2025 Kia Tasman makes global debut

After months of teasing, the 2025 Kia Tasman pick-up has been finally unveiled, and yes, its design is as divisive as the com-gens and camouflaged previews suggested.

Making its debut in Hobart (Tasman-ia, geddit?) and at the Jeddah Motor Show in Saudi Arabia simultaneously, the Tasman is set to arrive in Australian showrooms by the middle of next year.

A lot has been revealed today, but not the prices we can expect to pay for this all-new Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux fighter.

Launching under the slogan ‘Dive into a new Dimension’, Kia is talking up the identity and features of the Tasman as something different to the ute norm.

There are a series of upright, vertical elements (windshields, lighting etc) along with the signature Kia Tiger Face.

“The Kia design team deliberately shunned the familiar form language that has dominated the pickup genre for decades,” a Kia statement declared.

“This fresh approach to aesthetics strips away the unnecessary to begin with a basic, honest form that highlights the vehicle’s sense of solid power through simple yet functional elements, without relying on the oversized styling that has come to dominate the pickup segment.”

Despite the brave rhetoric, Kia Australia has already confirmed changes to the Tasman’s strange eyebrow wheel arch fenders will be in-place for buyers – which you can see on the black examples in these reveal images.

Inside, the Tasman is claimed to have class-leading headroom, shoulder room and second-row legroom. The rear seats recline to between 22 and 30 degrees.

Obvious technology highlights include an EV9-style panoramic display comprising a 12.3-inch infotainment system, a 5.0-inch climate control panel and a 12.3-inch digital cockpit, with the former offering smartphone mirroring.

Other highlights include a folding console table, dual wireless charging pads and hidden storage bins concealed beneath the rear seats offering 33 litres of capacity.

Recycled trim materials include the carpet, a crash pad made from bio-plastics, seats crafted with recycled PET fabric and bio-PU synthetic leather.

A total of nine colours are available on the 2025 Kia Tasman: Clear White, Snow Pearl White, Steel Gray, Interstellar Gray, Cityscape Green, Runway Red, Aurora Black Pearl and new hues Tan Beige and Denim Blue.

The 2025 Kia Tasman is set to instantly become one of the leading contenders in Australia’s booming ute segment if it hits Kia Australia’s sales target of 20,000 units per annum.

It will also propel the brand toward 100,000 sales per annum (across its range) and into the fight for second place in the market.

While only three dual-cab models have been unveiled so far, Kia has confirmed there will also be single-cab and cab-chassis versions, each available with the choice of 4x2 and 4x4 drivetrains.

As expected, Australian examples of the 2025 Kia Tasman will be offered exclusively with a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine – pinched out of the Kia Sorento – outputting 151kW/441Nm, yielding a claimed 0-100km/h time of 10.4 seconds.

That torque figure leaves it short of the 500Nm four-cylinder benchmark set by the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux, not to mention the 450Nm Isuzu D-MAX, Mazda BT-50 and Nissan Navara, however its kilowatt count is higher than all its rivals’ save for the Ranger’s.

An eight-speed automatic transmission will be the only choice available from launch, though a six-speed manual has been confirmed for other markets.

Fuel consumption for the auto is rated at 7.58L/100km on the combined cycle.

In Korea the Tasman will also come with a much spritelier 2.5-litre turbo-petrol engine (185kW/451Nm) that reaches 100km/h in 8.5 seconds but averages 12.5L/100km.

The 2025 Kia Tasman is underpinned by a traditional ladder-frame chassis and rides on the familiar combination of double wishbone front suspension and leaf springs at the back, the latter paired with an old-school but segment-appropriate solid rear axle.

The body is mounted to the chassis via a composite bush structure.

Like Kia’s top-flight SUVs, the Tasman employs frequency selective passive dampers and “hydraulic rebound stop technology” to reduce vibration and improve handling, with the rear shock absorbers mounted vertically in search of more effective damping and greater control, even at the extremes of the suspension travel.

A 3500kg braked towing capacity has been confirmed, along with a 1195kg maximum payload for the 4x2 versions.

No payload has been specified for the 4x4s, and nor have the kerb weights, gross vehicle mass (GVM) or combined mass, meaning we can’t even calculate the payload when towing.

While the range will expand exponentially in the future, the 2025 Kia Tasman has thus far been shown in three key grades: Baseline, X Line and X Pro.

The entry-level Baseline will come as a 4x2 by default with the option of 4x4 while the X Line and X Pro are both 4x4-only, the latter clearly intended the off-road flagship.

It includes an automatically-engaging electronic rear differential lock, an off-road cruise control system dubbed X-Trek, an additional ‘Rock’ terrain mode, 17-inch all-terrain rubber and an extra 28mm of ground clearance (252mm vs 224mm).

All Aussie Tasman 4x4s will come with Sand, Mud and Snow off-road modes, an 800mm wading depth and ground view monitor.

The Baseline and X-Line will roll on 18-inch highway-terrain rubber as standard.

On-road, the full-time 4x4 system – something of a USP in this segment – switches automatically to the configuration required to provide optimum traction on different road surfaces, each loosely working with the usual Kia choice of Eco, Smart and Sport drive modes.

Headline safety equipment of the 2025 Kia Tasman detailed so far includes autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assist, blind spot collision warning and remote parking assist.

A trailer profile function meantime enables the specification of a trailer to be incorporated into the Tasman’s driver assistance systems, which then automatically optimises the driving characteristics.

The 2025 Kia Tasman is 5410mm long, 1930mm wide and rides on a 3270mm wheelbase, with height varying between 1870mm (Baseline) and 1920mm (X-Pro) – with roof racks – depending on the variant.

Those dimensions make the new Korean offering bigger in most respects to the best-selling Ford Ranger, which in Wildtrak form measures 5370mm long, 1918mm wide and 1886mm high with an identical 3270mm wheelbase.

The Tasman’s tub is 1512mm long, 540mm deep, 1572mm wide and 1186mm wide between the wheel arches – more than enough space to swallow an Aussie pallet – and can be accessed via steps in the corners of the rear bumper (if you don’t want to drop the tailgate).

Like any good workhorse and touring rig, the 2025 Kia Tasman will be available with plenty of options and accessories to help customers personalise and tailor their vehicles.

According to the global press release, options for the cargo area include illumination, a 240V power outlet, a sliding cargo floor to aid with loading and unloading, a divider and mini-table.

Inside the cabin, an eight-speaker Harman/Kardon premium audio system is listed as an option, however there’s every chance it will be included as standard on the top-spec X Pro in Australia.

Kia says the cab-chassis Tasmans will be customisable to meet specific business needs. There will also be single-cab options “that optimise bed space by reconfiguring the passenger compartment into a single row layout”.

The Tasman will launch with 13 genuine accessories including two types of side steps and beadlock wheels. There will also be four bed specifications available.

Three of them will be available from the outset: Single Decker (canopy with butterfly doors, roof rack for a rooftop tent), Double Decker (trunk with butterfly doors, sliding tonneau cover) and Sports Roll Bar (functional frame for mounting lifestyle items).

Coming later is a ladder rack.

Kia says the Tasman has undergone 1777 specific tests conducted over more than 18,000 rounds of evaluation.

The testing in Australia, Korea, Sweden, Saudi Arabia and the USA covered everything from off-road ability to wading, all-terrain durability to towing, and on-track performance to ride and handling.

While yet to be confirmed, the 2025 Kia Tasman will almost certainly be covered by Kia Australia’s comprehensive seven-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty, seven-year capped priced servicing program and up to eight years’ roadside assist.

Local pricing and finer specification details will be announced at a later date.

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