2025 Kia Tasman – A Narrative Product Review

Off-Road Credentials

Opt for the X-Pro and Kia bolts on the hardware you’d expect: increased ground clearance, all-terrain tyres, and an electronic rear locking differential. Early media drives add that the X-Pro also packs frequency-selective dampers and terrain-specific throttle maps.
Those upgrades were torture-tested across the Australian outback, with engineers openly bragging on social media that the reinforced suspension and selectable 4WD survived everything from dusty corrugations to towing stress tests.
Then there’s XTREK mode. Built into the drive-mode dial, it automatically calibrates traction, ABS and hill-descent to keep the ute inching forward when the track turns truly gnarly; Kia says XTREK pairs perfectly with the Ground View Monitor for “navigating challenging paths.”

Interior: SUV-Level Comfort

Step inside and you’ll immediately spot a triple-screen layout—12.3-in digital cluster, 5-in HVAC panel and 12.3-in infotainment touchscreen. Materials vary by trim, but soft-touch dash panels, leatherette seats (SX up) and dual wireless phone chargers all come standard.
Higher trims turn the cabin into a mobile work hub with an expandable console table, while rear-seat passengers enjoy the largest second row in class and hidden 33-litre under-bench storage. Reviewers at NRMA rave that the ute “delivers exceptional long-distance comfort, enhanced by soft-touch materials.”

Bed Utility, Towing & Payload

You buy a pickup for its work ethic, and on paper the Tasman delivers:
• Towing: 3,500 kg (7,716 lb) braked capacity—the gold standard set by HiLux & Ranger.
• Payload: 2,634 lb in dual-cab form, courtesy of its stout ladder frame.
• Bed tech: Integrated power outlets, damped tailgate and optional tonneau covers keep your kit safe.
Kia’s own global site stresses that these numbers pair with LFA2 trailer assist so that “towing up to 3,500 kg is complemented by ADAS features for a safer experience.”

Safety & Driver Assistance

Every Tasman ships with Highway Driving Assist 2, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise. Lower trims have already banked a five-star ANCAP rating, though the raised X-Line and X-Pro sacrifice that score due to their unique bumpers, a point highlighted in the Chasing Cars fleet review.

Trims & Pricing (Australia)

Pricing table distilled from the NRMA launch review.

Why No U.S. Launch?

Despite spy shots roaming the Mojave Desert, Kia bluntly states there’s “no plan for a North American release” because the 25 percent chicken tax would make the Tasman uncompetitive. Instead, the brand is said to be working on a locally built electric truck to satisfy U.S. demand.

Real-World Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths

1. Class-leading cabin tech and space.
2. Strong towing numbers match segment leaders.
3. Genuine off-road kit baked into X-Pro/XTREK variants.

Weaknesses

1. Diesel four-cylinder can feel breathless at highway overtakes; NRMA testers noted it “struggles occasionally with torque at higher speeds.”
2. Ride quality on corrugated gravel isn’t quite Ranger-smooth.
3. Absence from U.S./Canada leaves a massive market untapped.

Verdict

The Kia Tasman does exactly what a first crack at a pickup needs to do: offer credible workhorse numbers, throw down some tech the segment hasn’t seen and wrap it in unmistakable styling. If you live in Australia, New Zealand or the Middle East, the 2025 Tasman deserves a hard look—especially if you value interior polish as highly as toughness. For North Americans, patience (and maybe an EV) will be required, but for the rest of the world Kia’s ute is very much ready to rumble.