Kia has announced that it will launch a new pickup truck sometime next year. It’s called Tasman, named after the island of Tasmania in Australia, and is intended to “redefine the concept of a lifestyle pickup truck.”
This statement and the brand’s “C-segment pick-up” designation initially suggest that this is simply a new edition of the car-based Hyundai Santa Cruz. However, it has been reported that Kia is instead going it alone and building a true one-ton body truck, similar to the all-conquering Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger and Mitsubishi Triton. These reports were backed up by spy shots of a far boxier and higher-riding prototype compared to the more road-focused Hyundai.
All of this comes with confirmation that, unlike the North America-only Santa Cruz, the Tasman will be sold in global markets such as Australia, Africa and the Middle East – regions where ladder-frame trucks are overwhelmingly preferred over their monocoque brethren . This of course raises the possibility of the truck being offered in Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand (and yes, Malaysia too), where one-ton trucks reign supreme.
No technical details have been released, but Kia already has the building blocks for a decent pickup, not least the 2.2-liter R four-cylinder turbodiesel that has long been used in models like the Sorento and Carnival comes. In its latest form, it produces 202 hp and 440 Nm of torque, which is competitive – if not class-leading – with other models in the one-ton truck segment. There is also a lower version of the Hyundai Staria with 177 hp and 431 Nm. The mill comes standard with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Kia also has access to a plug-in hybrid powertrain to meet increasing demand for electrified pickup trucks. A 1.6-liter turbo gasoline four-piston engine is combined with a 90 hp electric motor, which in the Sorento develops a total output of 264 hp and, thanks to a 13.8 kWh battery, enables a purely electric range of 51 km. Such a powertrain will help the Tasman compete with the Ranger PHEV.
Previous spyshots and videos have shown a large double-bed pickup truck that has all the hallmarks of traditional one-ton models, including an upright design with lots of angular lines and chiseled surfaces. Added to this are Kia’s latest design features, such as a wide “Tiger Nose” grille and vertical headlights, similar to the facelifted Sorento and Carnival.
There are also some distinctive details, such as thick black body cladding that only covers the upper part of the fenders. Elsewhere you’ll find a solid rear axle and rear leaf springs, while on the center console there’s a switch to select two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive and low-range four-wheel drive. This indicates how serious the Korean automaker is about building a tough truck for harsh environments.
Kia’s new one-ton truck was first announced in 2021 as a “strategic” vehicle for emerging markets. This is one of two pickup trucks being developed. The other is a pure electric model that will likely take on full-size U.S. rivals like the Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T, Chevrolet Silverado EV and Tesla Cybertruck.
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