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Kia Tasman

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Kia Tasman
Overview
ManufacturerKia
Model codeTK[1]
Production2025 (to commence)
Assembly
Body and chassis
ClassMid-size pickup truck
Body style
Layout
ChassisBody-on-frame
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission
Dimensions
Wheelbase3,270 mm (128.7 in)
Length
  • 5,410 mm (213.0 in)
Width1,930 mm (76.0 in)
Height1,870–1,920 mm (73.6–75.6 in)

The Kia Tasman is a mid-size pickup truck to be produced by South Korean manufacturer Kia in 2025. It is built on a body-on-frame chassis, and powered by four-cylinder petrol and turbo-diesel engines.[2]

It was unveiled simultaneously in two locations on 29 October 2024 at the Jeddah International Motor Show in Saudi Arabia, and in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.[3]

Etymology

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The vehicle is named after the Tasman Sea, located between Australia and New Zealand. According to Kia, the name was chosen due to the importance of the Australian and New Zealand markets for the vehicle.[4]

Overview

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The Tasman will be produced in South Korea, with Australia targeted to be one of the main market for the vehicle. Kia claimed the Tasman will be "the most Australian vehicle" it has ever developed.[5] Kia Australia claimed a major involvement in the development of the pickup truck, and targeted around 10 percent of pickup truck market share in the country once the Tasman went on sale.[6]

The Tasman will be built on an all-new platform, and slated to compete with the Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max, Mitsubishi Triton, Nissan Navara and Toyota Hilux, and will match their braked towing capacity of 3,500 kg (7,700 lb) and a payload of around 1,000 kg (2,200 lb).[7][8]

The name 'Tasman' was confirmed in April 2024,[9] before the first official appearance of the Tasman on 23 April 2024, when Kia Australia released images showing the vehicle wrapped in artistic camouflage sticker designed by local artist Richard Boyd-Dunlop.[10]

The Tasman, which required four years of development and more than 18,000 quality tests. Every Kia design studio worldwide contributed twenty initial Tasman design studies to the project. They were later reduced to three final full-size proposals shown to Kia regions and the winner was subsequently chosen. The Tasman has also been subjected to substantial clinics with potential buyers over the last 12 months.[11][12]

The Tasman is offered with four bed accessory configurations: Single Decker, Double Decker, Sports Bar and Ladder Rack. There are chassis cab and single cab models.[13]

Exterior

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The Tasman features the Kia's Opposites United design philosophy with the Kia Tiger Face. There are vertically positioned lighting signature in the headlights, front windshield and rear window positioned at 45°, and the stamped Kia logo on the tailgate. The wheel arches incorporate additional elements within them such as additional storage, fuel port access and the front headlights.[13][14]

John Buckingham, chief of Kia’s vehicle exterior design, "We are proud of what we have achieved. The design department within Kia has created something unique and there are a lot of positive responses from it." He added, "We knew we had to do something creative and different. And this is the beginning of a journey for Kia as well of course."[11]

Interior

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The interior of the Tasman was designed based on the theme of “use-case”.[13][14]

Inside, the Tasman features a triple screen layout with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 5-inch display for the HVAC controls and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Like all Kia products, the Tasman includes the brand’s ten must have sustainable items used for the crash pad, seats and interior carpet. Other interior features include dual wireless charging pads, a folding centre console, a Harman Kardon sound system, and a 33-litre hidden storage area under the rear seat bases.

For passenger space, the Tasman has 940mm of headroom, shoulder room and legroom for rear seat space. The rear seats are able to recline up to 30°.

The load bed in the Tasman measures at 1,512 mm, 1,572 mm, and 540 mm in length, width, and height, respectively. This has a cargo capacity at 1,173 L (41.4 cubic feet), a maximum load bed payload of 1,145 kg (2,524 lb) in 2WD mode, and a towing capacity of 3,500 kg (7,700 lb).

Safety

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For the suspension, the front uses a double wishbone setup and the rear uses a rigid axle setup with leaf springs combined with vertical shock absorbers. Both setup features Kia’s frequency selective Sensitive Damper Control (SDC) and Hydraulic Rebound Stop technology.[13]

The AWD system automatically switches to provide enough traction on different road surfaces and has three standard driving modes - ECO, Smart and Sport. In addition to the standard driving modes, there are various terrain modes available depending on the relevant market. Other drivetrain features are Electronic Locking Differential (e-LD), an X-Trek mode that allows for low-speed off-road driving, and Kia's Ground View Monitor (GVM) camera system. The Tasman is available with Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) and Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDA 2) safety systems, both systems have been adapted with trailer profile functionality.[13]

Availability

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The initial rollout will target markets including Korea, Australia, Africa, and the Middle East. Notably, Kia has announced that the Tasman will not be available in the United States or Canada, at least not for the 2025 model. [15]

References

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  1. ^ "2025 Kia Tasman ute: Korean Ranger rival spied again". CarExpert. 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  2. ^ Misoyannis, Alex (2024-03-10). "2025 Kia Tasman ute may be four-cylinder only – report". Drive. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  3. ^ Evans, Dean. "Kia Tasman ute is officially here... in Saudi Arabia". Driven Car Guide. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  4. ^ Evans, Dean (2024-10-30). "Kia Tasman reveal, part 1: the world's best Kia ute is bound for NZ". Driven Car Guide. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
  5. ^ Andrew, Chesterton (2024-03-02). "2025 Kia Tasman ute: Powertrains, towing, launch timing and everything else we know so far about crucial Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger rival - Car News". CarsGuide. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  6. ^ Collie, Scott (2024-04-28). "2025 Kia Tasman ute: Everything we know about Ranger, HiLux rival". CarExpert. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  7. ^ Robson, Tim (2023-06-07). "Ute beauty: Kia targets Ford Ranger for new commercial vehicle range". WhichCar. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  8. ^ "2025 Kia Tasman ute launching with four-cylinder power - report". CarExpert. 2024-03-11. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  9. ^ Mulach, Jordan (2024-04-11). "2025 Kia ute: Tasman name confirmed for "most Australian Kia yet"". CarExpert. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  10. ^ "2025 Kia Tasman: First official look highlights Australian roots". CarExpert. 2024-04-22. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  11. ^ a b Newton, Bruce (2024-10-30). "Kia defends Tasman styling". carsales.com.au. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
  12. ^ "More features, more utility: Kia's design chief introduces the new Tasman pickup truck". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. 2024-11-03. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
  13. ^ a b c d e "Kia Tasman redefines the pickup truck with purposeful design and innovative technology, delivering true practicality". Hyundai Motor Group. 2024-10-29. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
  14. ^ a b Novak, Olek (2024-11-06). "Kia Tasman: the inside story behind its polarising design". Chasing Cars. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
  15. ^ "Kia Tasman Revealed: The Game-Changer Every Truck Lover Needs to See!". Orleans Kia. 2024-10-31. Retrieved 2024-10-31.
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