Kia Australia will prioritise dual-cab versions of its new Tasman ute, launching a wide range of them in July 2025.
The Tasman will be offered in four body styles globally: single-cab and dual-cab pickup, and single- and dual- cab/chassis models.
All bar the single-cab pickup will be offered in Australia, while Kia has ruled out an extended-cab version of the Tasman globally. It noted that, in Australia, extended-cabs account for less than five per cent of ute sales.
The dual-cab pickup – expected to be the most popular body style – will arrive first, in July 2025, in a range of five different trim levels.
The base trim will be the only one additionally available in 4×2 guise, with all others being 4x4s.
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It will be followed around a month later by the dual-cab/chassis, available in two different trim levels and only with a 4×4 drivetrain.
Finally, the single-cab/chassis will launch in the fourth quarter of 2025. It’ll be offered in two variants, with the entry-level one offered in both 4×2 and 4×4 guise and the other exclusively as a 4×4.
Kia also says it plans to have the Tasman tested by ANCAP in mid-2025, and is aiming for a maximum five-star rating – crucial for fleet adoption.
While Kia Australia’s seven-year warranty is expected to extend to the Tasman, the company hasn’t confirmed pricing at this stage.
“Pricing is still under negotiation and of course we’re going to work extremely hard and ensure that the Tasman is competitive and offers great value,” said Kia Australia product planning general manager Roland Rivero.
BYD captured plenty of attention with its pricing announcement for the plug-in hybrid Shark 6 ute, which took place on the same night as the Tasman’s reveal.
When asked whether the Shark will influence Kia’s pricing decisions, Mr Rivero said:
“We’re not just looking at your traditional ICE competitors that have been in this category for four decades, going on five, but we’re mindful of the newcomers also.
“Definitely when we have our negotiation with HQ, we look at the broader market and we make sure that that information is conveyed and that’ll all be considered when the final pricing is decided.”
While a turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine will be offered overseas, Kia has confirmed only a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine for the Tasman our market.
It has all but ruled out a V6 joining the lineup, but has indicated that hybrid, plug-in hybrid and/or electric models could come during the Tasman’s lifecycle.
The Tasman’s available four-wheel drive system features a low-range transfer case with selectable 2H, 4A, 4H and 4L modes.
So far Kia has revealed X-Line and more rugged X-Pro versions of the Tasman.
The X-Pro has 252mm of ground clearance (up 28mm on the X-Line), and rides on 17-inch gloss-black wheels with all-terrain tyres instead of 18s with highway terrain tyres.
The more off-road-oriented of the two up-spec Tasmans also features an automatically engaging electronic locking rear differential.
Also standard is an X-Trek mode that can maintain a low speed off-road without the need for the driver to touch the pedals, as well as a Ground View Monitor to help you place it on a trail.
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