One more round. That was the philosophy behind Kia when testing their first ever pickup truck – the Kia Tasman. Named after the sea that separates Australia and New Zealand, the Kia Tasman was officially unveiled at the Jeddah Motor Show, Saudi Arabia on October 29 2024, and its striking and unique design has everyone talking.
It's easy to see why, as the design of the Tasman deviates from the familiar form language that is seen in the industry’s most popular, such as the Toyota Hilux or the Ford Ranger. This was an intentional move from the South Korean manufacturer, as they wanted the Tasman to stand out when amongst other pickups, saying that they don’t want you to miss it when it drives past. And the chances are, you won’t.
The Kia Tasman has a futuristic look about it, much like the majority of Kia’s current catalogue. Similar to the EV9, the Tasman has a boxy and angular design philosophy, showing off sharp lines that run along the entire body. It has a rugged and utilitarian appeal with the ‘tiger-nose’ front grille spanning almost the entire width of the front. The nose protrudes out from the vertically-stacked LED headlights, making for an imposing and determined front profile. Although, the community seem to be unsure about the design, many are upset with the front end but the Tasman does have a community of people defending it. Either way, it's generating a lot of discussion which is proving for a lot of publicity. Whatever the opinion is, it’s hot on a lot of people’s minds.
The side profile continues the sharp-edged styling and features what seems to be one of the other focal points for the discussions around the Tasman’s appearance – The bold and blocky fenders. The fenders are striking, contrasting the body paint with a black that matches other trim aspects such as the side skirts. These have been topic for discussion on social media, with some praising the boldness of the design while others criticizing it, saying it completely missed the mark. I think it’s a love-it or hate-it situation. After taking the time to look into it more, and getting used to the design, I personally love it! They make the truck look rugged, strong and ready to work whilst adding some nice contrast against the bodywork. If the Tasman is painted black, they blend in for a clean yet bulky appearance. What do you think?
The interior is clean and practical, demonstrating Kia’s understanding of the target audience’s requirements. Featuring a 12.3-inch gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, the Tasman features Kia’s up-to-date technologies and follows their interior design principles from other models. This is seen in the column-mounted gear selector and a healthy ratio of physical and capacitive buttons. The Tasman also features dual wireless charging pads and an 8-speaker Harman Kardon stereo system.
Storage space inside is clever, with plenty of options and solutions available, with space in the centre console and around a cubic foot of space under the seats. The covers on the centre console also fold open to create a makeshift table, inspired by the Ford F-150.
The R&D (research and development) process for the Tasman was extensive, spanning over 18,000 rounds of tests! After each round, Kia was determined to go again, and again, and again - That’s where the motto ‘one more round’ comes from. There were 1,777 different types of tests that the Tasman went through, but the number of rounds varied for each test. These tests are simulated and documented on the Kia website as short films, and are a blast to watch! It shows the Tasman conquering tasks in a wide variety of environments, from the harsh deserts of Al Qudra, United Arab Emirates to the Australian Outback. These tests proved successful, as the capabilities of the Tasman are impressive.
The Kia Tasman sounds to be a bit of a beast, capable of tackling grueling tasks with relative ease due to its high build quality and either the 2.5l petrol engine that produces 277 horsepower and 421.7nm of torque, or the 2.2l diesel engine that produces 207 horsepower and 440.6nnm of torque. The petrol engine will come with an 8-speed automatic transmission and the diesel will have the option for a 6-speed manual transmission.
The Tasman is said to have a towing capacity of 3,500kg, with a maximum payload of 1,195kg. Kia is claiming that the Tasan has a best-in-class cargo capability of 1,173l of storage space. For those concerned about trawling through water, the Tasman can ford 32 inches of water, and has waterproof connectors used under the bonnet to protect the electrical components, and a snorkel attached to the work truck version. It really does sound as though the Tasman will be able to confidently tackle whatever you throw at it.
Releasing with three base variants, all with a vast array of options to chose from, allows you to create the perfect truck for your needs. The base models are the Base-Line, X-Line and X-Pro. The Tasman will also be available as either a single or double cab, each with customization options. The Base-Line will have an RWD and AWD drivetrain option while the X-Line and the X-Pro are locked to AWD.
The X-Pro is the choice for off-road enthusiasts as it tackles more challenging conditions with the specialized Terrain Mode, a higher ground clearance, all-terrain tyres, an electronically locking rear differential and a specially-tuned suspension that makes the unpredictable environments approachable. Both X-rated pickups feature roomier crew cabs and a 6-foot cargo box.
The Tasman can be fitted with a wide range of options, such as a ladder rack option, a sport bar, single and double-decker bed add-ons. The former includes a canopy and a rack that can be used for a rooftop tent for those adventure seekers out there. The latter has a cargo box and a tonneau cover. Beadlock wheels will also be an option as well as side step options on top of the integrated side steps, inspired by Chevvy.
There will be chassis-cab configuration too, allowing for further customization for commercial or other duties.
Hopefully, you haven’t gotten your hopes up too much, since there is no official plan to bring the Tasman to the UK as of yet, or Europe for that matter. The South Korean manufacturer will release the Tasman to Korea for the first half of 2025, then to Australia, New Zealand, Africa and the Middle East after that. If a UK release is ever announced, we will post an update! Do you think we will ever see the Tasman on the UK roads?
