Kia has officially entered the pickup truck arena with the unveiling of its groundbreaking model, the Kia Tasman. This marks a significant expansion of Kia’s diverse vehicle lineup, which already includes sedans, SUVs, commercial vehicles, and PBVs. The Kia Tasman is not just another addition; it’s designed to set a new benchmark for Kia’s future pickup truck range and challenge existing norms in the sector.
Inviting customers to ‘Dive into a New Dimension,’ the Kia Tasman aims to push the boundaries of what a pickup truck can offer. With its distinctive and purposeful design, advanced technology, and a focus on class-leading convenience and spaciousness, the Tasman is engineered to redefine expectations. This new Kia Pickup is built to enable drivers to explore new horizons, whether for work or leisure.
Leveraging Kia’s extensive experience in developing specialized vehicles, including robust off-roaders, the Tasman emerges as a truly transformative pickup. It is meticulously crafted to seamlessly blend work and leisure capabilities, making it a versatile companion for a broad range of lifestyles.
Redefining the Pickup Truck Landscape with Kia Tasman
Building on the robust legacy of Kia’s SUV models, particularly the off-road prowess of the Mohave, the Kia Tasman is engineered to cater to a wide spectrum of customer needs across diverse terrains. This new Kia pickup is not simply following trends; it’s setting them.
“Kia’s first-ever pickup truck was conceived from the ground up to revolutionize the market and meet the increasing demand for lifestyle-oriented trucks packed with advanced features,” stated Ho Sung Song, President and CEO of Kia.
“The Kia Tasman is a progressive pickup truck that charts its own course, distinct from the competition. It masterfully combines core pickup truck values with exceptional capability, practicality, and cutting-edge features that defy conventional thinking. This essence is encapsulated in our global slogan ‘Dive into a New Dimension’, empowering customers to broaden their horizons. It delivers world-first solutions for those seeking a lifestyle vehicle for both leisure and outdoor pursuits, while also fulfilling the practical needs of small business operators, such as tradespeople and farmers.”
Exterior Design: A Fresh and Purposeful Kia Pickup Aesthetic
The Kia design team deliberately broke away from the traditional design language that has long dominated the pickup truck segment. This Kia pickup embraces a fresh aesthetic approach, stripping away unnecessary elements to create a basic yet robust form. The design emphasizes a sense of solid power through simple, functional components, avoiding the oversized styling that has become commonplace in the pickup category.
“Created specifically for explorers, adventurers, and individuals who are driven to get things done, the Kia Tasman is engineered to be a dependable partner in every situation,” said Karim Habib, Executive Vice President and Head of Kia Global Design.
“Solid and capable, its design begins with an honest form, utilizing simple and rugged elements to embody a spirit of practicality. The Kia Tasman is a pickup truck that seamlessly merges lifestyle and utility, and represents our dedication to consistently bring bold and innovative concepts to our customers.”
Kia Tasman pickup truck front view, showcasing its bold grille and Tiger Face design.
The Kia Tasman projects an aura of power, confidence, and capability. Its expansive radiator grille and bumper design accentuate the vehicle’s width, while the hood trim and grille frame the iconic Kia Tiger Face, featuring vertically oriented signature lighting integrated into the headlamps.
The upright windshield and rear glass panels contribute to the Kia Tasman’s strong silhouette, further enhanced by the 45-degree angles of its striking graphic elements. The unique fender design blends practical functions, such as integrated headlights and storage units, demonstrating a clear and confident design that prioritizes functionality.
At the rear, the Kia Tasman visually reinforces its practical nature. The tailgate features a prominently stamped logo, while the tailgate handle and high-mounted stop-lamp are seamlessly integrated for enhanced functionality and a utilitarian appeal.
The Kia Tasman offers a palette of nine exterior colors: Clear White, Snow Pearl White, Steel Gray, Interstellar Gray, Cityscape Green, Runway Red, Aurora Black Pearl, and the new hues Tan Beige and Denim Blue.
Interior Design: Blending Purity and Practicality in the Kia Pickup Cabin
Mirroring its unconventional exterior, the Kia Tasman’s interior introduces a bold new dimension of design quality for pickup truck customers. Prioritizing both purity and simplicity, the cabin is designed to be a reliable and enduring partner for users over the years.
The interior space is robust and rugged, perfectly aligning with the character of a Kia pickup. The design utilizes concise, symmetrical proportions to create a stable and balanced aesthetic.
Large air vents featuring a honeycomb pattern – a recurring motif in the interior – emphasize the functionality of the ventilation system. A multi-function steering wheel and a modern, minimalist lower center dashboard and tunnel sections with thoughtfully positioned buttons ensure intuitive control of the Kia Tasman’s advanced technology. Luxurious shapes and sophisticated details are incorporated throughout the cabin, raising the bar for pickup truck interior design.
Kia Tasman pickup truck interior, highlighting the panoramic widescreen display and spacious cabin design.
A state-of-the-art 12.3-inch + 5-inch + 12.3-inch panoramic widescreen display provides the driver and passenger with seamless access to vehicle controls and advanced infotainment options. An optional eight-speaker Harmon Kardon premium audio system enhances the audio experience, complementing the standard-fit Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.
To better support customers in both their professional and personal lives, the Kia Tasman’s interior is equipped with a range of innovative features. These include a large folding console table, dual wireless charging pads, and concealed storage bins beneath the rear seats, offering a class-leading 33 liters of storage capacity. The Kia Tasman also boasts best-in-segment headroom, shoulder room, and a generous 940mm of second-row legroom. The rear seats can recline between 22 and 30 degrees, ensuring a spacious and comfortable environment for passengers.
Reflecting Kia’s commitment to sustainability, the Tasman incorporates the brand’s 10 must-have sustainability items. These include a crash pad made from bio-plastics, seats crafted with recycled PET fabric and bio-PU synthetic leather, a paint composition that is BTX-free and includes bio-paint, and an interior carpet made from recycled PET material.
The Kia Tasman’s interior trim is available in five colorways: Onyx Black/Medium Gray, Espresso Brown/Onyx Black, and Deep Green/Medium Gray. For the more off-road-focused X-Line and X-Pro models, customers can choose between two-tone color options, including Onyx Black/Medium Gray and Deep Green/Terracotta Brown.
Kia Tasman Trims and Specifications: Tailoring Your Ideal Kia Pickup
The Kia Tasman is available as a double cab base model, as well as in X-Line and X-Pro trim levels. The X-Pro trim is designed for superior off-road performance, featuring a 28mm increase in ground clearance, totaling 252mm. It comes equipped with 17-inch gloss-black wheels and all-terrain tires, while the X-Line features larger 18-inch alloy wheels paired with highway and terrain tires.
Kia also offers customizable chassis cab variants to meet specific business requirements, along with single cab options that maximize bed space by reconfiguring the passenger compartment into a single row layout.
Customization is a core element of the Kia Tasman’s appeal. A comprehensive range of accessories is available to enhance both leisure and work activities, allowing customers to tailor their Kia pickup to their specific needs and preferences. These accessories are designed with a standardized aesthetic, are innovative, and provide practical, real-world solutions to maximize the vehicle’s spaciousness, practicality, and all-terrain capabilities.
The Kia Tasman will offer four bed accessory configurations: Single Decker, Double Decker, Sports Bar, and Ladder Rack. The first three will be available at launch. In total, 13 accessory products will be offered, including two types of side steps and beadlock-style wheels.
The Tasman Single Decker configuration includes a canopy and butterfly doors for easy access, along with a roof rack suitable for a rooftop tent. The Tasman Double Decker features a trunk equipped with butterfly doors and a sliding tonneau cover, offering versatile cargo space. The Sports Roll Bar variant includes a functional frame for mounting outdoor lifestyle equipment. The Ladder Rack variant features a ladder-type rack and is also compatible with rooftop tents.
Drivetrain and Performance: Power and Comfort in the Kia Tasman Pickup
Built on a fully optimized body-on-frame platform, the Kia Tasman will be offered in Korea with a robust 281PS 2.5-liter petrol engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Producing 421Nm of torque, this Kia pickup can accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 8.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 185km/h.
For the Australian market, the Tasman will feature a 210PS 2.2-liter diesel engine coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This engine delivers 441Nm of torque, propelling the Kia Tasman from 0-100km/h in 10.4 seconds, with the same top speed.
In other regions, such as the Middle East and Africa, customers can choose between the 2.5-liter petrol engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission, or a 2.2-liter diesel engine available with either an eight-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission, depending on the specific market.
Utilizing an optimized composite bush structure to mount the body to the frame-type chassis ensures enhanced rigidity, body control, stability, and ride comfort in this Kia pickup. The double wishbone front suspension units are designed to improve ride and handling across all conditions. The rear suspension features a rigid axle with leaf springs for optimal robustness and load-carrying capacity, incorporating vertically mounted shock absorbers for more effective damping and greater control, even under extreme suspension travel.
The performance of both front and rear suspension is further enhanced by Kia’s frequency selective Sensitive Damper Control (SDC) and Hydraulic Rebound Stop technology. These systems minimize vibration transmitted to the cabin and improve body control and comfort, even on the most challenging terrains.
Pickup-Specific Features: Engineered for All Terrains and Conditions
To ensure the Kia Tasman’s engine is protected when traversing water, Kia engineers have positioned the air intake inside the vehicle’s fender. This design allows all Kia Tasman models to ford water up to 800mm deep at speeds up to 7km/h. Additional water ingress prevention measures, such as waterproof connectors for key interior parts, have been implemented to protect critical components, ensuring excellent durability in demanding conditions.
The state-of-the-art all-terrain drivetrain technology in this Kia pickup has been rigorously tested and proven in diverse locations, from the snowy landscapes of Sweden to the scorching deserts of the Australian outback and the Al Qudra in the UAE, and on steep inclines in the US and Korea.
Kia Tasman X-Pro model driving off-road, demonstrating its all-terrain capabilities.
Both the X-Line and X-Pro models come standard with all-wheel-drive, which is available as an option on the base model. The AWD system automatically adjusts to provide optimal traction on various road surfaces and offers three driving modes – ECO, Smart, and Sport – with different terrain modes available within these settings depending on the market.
The X-Pro model adds a Rock mode, specifically designed to enhance performance on challenging mountainous terrains. In the Middle East and Africa, Desert, Mud, Snow, and Rock modes are included on all-wheel-drive variants of the Kia Tasman. In Australia and other general markets, all-wheel-drive variants are equipped with Sand, Mud, Snow, and Rock modes.
Further enhancements for the X-Pro variant include an automatically engaging rear Electronic Locking Differential (e-LD) and X-Trek mode. X-Trek mode allows the vehicle to maintain a low speed off-road without needing manual acceleration or braking, ensuring smooth navigation through rough terrain. The e-LD, located in the rear differential, provides advanced control over locking and unlocking, enhancing the vehicle’s adaptability and control in off-road scenarios.
Kia’s Ground View Monitor (GVM) provides drivers with added confidence when navigating challenging off-road terrain. Utilizing the Kia Tasman’s camera and infotainment screens, GVM technology displays the ground level view, enabling precise maneuvering in tight areas.
Practicality and Utility: A Kia Pickup Ready for Work and Life
Kia’s designers and engineers have meticulously considered every detail to create a pickup truck that offers new levels of support for small business owners, tradespeople, farmers, and those working in outdoor environments. Thoughtful and highly practical features are integrated throughout this Kia pickup.
Standard features include corner steps for easy access to the illuminated load bed. Optional features include a power outlet (rated at 240 volts in Australia and 220 volts in other markets) for powering hand tools or laptops, and a sliding cargo floor to simplify loading and unloading materials and equipment. Along with bed divider capabilities, the Kia Tasman offers optional bedside flexibility, including a mini table for items like a Bluetooth speaker or a cup, making it ideal for both work and camping.
Inside, the folding console table further enhances the Kia Tasman’s versatility, allowing it to transform from a work vehicle to a mobile business space. This feature provides users with a convenient space to use a laptop for work or relaxation.
The Kia Tasman’s load bed measures 1,512 mm in length, 1,572 mm in width (1,186 mm between the wheels), and 540 mm in depth, providing a best-in-class cargo capacity of 1,173 liters (VDA). Thanks to a multi-skeleton, highly strengthened bed structure, the Kia Tasman can carry a maximum payload of 1,145kg in 2WD mode, in addition to a substantial 3,500kg towing capacity.
Advanced Technology and Safety: Modern Features in a Robust Kia Pickup
Ensuring that every aspect of the Kia Tasman’s chassis and suspension is engineered to withstand harsh off-road conditions also delivers significant benefits for on-road driving. Predictable, engaging handling and a comfortable ride ensure that the Kia Tasman is a pickup that is enjoyable to drive in all situations.
Even on long highway journeys, features such as enhanced sound-deadening materials, additional wind-sealing strips, and advanced noise extractor technology create a quiet, vibration-free cabin environment, a feature not commonly found in the pickup truck sector.
Kia Tasman users also benefit from the latest technology designed to enhance safety on every journey. The pickup’s 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). These systems are further optimized with trailer profile functionality, allowing trailer specifications to be integrated into the pickup’s ADAS, automatically adjusting driving characteristics accordingly.
World Premiere and Global Launch of the Kia Pickup
The Kia Tasman has undergone rigorous testing, including 1,777 specific tests conducted over more than 18,000 rounds of evaluation. These tests spanned diverse environments and assessed everything from off-road capability to water wading, all-terrain durability to towing, and on-track performance to ride and handling.
Proven to meet the highest global standards, the Kia Tasman made its world debut in the Middle East at the Jeddah Motor Show, 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 introductions in Australia, Africa, and the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is anticipated to be a particularly strong market for this new Kia pickup.
The Kia Tasman is poised to redefine the pickup truck segment, offering a compelling blend of versatility, capability, and innovative design, making it a highly anticipated addition to the global automotive market.
