Kia Tasman pickup truck launched globally with two units

After months of teasing, Kia has launched its first C-segment pickup truck, the Tasman. The pickup truck will first hit the Korean market in the first half of 2025, followed by Australia, the Middle East and Africa. Kia’s first pickup truck features “purposeful design” and an “ultra-spacious and comfortable cabin,” with “best-in-class convenience features” and two powertrain options under the hood.

Speaking of, the Tasman comes with a 2.5-liter petrol engine and a 2.2-liter turbodiesel engine. The former produces 277bhp and 421Nm of peak torque, while the latter produces 207bhp and 441Nm. Power is transmitted through a six-speed manual gearbox or an eight-speed automatic gearbox, depending on the market. In terms of performance, the gasoline version of the Tasman accelerates to 100 kilometers per hour in 8.5 seconds, and the diesel version accelerates to 100 kilometers per hour in 10.4 seconds. Top speed for both versions is 185 km/h.

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Kia Tasman: suspension, driving modes

The Kia Tasman is available in two body styles (single cab and double cab) and three variants (Baseline, X-Line and X-Pro). While the all-wheel drive (AWD) system is optional on the base model, it’s standard on the other two trims. AWD offers three driving modes – Eco, Smart and Sport – as well as Terrain mode (Desert, Mud, Snow and Rock). In addition to the automatically engaging rear electronic locking differential (e-LD) and X-Trek mode, the off-road-oriented X-Pro also features a rocky terrain mode. At the front, the Tasman uses double wishbone suspension, which Kia chose to “improve ride and handling in all conditions.” Rear suspension is taken care of by a rigid axle with leaf springs.

Kia Tasman: exterior

On the outside, the Tasman features black-clad integrated vertically stacked headlights that include C-shaped daytime running lights. There’s also a huge radiator grille, as well as an upright front bumper. The rear has C-shaped taillights with a recessed Kia logo in the center. In terms of dimensions, the pickup truck is 5,410 mm long and has a wheelbase of 3,270 mm. Four cargo bed configurations are available: single-level, double-level, sport bar and ladder rack. Kia says the pickup has a maximum payload of 1,195kg in two-wheel drive mode, and it also has a towing capacity of 3,500kg.

Kia Tasman: interior

The Tasman’s interior features a triple-screen setup, including a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a central 5.0-inch display. Kia also provides some toggle buttons and switches for media controls and other settings. The pickup also features large air vents (honeycomb pattern), a folding console, dual wireless charging pads, and an 8-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. Additionally, it promises “best-in-class” headroom, shoulder room and second-row legroom, as well as rear seats that can recline 22 to 30 degrees. For safety, the vehicle benefits from an ADAS suite that includes features such as lane keep assist, blind-spot collision warning, and remote parking.

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The Kia Tasman’s non-body-on-body structure contrasts with unibody structures such as the Hyundai Kona and Santa Cruz. The mid-size pick-up truck will compete with the Volkswagen Amarok, Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-Max.