2025 Kia Tasman unveiled: New Korean ute to upset Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux
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The 2025 Kia Tasman will soon arrive to unsettle the traditional ute market, but its looks could divide traditionally conservative buyers.
- 2025 Kia Tasman to go on sale next year
- 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine with 154kW and 441Nm
- Modern interior, big tub, and high payload
- Single-cab and dual-cab body styles internationally
After years of speculation, the covers have finally come off the 2025 Kia Tasman – a dual-cab ute developed with significant input from Australian engineers, which the Korean car maker hopes will steal sales away from the two most popular vehicles on sale locally: the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.
Kia says it will offer three variants of the Tasman dual-cab ute: a base model, the road-focussed Tasman X-Line, and the off-road-ready Tasman X-Pro. Australian pricing will be announced next year.
While overseas variants get the option of a manual transmission and turbo-petrol engine, Australian buyers will exclusively be offered a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder making 154kW and 441Nm – a minor performance bump over the 148kW/440Nm in the Kia Sorento fitted with the same engine.
All Australian models will be fitted with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with a claimed 0-100km/h time of 10.4 seconds and a top speed of 185km/h.
The entry-level Kia Tasman will be available with either two-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, while the Tasman X-Line and X-Pro models are exclusively all-wheel drive.
Kia has yet to officially certify fuel-consumption figures for our market, however, initial information suggests all-wheel-drive variants will provide a combined efficiency of approximately 7.6 litres per 100 kilometres.
Neither weight nor emissions figures have been released at this stage, and are expected to be confirmed along with pricing closer to launch.
The Kia Tasman is 5410mm long, 1930mm wide, and comes on a 3270mm wheelbase. The base model is 1870mm high, with the Tasman X-Line and X-Pro 1890mm and 1920mm tall respectively.
Despite the different heights, Kia has listed a wading depth of 800mm for all Tasman models.
The two-wheel-drive base Tasman has 231mm of ground clearance, which increases to 224mm for the all-wheel-drive version – a figure shared with the Tasman X-Line.
For those heading off-road, the Tasman X-Pro provides 252mm of ground clearance, while an electronic locking differential provides increased traction.
Drivers can also use X-Trek mode to maintain a slow and steady pace without driver inputs, with the Ground View Monitor delivering a live video feed from under the car.
All Tasman variants with all-wheel drive feature Sand, Mud, Snow, and Rock modes, though only the Tasman X-Pro features all-terrain tyres on 17-inch gloss-black wheels, whereas the Tasman X-Line is fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels with highway tyres.
While unbraked towing figures haven’t been released, the Kia Tasman can tow up to 3500kg braked – matching its competitors in this class.
Out the back, the Kia Tasman tub comes with a 240-volt domestic outlet, and measures 1512mm long, 1572mm wide – with 1186mm between the wheel arches – and 540mm deep, which Kia claims provides a best-in-class cargo capability of 1173 litres.
However, while the Tasman’s tub provides a decent load area, the KGM SsangYong Musso XLV has 1262 litres of space in the ute, thanks to its tub being 1600mm long, 1570mm wide, and 570mm deep.
Images also show the Tasman with an optional Kia-branded tray – though it’s not clear at this stage whether buyers will be able to choose a cab-chassis option, or whether there will just be a choice between a tub and tray.
Where the Tasman excels is with payload. While the Musso can only take 880kg, all-wheel-drive Tasman models offer payloads of up to 1017kg – with the two-wheel-drive variant providing up to 1195kg of payload capacity.
The generous payload could be attractive to those with large caravans, given something like the Ford Ranger XLT 4WD Bi-Turbo has a payload of 954kg – with those extra 63 kilos potentially valuable for those travelling long distances.
Kia says several storage options will be available for the Tasman from launch, which it calls Single Decker, Double Decker, Sports Bar, and Ladder Rack.
Further images and details are expected closer to launch, however the Single Decker features a canopy with ‘butterfly doors’ and a platform for a rooftop tent.
Arguably, the most striking feature of the Kia Tasman is its looks – particularly its ‘Hammerhead Shark’ front-end and its unconventional wheel spats.
The Korean car company says its design team “deliberately shunned the familiar form language” found in the ute segment.
“Solid and capable, its design begins with an honest form, using simple and rugged elements to capture a spirit of practicality,” said Head of Kia Global Design, Karim Habib, in a media statement.
“The Kia Tasman is a pick-up truck that effortlessly blends lifestyle and utility, and represents our commitment to always bring bold and innovative ideas to our customers.”
Inside, the Tasman features a double-wide screen, featuring a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster ahead of the driver and a second 12.3-inch screen for infotainment duties – complete with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, however, it’s not clear whether these are wired or wireless.
There is a 5.0-inch screen dedicated to climate controls sandwiched between the two 12.3-inch displays. Buyers can also option an eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system.
Kia says the second row of seats boasts significant head, shoulder, and leg room, with additional 33-litre storage bins found underneath and a back-rest that can tilt.
Much of the design language has been borrowed from Kia’s current SUV line-up, albeit with stronger shapes in the door panels and a greater use of hardy plastic, along with knurling on buttons, knobs, and door handles.
Kia has used recycled and ethically-sourced materials throughout the cabin, with the synthetic leather made from bio-PU, and both the carpets and fabric seats manufactured from recycled plastic bottles.
Three different colour combinations are available for the interior of the base model: Onyx Black and Medium Grey, Espresso Brown and Onyx Black, Deep Green and Medium grey.
Owners of the Tasman X-Line or X-Pro can choose from two two-tone options: Onyx Black and Medium Grey, or Deep Green and Terracotta Brown.
Kia has confirmed the Tasman will feature lane-keep assist, lane-centring assist, blind-spot collision alert, and remote semi-autonomous parking. The safety systems can also work while towing, with the system able to compensate for the trailer after its dimensions have been entered.
The 2025 Kia Tasman will launch in its home market of South Korea in the first half of next year, with Australian deliveries expected to follow shortly after.
Full pricing and specifications for the Australian market will be released closer to its local launch in 2025.
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