Will Kia’s first pickup truck impress customers if it looks like this?
May 5, 2024 at 4:00 p.m
- The new pickup will compete with the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger.
- Kia is expected to sell the Tasman with the brand’s existing 2.2-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder.
- The basis of the truck will be the same body-on-frame architecture as the Kia Mohave SUV.
The Tasman pickup is a significant new vehicle for the brand and will come to market with a distinctive exterior design like no other truck.
These renderings of the new Kia Tasman are based on both the official photos Kia released last month showing a prototype bathed in bright camouflage colors, as well as the prototypes captured by spy shooters on numerous occasions.
Read: Kia teases Tasman and explains US sightings, leakers reveal EV9-style interior
The front section of the pickup is particularly fascinating, with two small headlights on the outer edges of the dashboard, which are in line with the black front wheel arches.
Not only is the positioning of these lights somewhat unconventional, but they also feature an intriguing T-shaped daytime running light. Created by Kelsonic for CyclesThe renders show the Tasman with an unusual grille that includes a black center element flanked by body-colored inserts.
The sides of the new Kia are also quite unusual. Black wheel arches and a sharp crease running across the doors immediately draw attention. The rear is more conventional and features an LED light bar and elaborate, vertically arranged LED taillights, similar to most other pickups.
Basics and powertrains
The Tasman is believed to be based on the same body-on-frame architecture as the second-generation Mohave SUV, which in turn harkens back to the 2008 Borrego. While engine options are likely to vary from market to market, we know that at least one diesel is on the cards, which is likely to be the group’s 2.2-litre four-cylinder CRDi found in other Kia and Hyundai models can be found.
This diesel engine, already used in the global markets in the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento, delivers 199 hp (149 kW / 202 hp) and a maximum torque of 325 lb-ft (441 Nm). Kia is expected to combine it with an automatic transmission and switchable all-wheel drive in the Tasman.
@eftm Inside the KIA TASMAN ute! First video as some guys post the first video from inside the first big Korean ute for Australia #leak #exclusive #sneak #mule #test #kia #tasman #eftm ♬ Original sound – EFTM.com
The Koreans may also be considering introducing a larger 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 option for the pickup, although this is still unconfirmed. Regardless, Kia’s target for the Tasman is to achieve a towing capacity of 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs) and a payload of 1,000 kg (2,204 lbs) with the available powertrains.
The Tasman competes directly with established rivals such as the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max, Mitsubishi Triton and VW Amarok and is available for sale in Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, Korea, Africa and the Middle East.
US Availability: A Missed Opportunity?
Unfortunately, there’s little to no chance of the Kia Tasman being sold in the US. The main culprit is the 25 percent “chicken tax” levied on foreign-made pickup trucks. This tax would automatically make the Tasman uncompetitive in the US compared to its domestic and established competitors such as the Ford Ranger.
While Kia prototypes have been spotted testing in the US, this does not indicate a future release in North America. Kia confirmed this in its official response when we reached out:
“At this time, Kia America has no official announcements about the Tasman, despite reports of a prototype being tested in the US,” a Kia spokesperson told Carscoops. “It is important to note that Kia’s California Proving Grounds are located in the Mojave Desert and serve as an important center for research and development and evaluation of Kia vehicles, including those destined for global markets. Tasman testing at this facility does not imply any plans for sales to the US market.”
Additional reporting by John Halas