The 2025 Kia Tasman: Kia’s Moon-Shot at the Global Pickup Establishment

Built Like a Truck—Finally

Underneath the theatrics sits an honest ladder-frame chassis, double-wishbone front suspension and a live rear axle with leaf springs. That architecture allows substantive numbers:

The figures above come from Motor Authority’s reveal at the Jeddah Auto Show, which noted the pickup is “larger than rivals like the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma”.

Two Powertrains, One Elephant in the Room

• Gas 2.5 T-GDi (277 hp) – 0-62 mph in 8.5 s
• Diesel 2.2 CRDi (207 hp US-spec or 154 kW/440 Nm AUS-spec)

The diesel is the workhorse powerplant Australians will see first, yet it trails HiLux and Ranger on torque. As CarExpert points out, the Kia’s 441 Nm “falls slightly short” of the 500 Nm benchmark set by its prime competitors, potentially hampering heavy-duty towing on steep grades. I wish Kia had pushed for the rumoured 3.0 V6 diesel, but global emissions math trumped enthusiast dreams.

Off-Road Credentials: More Than Marketing

Kia’s X-Pro trim isn’t just decals. It brings all-terrain tyres, an electronic rear locker and a generous 252 mm of ground clearance. The company even treated Australian motoring journalists to a Bathurst launch that mixed country highways with rocky fire trails; Open Road’s early drive confirms the ute “performed admirably in tow testing and off-road trials.” Those journalists specifically praised the electromechanical rear diff lock and ‘X-Trek’ terrain mode for pulling the double-cab through rutted climbs usually reserved for LandCruisers.

Cabin Tech: Sorento Luxury Meets Tool-Belt Practicality

Step inside and it’s hard to remember you’re in a ladder-frame truck. The triple-screen cockpit gives you a 12.3-inch digital cluster, 5-inch HVAC display and a second 12.3-inch infotainment unit. A folding console table turns the cabin into a mobile office, a feature Kia hypes on its global microsite where buyers are teased to “tweak, tune and tailor every detail, from rugged to refined trims”.

Crucially, the Tasman isn’t all gloss. Hooks line the rear of the cab, there’s a 33-litre under-seat storage bin, and Aussies get a 240-V bed outlet. It’s the same “practical luxury” formula that transformed SUVs a decade ago; now pickups are getting the up-market treatment.

Will It Ever Land in America?

Probably not. U.S. tariffs add 25 % to imported pickups, and Kia has already hinted it will focus on an upcoming electric truck for North America. Motor Authority bluntly states that a U.S. Tasman is “considered unlikely, as high tariffs on imported light trucks could discourage its arrival unless local production is established.”
That’s a shame because the Tasman’s gas motor and slick interior would spice up the midsize segment currently dominated by Tacoma and Colorado. Unless Georgia’s Kia plant adds a second line, Americans will be forced to admire from afar.

Australia: Ground Zero for Sales Ambition

Kia forecasts 20,000 annual Tasman sales in Australia, exactly the volume needed to dethrone Mazda for second place overall. Drive.com.au reports the brand unveiled the ute simultaneously in Hobart and Jeddah, eyeing “a target of 20,000 annual sales domestically.” If they hit that figure, Kia’s share of the Aussie market could approach one in ten vehicles—a staggering ascent for a company that sold no utes just a year ago.

What About Pricing?

In Australia, the base S 4×2 single-cab chassis sneaks under AUD 40 K, while a fully-loaded X-Pro 4×4 tips AUD 78 K. That’s mid-pack between budget Chinese offerings and Ranger Wildtrak territory. Chasing Cars breaks down the trims, pointing out the fleet-friendly S grade starts at $38,010 before on-roads. The strategy is clear: lure tradespeople with value, then upsell surfers and grey nomads on lifestyle variants.

The Hot-Take: Kia’s Real Mission

The Tasman is not meant to obliterate Ranger sales overnight; it’s meant to legitimise Kia as a full-line manufacturer capable of building anything—EVs, performance hatches, and now a proper workhorse. By matching class-leading tow ratings and payloads while injecting Sorento-level refinement, the company leapfrogs straight to ‘contender’ status.

Yes, that diesel could use more torque, and some will never forgive the extroverted styling. But trucks succeed on trust, warranty, and day-to-day usability. On those counts, the Tasman is already checking boxes. If it proves durable and Kia’s seven-year warranty holds firm, Toyota and Ford executives might soon regard the Tasman less as an oddity and more as a genuine threat.

Final Verdict

I’d call the 2025 Kia Tasman the most intriguing pickup launch of the decade. It blends hard-nosed mechanical chops with an interior that wouldn’t look out of place in a Telluride. For buyers in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, or the Middle East, the calculus is simple: you can now get SUV comfort without sacrificing ute utility. And for the rest of us scrolling through reveal videos stateside? Well, sometimes the best trucks are the ones you can’t buy—at least not yet.