Kia Corporation has unveiled full details of the Tasman, the brand’s first ute truck, at the Jeddah motor show and it is set to take on the likes of the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux.

The Tasman will initially launch in the Korean domestic market during the first half of 2025 before subsequently being introduced in Australasia, Africa and the Middle East.

The motor show was selected for the global reveal as Saudi Arabia is expected to be a particularly strong market.

The Tasman models displayed in Jeddah included the Baseline Double Cab, X-Line Double Cab, X-Pro Double Cab and X-Pro Double Cab Customised.

Kia New Zealand has not announced what models would be coming here, with prices set to be announced closer to launch in quarter three of 2025.

Kia’s President and CEO, Ho Sung Song, the Tasman was created “from the ground up to transform the market and respond to the growing preference for lifestyle-oriented trucks with advanced features”.

“The Kia Tasman is a progressive pickup truck that follows its own path – not the competition. The Kia Tasman combines true pickup values with exceptional capability and practicality, and advanced features that defy conventional thinking,” said Ho Sung Song.

“This essence is instilled in our global slogan ‘Dive into a New Dimension’, enabling customers to broaden their horizons. It offers world-first solutions for those seeking a lifestyle vehicle for leisure and outdoor activities while meeting the needs of small business operators, such as traders and farmers.”

New Zealand will get a 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine producing 154kW of power and 441Nm of torque, plus paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Kia said that its design team “deliberately shunned the familiar form language that has dominated the pickup genre for decades”.

Instead, it has an expansive radiator grille and bumper design emphasise the pickup’s width, while the hood trim and grille frame the familiar Kia Tiger Face, featuring vertically oriented signature lighting incorporated into the headlamps.

The upright windshield and rear glass contribute to the Kia Tasman’s bold silhouette, reinforced by the 45-degree angles of the vehicle’s striking graphic elements. The unique fender design combines practical functions, such as headlights and storage units, demonstrating functionality and clear, confident design.

At the rear, the Kia Tasman visually reinforces its highly practical nature. The tailgate showcases a bold, stamped logo, while the tailgate handle and high-mounted stop-lamp are seamlessly integrated for enhanced functionality and a utilitarian character.

Kia Tasman’s body to the frame-type chassis ensures improved rigidity, body control, stability and comfort. Equally, the double-wishbone front suspension units have been developed to improve ride and handling in all conditions. The rear features a rigid axle with leaf springs for optimum robustness and load-carrying capability, incorporating vertically mounted shock absorbers to ensure more effective damping and greater control, even at the extremes of suspension travel. 

The capabilities provided by the front and rear suspension units are significantly enhanced by Kia’s frequency selective Sensitive Damper Control (SDC) and Hydraulic Rebound Stop technology. These further minimise vibration transmitted to the cabin and improve body control and comfort, even on the roughest terrain.

Standard-fit items include corner steps, giving easy access to the illuminated load bed, while a power outlet (rated at 240 volts in Australasia) for hand tools or laptops, and a sliding cargo floor that makes loading and unloading materials and equipment more convenient, are offered as optional features. 

Along with divider-forming capabilities for the bed, the Kia Tasman offers optional bedside flexibility, with a mini table for items such as a Bluetooth speaker or cup.

Inside, the folding console table adds further versatility to the Kia Tasman, allowing it to transition from a work vehicle to a mobile business space. This gives users the opportunity to use their laptops for work or relaxation.

A multi-function steering wheel and the modern, minimalist lower centre dashboard and tunnel sections with carefully positioned buttons provide intuitive control of the Kia Tasman’s advanced technology.

It has a 3,500kg towing capacity and can carry a maximum payload of 1,195kg in 2WD mode.