tyres. Kia has also provided customisable chassis cab variants and a single cab option. As president and CEO Ho Sung Song explained at the official launch, the Kia Tasman is a ‘truly transformative’ pickup truck that is designed to meet the needs of both work and leisure activities.

“This essence is instilled in our global slogan ‘Dive into a New Dimension’, enabling customers to broaden their horizons,” Ho Sung Song said. “It offers world-first solutions for those seeking a lifestyle vehicle for leisure and outdoor activities while meeting the needs of small business operators, such as traders and farmers.”

Engine Capacity and Performance

• Australian Tasman models will come with a 210PS 2.2-litre diesel engine.
• The torque on offer is 441Nm with a top speed of 185km/h.

Where Kia is touting much of the Tasman’s ingenuity is in engine capacity. In Korea, the Tasman will come with a 281PS 2.5-litre petrol engine while Australia gets the tried and tested 210PS 2.2-litre diesel engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The torque on offer is 441Nm, and that is sizeable enough to propel it from 0-100 km/h in 10.4 seconds with a 185km/h top speed. Do note that these numbers will not win any game of Top Trumps since the bi-turbo Ranger has considerably more torque and power, as does the HiLux.

Crucially, however, Kia has positioned the air intake inside the vehicle’s fender, which means all variants can ford water up to 800mm deep at a speed of 7km/h. Select interior parts also use waterproof connectors to provide a go-anywhere capability. The base trim gets selectable AWD as an option while it is standard on the X-Line and the X-Pro.

There are also three drive modes—ECO, Smart, and Sport—while the X-Pro model has an additional Rock mode. Off-road tech on the X-Pro adds a rear Electronic Locking Differential (e-LD) and X-Trek mode, which is basically like an off-road cruise control. The base Tasman’s payload of 1,195kg is another factor that could pull buyers in its favour since it is more than rivals.

Kia Tasman Design & Styling

From the moment it was revealed, it was clear that the Kia Tasman’s radical-looking design was going to be divisive. While it adheres to the basic pick-up styling principles of a large grille and an upright windshield, the headlamps and face design present a starkly different aesthetic than we’re used to seeing in the ute category, and it is by design. Kia says that they deliberately ‘shunned the familiar form language that has dominated the pickup genre for decades’—a move that will certainly create a point of difference but will undoubtedly divide opinion.

The tiger-face grille has an interesting iteration that integrates a new pattern, while the headlamps have a vertical DRL. Elsewhere, the boxy design language is emphasised by chunky detailing, which I have to admit, is slowly growing on me. The dimensions of the Tasman read as: 5410mm in length, 1930mm in width, and a 3270mm wheelbase for the dual-cab model. The Kia Tasman’s load bed is 1,512 mm long, 1,572 mm wide (1,186 mm between the wheels), and 540 mm deep, plus it also has a cargo capability of 1,173 litres.

“Created especially for explorers, adventurers and people who like to get things done, the Kia Tasman is designed to serve as a dependable companion in every situation,” said Karim Habib, executive vice president and head of Kia global design.

Kia Tasman Colours

Globally, there are nine colours on offer:

• Clear White
• Snow Pearl White
• Steel Gray
• Interstellar Gray
• Cityscape Green
• Runway Red
• Aurora Black Pearl
• Tan Beige
• Denim Blue

Kia Tasman Interior

• Infotainment system features 12.3-inch + 5-inch + 12.3-inch panoramic widescreen technology.
• Eight-speaker Harmon Kardon premium audio system optional.

Inside, the Kia Tasman is far less polarising. The interior features a premium design that incorporates some subtle details from other Kia vehicles, whilst also introducing a few new elements. There is a large steering wheel, honeycomb vents and a 12.3-inch + 5-inch + 12.3-inch configuration including a passenger screen as well. Practical bits include a large folding console table, dual wireless charging pads and hidden storage bins while Kia claims the second-row legroom is a best-in-class 940mm.

Some sustainable materials have also been embedded including carpets made from recycled PET materials. Interior colour options include Onyx Black/Medium Gray, Espresso Brown/Onyx Black, and Deep Green/Medium Gray. The X-Line and X-Pro models meanwhile come with two-tone colour options like Onyx Black/Medium Gray and Deep Green/Terracotta Brown.

The equipment list includes an optional eight-speaker Harmon Kardon premium audio system, standard Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto plus useful tech like a Ground View Monitor for off-roading. The Australian spec will come with corner steps, an illuminated load bed while a 240 volts power outlet, and a sliding cargo floor are optional. The Tasman also has a mini table for outdoor camping activities.

Kia Tasman Pricing & Availability Update

No official pricing details have been announced for the Kia Tasman, but the brand confirmed that further details will be revealed in the coming months. Based on the not-so-subtle comments regarding its target market, I’d be willing to wager that Kia will price the new ute aggressively to undercut the Ranger and the HiLux, gatecrashing the ute party.

As for availability, Tasman will initially launch in the Korean domestic market during the first half of 2025 before being introduced in Australia, Africa, and the Middle East.