Kia has officially thrown its hat into the global pickup truck ring with the unveiling of the Kia Tasman Pickup. This groundbreaking vehicle isn’t just another entry into a crowded market; it’s a bold statement, a redefinition of what a pickup can be, and a clear invitation to drivers to “Dive into a New Dimension.” For years, Kia has been building a reputation for innovation and quality across sedans, SUVs, and commercial vehicles. Now, with the Tasman, they’re bringing that expertise to the pickup segment, promising a vehicle that’s as comfortable on city streets as it is conquering rugged terrains.
The Tasman emerges from Kia’s extensive five-decade history of crafting specialized vehicles, including formidable off-roaders. This heritage is evident in every aspect of the Tasman, from its purposeful design to its cutting-edge technology and class-leading practicality. Designed to seamlessly blend work and leisure, the Kia Tasman pickup is poised to become the go-to choice for those who demand versatility and capability without compromise.
Image alt text: Front view of the Kia Tasman pickup truck showcasing its bold grille and signature lighting.
Redefining the Pickup Aesthetic: Purposeful and Progressive Design
Forget the same old pickup truck clichés. Kia’s design team consciously steered away from the predictable styling cues that have long dominated the segment. The result is a refreshing and progressive aesthetic that emphasizes robust power through clean, functional elements. The Kia Tasman rejects oversized and unnecessary styling, opting instead for an honest and solid form that speaks volumes about its capabilities.
Karim Habib, Executive Vice President and Head of Kia Global Design, perfectly encapsulates this philosophy: “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. Solid and capable, its design begins with an honest form, using simple and rugged elements to capture a spirit of practicality. The Kia Tasman is a pickup truck that effortlessly blends lifestyle and utility, and represents our commitment to always bring bold and innovative ideas to our customers.”
The front of the Tasman commands attention with its expansive radiator grille and robust bumper, immediately conveying width and stability. The iconic Kia Tiger Face is artfully framed by the hood trim and grille, incorporating striking vertical signature lighting seamlessly integrated into the headlamps. This distinctive front fascia ensures the Kia Tasman is instantly recognizable and projects an image of confident capability.
The side profile is equally compelling, with an upright windshield and rear glass contributing to a bold silhouette. Reinforced by strong 45-degree angles in its graphic elements, the Tasman exudes a powerful stance. A unique fender design integrates practical features like headlights and storage, further demonstrating the fusion of functionality and confident, clean design that defines the Kia Tasman pickup.
At the rear, the Tasman continues to emphasize its practical nature. A prominent, stamped Kia logo adorns the tailgate, while the handle and high-mounted stop lamp are seamlessly integrated, enhancing both functionality and the truck’s utilitarian character. The overall impression is one of strength, reliability, and purposeful design, setting the Kia Tasman apart in a segment often characterized by visual excess.
Image alt text: Rear view of the Kia Tasman pickup truck highlighting its tailgate design and practical bed.
Interior Harmony: Practicality Meets Modern Sophistication
Just as the exterior challenges conventional pickup truck design, the Kia Tasman’s interior introduces a new standard of quality and sophistication. The cabin prioritizes purity and simplicity, creating a practical and dependable space designed to serve users faithfully for years to come. The robust and rugged nature of a pickup truck is maintained, but elevated with modern design principles and user-centric features.
Symmetrical proportions and clean lines define the interior, creating a stable and balanced aesthetic. Large air vents with a distinctive honeycomb pattern – a recurring motif in the interior design – underscore the functionality of the ventilation system. The multi-function steering wheel and minimalist lower center dashboard, along with the tunnel section featuring thoughtfully placed buttons, provide intuitive control over the Kia Tasman’s advanced technology. Throughout the cabin, luxurious shapes and refined details elevate the interior beyond typical pickup truck expectations.
The centerpiece of the modern cockpit is the state-of-the-art panoramic widescreen display, featuring a seamless integration of 12.3-inch, 5-inch, and 12.3-inch screens. This advanced system provides the driver and passenger with easy access to vehicle controls and a comprehensive suite of infotainment options. For audiophiles, an optional eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system enhances the in-car entertainment experience, perfectly complementing the standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.
Kia has prioritized practicality within the cabin, equipping the Tasman with a range of innovative features to support both work and leisure activities. These include a large folding console table, dual wireless charging pads, and cleverly hidden storage bins beneath the rear seats, offering a class-leading 33 liters of storage capacity. Passengers will also appreciate the best-in-segment headroom, shoulder room, and an impressive 940mm of second-row legroom. The rear seats further enhance comfort with a recline feature, adjustable between 22 and 30 degrees, ensuring a spacious and relaxing environment for all occupants.
Reflecting Kia’s commitment to sustainability, the Tasman’s interior incorporates 10 must-have sustainability items. These include a bio-plastic crash pad, seats crafted with recycled PET fabric and bio-PU synthetic leather, BTX-free and bio-paint compositions, and an interior carpet made from recycled PET material. These eco-conscious choices demonstrate that rugged capability and environmental responsibility can go hand-in-hand.
Interior trim options for the Kia Tasman include five colorways: Onyx Black/Medium Gray, Espresso Brown/Onyx Black, and Deep Green/Medium Gray. For those opting for the more off-road-focused X-Line and X-Pro models, two-tone color options are available, including Onyx Black/Medium Gray and Deep Green/Terracotta Brown, allowing for further personalization and stylistic expression.
Image alt text: Interior view of the Kia Tasman pickup truck showcasing its panoramic display and spacious cabin.
Tasman Trims and Configurations: Tailored to Your Needs
The Kia Tasman pickup is offered in a variety of trims and configurations to cater to a wide range of customer needs and preferences. The lineup starts with the double cab base model, providing a solid foundation of capability and practicality. Stepping up, the X-Line trim adds enhanced features and styling, while the top-of-the-line X-Pro model is engineered for superior off-road performance.
The X-Pro distinguishes itself with a 28mm increase in ground clearance, reaching a total of 252mm, making it exceptionally capable in challenging terrains. It rides on 17-inch gloss-black wheels fitted with all-terrain tires, further enhancing its off-road prowess. The X-Line, while still highly capable, features larger 18-inch alloy wheels paired with highway and terrain tires, striking a balance between on-road refinement and off-road readiness.
Beyond the standard trims, Kia offers customizable chassis cab variants to meet the specific requirements of businesses. Single cab options are also available, maximizing bed space by reconfiguring the passenger compartment into a single row layout. This versatility ensures the Kia Tasman can be adapted for a wide range of commercial and specialized applications.
Customization is a core element of the Kia Tasman experience. A comprehensive range of accessories is available, designed to enhance both leisure and work activities. These accessories are standardized in design, innovative in function, and provide practical, real-world solutions that allow owners to fully utilize the Tasman’s spaciousness, practicality, and go-anywhere capabilities.
Initially, four bed accessory configurations will be offered: Single Decker, Double Decker, Sports Bar, and Ladder Rack, with the first three available right from launch. In total, 13 accessory products will be available, including two types of side steps and beadlock-style wheels, allowing for extensive personalization.
The Tasman Single Decker configuration features a canopy with butterfly doors for easy access and a roof rack perfect for a rooftop tent, ideal for adventurous excursions. The Tasman Double Decker offers a trunk equipped with butterfly doors and a sliding tonneau cover, creating customizable and secure cargo space. The Sports Roll Bar variant features a functional frame for mounting outdoor lifestyle equipment, while the Ladder Rack variant provides a robust ladder-type rack, also compatible with rooftop tents, catering to various outdoor pursuits and professional needs.
Drivetrain and Performance: Power and Refinement on Any Road
Built upon a fully optimized body-on-frame platform, the Kia Tasman offers a choice of powertrains to suit different markets and driving preferences. In the Korean market, the Tasman will be available with a potent 281PS 2.5-liter petrol engine, paired with a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission. This engine delivers 421Nm of torque, enabling the Kia Tasman to accelerate from 0-100km/h in a brisk 8.5 seconds, reaching a top speed of 185km/h.
For the Australian market, the Tasman will feature a 210PS 2.2-liter diesel engine, also mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Producing a robust 441Nm of torque, this diesel engine provides ample power for both work and play, propelling the Kia Tasman from 0-100km/h in 10.4 seconds, with the same top speed of 185km/h.
In other regions, including the Middle East and Africa, customers can choose between the 2.5-liter petrol engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and the 2.2-liter diesel engine, offering a choice of either an eight-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission depending on the specific market. This broad range of powertrain options ensures the Kia Tasman can meet diverse customer needs across different global regions.
Kia has meticulously engineered the Tasman’s chassis and suspension for both on-road comfort and off-road capability. An optimized composite bush structure is used to mount the body to the frame, enhancing rigidity, body control, stability, and overall comfort. The double wishbone front suspension is designed to improve ride and handling in all conditions. At the rear, a rigid axle with leaf springs provides robust load-carrying capability, while vertically mounted shock absorbers ensure effective damping and control, even under extreme suspension travel.
Further enhancing ride quality and handling are Kia’s frequency selective Sensitive Damper Control (SDC) and Hydraulic Rebound Stop technology. These advanced systems minimize vibrations transmitted to the cabin and improve body control and comfort, particularly on rough terrain, ensuring a refined and enjoyable driving experience in all conditions.
Image alt text: Kia Tasman pickup truck demonstrating its off-road capabilities on a rocky terrain.
Pickup-Specific Features: Built for Work and Adventure
The Kia Tasman pickup is packed with features specifically designed to enhance its practicality and capability, both on and off the road. To ensure engine protection when traversing water, Kia engineers have strategically positioned the air intake inside the vehicle’s fender. This design gives all Kia Tasman variants an impressive water fording capability of up to 800mm deep at a speed of 7km/h. Additional water ingress prevention measures, such as waterproof connectors for critical interior parts, further enhance durability in challenging conditions.
The Tasman’s state-of-the-art all-terrain drivetrain technology has been rigorously tested and proven in diverse and demanding environments around the world, from the snowy tundra of Sweden to the scorching deserts of the Australian outback and the UAE, and steep inclines in the US and Korea. This extensive testing ensures the Kia Tasman is ready to tackle any challenge.
Both the X-Line and X-Pro trims come standard with all-wheel-drive, which is also optionally available on the base model. The intelligent AWD system automatically adjusts power distribution to optimize traction on various surfaces and offers three driving modes – ECO, Smart, and Sport – with additional terrain modes available depending on the market. The X-Pro model adds a dedicated Rock mode, specifically tuned for challenging mountainous terrains. In the Middle East and Africa, Desert, Mud, Snow, and Rock modes are offered on AWD variants, while in Australia and other general markets, AWD models feature Sand, Mud, Snow, and Rock modes.
Exclusive to the X-Pro variant are further off-road enhancements, including an automatically engaging rear Electronic Locking Differential (e-LD) and X-Trek mode. X-Trek mode enables the vehicle to maintain a low speed off-road without requiring manual acceleration or braking, ensuring smooth and controlled navigation through rough terrain. The e-LD in the rear differential provides advanced locking and unlocking control, further enhancing adaptability and control in demanding off-road scenarios.
Kia’s Ground View Monitor (GVM) provides drivers with an added layer of confidence when navigating challenging off-road terrain. Utilizing the Kia Tasman’s cameras and infotainment screens, GVM displays a real-time view of the ground level, allowing for precise maneuvering in tight spots and over obstacles.
Practicality and Utility: Work Hard, Play Harder
Kia’s design and engineering teams have paid meticulous attention to detail to create a pickup truck that truly supports small business owners, tradespeople, farmers, and anyone working in outdoor environments. Thoughtful and highly practical features are integrated throughout the Kia Tasman.
Standard features include convenient corner steps for easy access to the illuminated load bed. Optional features further enhance utility, such as a power outlet (rated at 240 volts in Australia and 220 volts in other markets) for powering tools and devices, and a sliding cargo floor for easier loading and unloading of materials and equipment. The bed also offers divider-forming capabilities for organizing cargo, and optional bedside flexibility with a mini table for items like Bluetooth speakers or cups, making it equally suited for work and leisure activities.
Inside the cabin, the folding console table adds further versatility, transforming the Kia Tasman into a mobile workspace. This feature allows users to comfortably use laptops for work or relaxation on the go.
The Kia Tasman’s load bed measures 1,512 mm long, 1,572 mm wide (1,186 mm between the wheel arches), and 540 mm deep, providing a best-in-class cargo capacity of 1,173 liters (VDA). Thanks to its robust multi-skeleton, highly strengthened bed structure, the Kia Tasman boasts a maximum payload capacity of 1,145kg in 2WD mode, along with a substantial 3,500kg towing capacity, making it a true workhorse.
Advanced Technology and Safety: Drive with Confidence
The Kia Tasman doesn’t compromise on technology or safety. The advanced chassis and suspension system, while designed for rugged off-road performance, also delivers exceptional on-road handling and comfort. Predictable and engaging handling, combined with a comfortable ride, ensures the Kia Tasman is enjoyable to drive in all situations.
Even on long highway journeys, the Kia Tasman provides a refined and quiet cabin experience, thanks to enhanced sound-deadening materials, additional wind-sealing strips, and advanced noise extractor technology. This level of cabin refinement is not typically found in the pickup truck segment.
Kia Tasman users benefit from a comprehensive suite of advanced safety and driver assistance technologies. The Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) include features such as Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Collision Warning, and Remote Parking Assist through Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDA 2). Crucially, the ADAS has been optimized with trailer profile functionality. This innovative feature allows drivers to input trailer specifications into the system, which then automatically optimizes the pickup’s ADAS to account for the trailer, enhancing safety and stability when towing.
Global Debut and Launch Plans
The Kia Tasman has undergone rigorous testing, with 1,777 specific tests conducted over more than 18,000 rounds of evaluation. These tests spanned a wide range of environments and conditions, from off-road ability and water wading to all-terrain durability, towing performance, and on-track ride and handling. This exhaustive testing process ensures the Kia Tasman meets the highest standards of quality and reliability.
Proven to excel in diverse conditions worldwide, the Kia Tasman made its global debut at the Jeddah International Motor Show in the Middle East, with a simultaneous online unveiling. The models showcased at the Jeddah Motor Show included the Baseline Double Cab, X-Line Double Cab, X-Pro Double Cab, and the X-Pro Double Cab Customized.
The Kia Tasman is scheduled to launch initially in the Korean domestic market in the first half of 2025, followed by subsequent rollouts in Australia, Africa, and the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is anticipated to be a particularly strong market for this groundbreaking new pickup truck.
| Kia Tasman Specifications |
|---|
| Trim |
| Overlength |
| Width |
| Height(incl. roof rack) |
| Wheelbase |
| Ground clearance |
| 2WD |
| 4WD |
| Engine type |
| 6MT |
| Gasoline Theta 3 |
| Diesel New R |
| Fuel efficiency |
| Fuel tank capacity |
| Tire |
| Specializedfeatures |
| Specialized control |
| Terrain mode |
| Wading performance |
| Towing capacity |
| Load capacity |
| Payload capacity |
| Convenience features |
| Bed convenience |
| Towing ADAS features |
| Other convenience functions |
