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Kia Tasman: The new Korean pick-up is here

The brand's first truck combines an unconventional design with off-road capabilities.

After a seemingly endless series of trailers, Tasman is finally here. But by "here" we don't mean Europe, because it won't be sold there. The Ford Ranger or Toyota Hilux competitor will be available in the domestic market of South Korea and in Australia, the Middle East and Africa. And as you'd expect from a mid-size pick-up, this workhorse comes in several trims.

Kia will offer the Tasman in single and double cabs and with a reduced chassis. As already indicated in the preview images, the truck looks unique from almost every angle. Only the rear is not so unusual. Even if there is a large logo stamped into the back door. The craziest thing is the profile with body cladding that resembles lice. There will also be an option for a more conventional wheel arch, where the black section surrounds the entire wheel arch rather than just the tip.

The Tasman also stands out with its unconventional front end, where the vertical headlights are pushed to the side. Another oversized Kia logo and curved hood give the truck a more muscular look. Overall, though, this isn't the Telluride pickup that some have made it out to be. This also applies to what lies beneath the polarizing bodywork. This is a pick-up on a scale frame rather than a self-supporting body.

The interior is not as robust as you might think from the exterior. The interior is more like the inside of a car and is equipped with three screens. There is a 12,3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 5-inch center screen and a 12,3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Despite the generous space on the screen, Kia has not given up traditional switches. There are still a handful of buttons to access the most frequently used functions.

You can tell it's a real truck by the limited slip differential knob and low range mode switch. Unusually, there is a panel on the center console with the dimensions of the pickup: it is 5,38 meters long and 1,90 meters wide. The wheelbase is not listed there, but we do know that the Tasman measures 3,27 meters between the axles. Depending on the market, the new truck will be available with either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission and either rear or all-wheel drive. In Korea, the Tasman is powered by a 2,5-liter gasoline engine with 281 hp. Although acceleration does not play a significant role in this segment, it can reach 100 km/h in 8,5 seconds. The manufacturer states a maximum speed of 185 km/h.

In Australia, the Tasman is equipped with a 2,2-liter turbodiesel engine with a power of 210 hp. It achieves the same top speed, but needs 100 seconds to reach 10,4 km/h. In the Middle East and Africa, buyers can choose between these two internal combustion engines. Both have an 80 liter fuel tank. The maximum towing capacity of the vehicle is 3.500 kilograms, the carrying capacity varies between 1.017 and 1.195 kilograms, and the volume of the trunk reaches 1,16 cubic meters.

axle with leaf springs. The manufacturer claims that the truck can cross water up to 80 centimeters deep, and as a safety measure, waterproof fittings are available for some interior parts. There are off-road tires with 17- and 18-inch wheels and several driving modes to overcome different surfaces: "Desert", "Mud", "Snow" and "Rock". Kia says second-row headroom, shoulder room and legroom are best in class, and the rear seats can be folded 22 to 30 degrees. When you fold down the rear seats, you'll find two hidden compartments for storing valuables that you don't want to put in the trunk. The Tasman also has two wireless charging points, a Harman Kardon sound system, a folding console table and A-pillar holders.

Kia will offer 13 accessories from day one, including wheel locks and side skirts. At the rear, the illuminated cargo area can be equipped with a soft top with butterfly doors, a sliding top or a roller blind. A roof rack compatible with a roof tent is also available. Korea will be the first market where the Tasman will be available in the first half of 2025, before Kia's first pick-up is launched in Australia, Africa and the Middle East. The company expects Saudi Arabia to be one of the most important markets for the truck, so the world premiere will take place at the Jeddah International Motor Show.

The Tasman is not the only pick-up that Kia is preparing, as an electric truck is expected to hit the market by 2027. It may have been spotted on test drives in the US earlier in the year. An all-electric Tasman is likely planned for other markets as well.

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