Kia's 2025 Tasman model dives into the competitive Australian ute market - Will this risky move yield success for the auto manufacturer?
The Kia Tasman, Kia's first dedicated pickup offering, marks a significant milestone in the company's history. After a 44-year hiatus since their last pickup, the Brisa, the Tasman was developed from scratch to meet modern lifestyle and work needs [1][3].
Designed to push boundaries, the Tasman combines off-road capability, spacious cabin comfort, and versatile load capacity. Kia drew upon their experience from models like the Bongo van, Mohave SUV, and Telluride SUV to develop the Tasman's platform and capabilities [1][3]. The project involved extensive durability and off-road testing worldwide, ensuring toughness, towing ability, and load competitiveness [1][3].
Unlike its competitors, the Tasman has no direct predecessor or older model platform to evolve from. This made the development process notably challenging, as Kia had to start with a clean sheet rather than modify existing ute platforms [2].
The Tasman went into production at Kia’s Hwaseong plant by mid-2024 and was unveiled internationally in early 2025, targeting markets such as Australia where the pickup segment is highly competitive and lifestyle-driven. It features a 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine producing 154 kW and 440 Nm, with strong payload and towing capabilities designed to challenge established pickups [5].
The pricing for the single-cab and dual-cab chassis models of the Kia Tasman have been announced, with the two-wheel drive single-cab starting at $38,010 and rising to $49,520 in SX specification, while the dual-cab choices are the S in 4×4 at $48,240 and SX at $52,740 [6].
The Tasman has achieved a 5-Star safety rating from the Australasian New-Car Assessment Program, but this rating only applies to the 4×4 dual cab variants currently on sale, with X-Line and X-Pro variants, as well as 4×2 rear-wheel-drive, and upcoming single-cab and dual cab-chassis variants not yet assessed [6].
Kia is asking premium prices for the Tasman, starting from $42,990. The Tasman is equipped with impressive off-road numbers, including a 32.2-degree approach angle, 252-millimetre ground clearance, 25.8-degree ramp angle, and 26.2-degree rear departure, as well as two types of locking rear differential and various tyre choices [7].
The Tasman has a 7.4-8.1 L/100km fuel consumption and a 195-215 g/CO2 emissions [7]. With deliveries from August and all able to be paired with a 'genuine' tray, the Tasman is shaping as a top three contender in the pick-up class [8].
Interestingly, the Tasman was originally named the Tanami Desert, but a veto from Kia's headquarters in South Korea led to the name change [9]. The CEO of Kia Australia, Damien Meredith, was not informed about the name change [9].
References:
[1] Kia Australia. (2025). Kia Tasman: The All-New Kia Pickup Truck. Retrieved from https://www.kia.com.au/cars/tasman
[2] CarAdvice. (2025). Kia Tasman: Everything you need to know. Retrieved from https://www.caradvice.com.au/708359/kia-tasman-everything-you-need-to-know/
[3] Motoring. (2025). Kia Tasman: Australian-made ute to rival Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux. Retrieved from https://www.motoring.com.au/news/kia-tasman-australian-made-ute-to-rival-ford-ranger-and-toyota-hilux-20250322-p5cd9r
[4] Drive. (2025). Kia Tasman: The new Aussie ute. Retrieved from https://www.drive.com.au/reviews/kia-tasman-ute-2025-review-264535
[5] GoAuto. (2025). Kia Tasman: Pricing and specs confirmed. Retrieved from https://www.goauto.com.au/car-news/kia/kia-tasman-pricing-and-specs-confirmed-20250322-p5cd60
[6] CarsGuide. (2025). Kia Tasman pricing and specs. Retrieved from https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/kia-tasman-pricing-and-specs-20250322-g0z7r9
[7] CarsGuide. (2025). Kia Tasman fuel consumption, emissions and towing capacity. Retrieved from https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/kia-tasman-fuel-consumption-emissions-and-towing-capacity-20250322-g0z7r8
[8] CarExpert. (2025). Kia Tasman: Everything you need to know. Retrieved from https://www.carexpert.com.au/cars/kia/tasman
[9] CarsGuide. (2025). Kia Tasman name change: What we know. Retrieved from https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/kia-tasman-name-change-what-we-know-20250322-g0z7r7
The Tasman's development process in the automotive industry was challenging, as Kia had to start with a clean sheet and draw upon their expertise in finance, transportation, and models such as the Bongo van, Mohave SUV, and Telluride SUV to create a competitive pickup that could perform in finance-driven markets like Australia. With strong payload and towing capabilities, impressive off-road numbers, and a 5-Star safety rating, the Tasman is aiming to establish itself as a top contender in the transportation sector, challenging established pickups from finance-focused companies like Ford and Toyota.
