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Future models - Kia - TasmanTasman out in Hobart: Kia ute here next yearKia Tasman ute expected to consist of three dual-cab grades, all with a 2.2L diesel29 Oct 2024 KIA Australia has finally unveiled the much-anticipated Tasman dual-cab ute, and the brand’s bold play at the pick-up truck market has certainly raised eyebrows with its polarising looks and intriguing specifications.
Debuting in tandem at an event in Hobart, Tasmania, as well as the Jeddah International Motor Show, the new Tasman has been confirmed for an Australian market arrival in 2025, with the South Korean maker stating that its first ute model “pushes boundaries” in its quest to “meet customer needs effortlessly in both work and leisure activities”.
“Kia’s first-ever pick-up truck was created from the ground up to transform the market and respond to the growing preference for lifestyle-oriented trucks with advanced features,” said Kia Corporation president and CEO Ho Sung Song.
“The Kia Tasman is a progressive pick-up truck that follows its own path – not the competition. The Kia Tasman combines true pick-up values with exceptional capability and practicality, and advanced features that defy conventional thinking,” said Mr Song.
“This essence is instilled in our global slogan ‘Dive into a New Dimension’, enabling customers to broaden their horizons. 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.”
Kia will sell the Tasman in three trim grades: Baseline for tradies and fleets, X-Line as a middle-ground for dual-purpose vehicle customers, and X-Pro, the most hardcore, off-road model.
The new body-on-frame ute has some impressive specs. The X-Pro, for instance, has 252mm of ground clearance and runs 17-inch black wheels with all-terrain tyres, while the X-Line has 18-inch wheels with highway rubber. Wading depth is 800mm.
Measuring up at a class-competitive 5410mm long on a 3270mm wheelbase, the Tasman arguably looks bigger than that thanks to its boxy design. The width (excluding mirrors) is 1930mm, and height varies depending on the grade: Baseline (1870mm); X-Line (1890mm); X-Pro (1920mm).
Tub dimensions are “best-in-class”, according to Kia, with a 1512mm length, 1572mm width (and a pallet-swallowing 1186mm between the wheelarches), and 540mm deep. This culminates in a cargo capacity of 1173 litres, the brand says.
Furthermore, Kia has delivered on its intention to equip the new ladder-chassis truck with the benchmark braked towing capacity of 3500kg, and initial specs state the Tasman’s payload as being 1195kg ‘in 2WD mode’. The brand says the payload for all grades will be at least one tonne, with the lowest rated being 1017kg.
The ute makes use of a double-wishbone front suspension system and leaf-spring rear layout with a rigid axle with vertically-mounted shock absorbers “to ensure more effective damping and greater control, even at the extremes of suspension travel”.
Kia Australia has been working on a local ride and handling tune, and the Tasman runs a “Sensitive Damper Control (SDC)” and “Hydraulic Rebound Stop technology” which are designed to minimise vibrations and roughness in a mix of terrains.
Ute buyers will be intrigued to learn there are four tub configurations available in accessory packs: Single Decker, with a canopy and ‘butterfly’ doors with a roof rack and tent; Double Decker with a sliding tonneau cover and ‘butterfly’ doors to make the tub more configurable; Sports Bar with functional mounting frame integrated into the cargo zone; and Ladder Rack, which is aptly named, but can also accommodate a roof tent setup.
There will also be a pair of side-step options and beadlock-style wheels, as part of a broader range of 13 accessory items.
In Australia, the Tasman has been confirmed to run a familiar 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, producing 154kW of power and 441Nm of torque – well below some of its double-cab competitors with four-cylinder engines. It has a standard eight-speed automatic transmission, with standard four-wheel drive with dual range transfer case on the X-Line and X-Pro models.
The X-Pro will have an electronic locking rear differential, with an off-road cruise control system called X-Trek. Expect that grade to have a surround-view camera system with Ground View Monitor, a see-through camera system similar to some other off-roaders.
Other markets will have access to different engines. For example, the Middle East and Africa will take a 2.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder with 206kW and 421Nm, capable of 0-100km/h in a claimed 8.5 seconds. The diesel Australia is getting, meanwhile, has a claimed 0-100 time of 10.4 seconds with the auto (other markets will get a six-speed manual).
Final fuel consumption numbers are still to be confirmed, but the brand is targeting an ambitious claim of 7.5L/100km.
While it has previously been suggested that an electric version of the Tasman would follow soon after the ICE models debut, there was no mention of any hybrid, electrified or fully electric model in the brand’s pre-launch documentation.
Inside, five colour combinations will be on offer. For the base grades, there’ll be black/grey, brown/black, and green/grey, while the X-Pro flagship also has the choice of black/medium grey, and green/brown.
A familiar array of displays will be offered including a 12.3-inch touchscreen media system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an adjoining 5.0-inch climate control panel, as well as a 12.3-inch digital instrument display for the driver.
Features inside include a folding table in the console area, dual wireless phone charging pads, hidden storage bins, and a reclining second-row seat.
The Tasman is set to be offered in nine exterior colours: Clear White, Snow Pearl White, Steel Gray, Interstellar Gray, Cityscape Green, Runway Red, Aurora Black Pearl, Tan Beige and Denim Blue.
The Kia Tasman will go on sale in 2025 in Australia, and the brand has previously stated it thinks it can shift 20,000 units in its first full calendar year of local sales.  Read more19th of July 2024  Kia Tasman testing captured for docuseriesBehind-the-scenes docu-series to lift the curtain on Kia Tasman ute testing Down UnderAll future models Alfa Romeo Abarth Alpine Alpina Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chery Brabham Chrysler Chevrolet Cupra Citroen DS Dodge Fiat Ferrari Foton Ford Great Wall FPV Haval GWM Honda Holden Hummer HSV Infiniti Hyundai Jaguar Isuzu Kia Jeep Land Rover Lamborghini Lexus LDV Mahindra Lotus Mazda Maserati Mercedes-AMG McLaren MG Mercedes-Benz Mitsubishi Mini Opel Nissan Peugeot Pagani Proton Porsche Renault Ram Rover Rolls-Royce Skoda Saab SsangYong Smart Suzuki Subaru Toyota Tesla Volvo VolkswagenMotor industry news GoAutoNews is Australia’s number one automotive industry journal covering the latest news, future and new model releases, market trends, industry personnel movements, and international events. |
Click to shareKia modelsResearch Kia All future modelsAlfa RomeoAbarthAlpineAlpinaAudiAston MartinBMWBentleyCheryBrabhamChryslerChevroletCupraCitroenDSDodgeFiatFerrariFotonFordGreat WallFPVHavalGWMHondaHoldenHummerHSVInfinitiHyundaiJaguarIsuzuKiaJeepLand RoverLamborghiniLexusLDVMahindraLotusMazdaMaseratiMercedes-AMGMcLarenMGMercedes-BenzMitsubishiMiniOpelNissanPeugeotPaganiProtonPorscheRenaultRamRoverRolls-RoyceSkodaSaabSsangYongSmartSuzukiSubaruToyotaTeslaVolvoVolkswagenMotor industry newsGoAutoNews is Australia’s number one automotive industry journal covering the latest news, future and new model releases, market trends, industry personnel movements, and international events. |
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