Tasman has been approved for South Africa and will arrive locally in the second half of 2025.
Kia officially ended years of speculative reports and a most recent extensive teaser campaign by finally removing the wraps from the all-new Tasman bakkie at the Jeddah International Motor Show in Saudi Arabia in the early hours of Tuesday morning (29 October).
Devises an offering the South Korean says will “define” the bakkie sector, the Tasman, named after the Tasman Sea that separates Australia and New Zealand, debuts not only a new exterior design for Kia, but also a new platform plus a choice of two bodystyles and engines.
Although largely developed Down Under, extensive testing in hot and cold weather in the Middle East and Sweden has seen Kia log 18 000 different types of evolutions over 1 777 unique tests involving durability, towing, off-road, on-road and wading depth aspects.
Based on a ladder-frame platform unique to it and therefore unrelated to Kia’s only other ladder-frame product, the outgoing Mohave SUV, the Tasman measures 5 410 mm long, 1 930 mm wide and 1 920 mm tall with its wheelbase stretching 3 270 mm.
In typical bakkie form, the double wishbones are utilised for the suspension with vertically mounted shock absorbers and leaf springs featuring at the rear.
Offering between 224 mm and 252 mm of ground clearance depending on the trim level, the Tasman conforms to Kia’s previous claims of a tow rating of 3 500 kg, a wading depth of 800 mm and a choice of bodystyles involving not only a double cab.
With the exception of a cab-and-half, both single and double cab configurations have been availed, along with a cutaway chassis cab of both primarily for Australia.
Although exact loadbin dimensions weren’t revealed, Kia does claim a capacity of 1 173-litres and, depending on the bodystyle, a payload of between 1 017 kg to 1 195 kg.
Set to be offered in three trim levels; base, X-Line and X-Pro, only the former can be specified with rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive, with the latter pair getting an all-wheel-drive system as standard complete with three modes; Eco, Comfort and Sport.
Reserved for the all-paw gripping models though are four additional off-road settings; Sand, Snow and Mud with a special Rock configuration being bespoke to the X-Pro.
The latter also becomes the sole recipient of an electronically locking rear differential as well as what Kia calls X-Trek that maintains a crawl speed without driver involvement on the brakes or accelerator when going off-roading.
Downhill Brake Control, trailer sway control, low range and a 4A setting similar to what used on the Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok completes the all-wheel-drive’s suite of off-road hardware.
Designed with a range of accessories in-mind, the retro-styled Tasman, whose controversial rear wheel arches cladding doubles-up as storage areas, introduces an interior lightly derived from the all-electric EV9 SUV, but still overall unique to it.
Said to be a departure from the usual bakkie norm, the design comprises a dual 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and infotainment system display, as well as a smaller five-inch located in between as the interface for the climate control.
Still incorporating large amount of physical switchgear, the freed-up centre console features a pair of wireless smartphone chargers, cupholders and a Ford F-150-style folding table that covers the surface entirely as a means of functioning as a workspace.
Aside from the EV9 steering wheel equipped with physical buttons, the eco-friendly touch inside goes further as most of the materials and fabrics originate from recycled plastic bottles, synthetic leather and so-called bio-paint.
In total, five interior colour combinations are available, while mentioned specification items comprise an eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, transparent underbody camera system, Remote Park Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring and Lane Keep Assist.
Up front, and as a result of its key Middle Eastern markets’ reliance on petrol rather than diesel, a choice of two engines have been allocated; the 2.5-litre turbo-petrol from the Sorento rated at 207kW/421Nm and a retuned version of the venerable 2.2 CRDI turbodiesel producing 154kW/441Nm.
Matched to an eight-speed automatic gearbox, the petrol will take the Tasman from 0-100 km/h in 8.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 185 km/h, while the diesel takes 1.9 seconds longer to reach the same V-max.
Outside of the Middle East and Australia, the Tasman will also have access to a six-speed manual gearbox on diesel, the key market here being Africa.
In total, nine colours have been allocated; Clear White, Interstellar Grey, Tan Beige, Steel Grey, Denim Blue, Cityscape Green, Runway Red, Snow Pearl White and Aurora Black Pearl.
Coming in 2025
Going on-sale from the first half of 2025 first in South Korea followed by Australia, Africa and the Middle East soon after, the Tasman has already been confirmed for South Africa and will officially become a reality in the second half of next year.
As such, expect more details regarding spec and pricing to be made then.
NOW READ: New teaser campaign confirms Kia Tasman for year-end reveal
