2025 Kia Tasman ute: Controversial styling polarises the public

Kia has pulled the covers off its new Tasman midsize 4x4 ute and it appears not everyone is keen on the styling.

Since the curtain dropped at the big reveal in Saudi Arabia, with a smaller unveiling in Tasmania, the online comments about the look of the ute have been less than positive.

Get past the blunt front-end styling with its long, thin LED headlights on the outer edges, and you’ll find that Kia has otherwise stuck to a proven formula for such vehicles, just like the category stalwarts such as Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux, Isuzu D-MAX and Mitsubishi Triton, among others.

A ladder frame chassis with wishbone IFS and a live-axle rear with leaf springs is standard on all 4x4 utes, as is a choice of single- or double-cab passenger cabins and cargo tub or cab-chassis variants.

A diesel engine driving an automatic transmission with a part-time dual range transfer case mimics the drivelines of the established players that Kia is hoping to challenge with this latest offering. The Korean brand that has grown rapidly in Australia with a strong portfolio of passenger cars and SUVs hasn’t broken the mould and created something all-new, preferring to stick with the status quo and join the pack.

But it’s not just its styling that will set the Tasman apart when it hits the roads in Australia midway through 2025. Kia’s first foray into the ute market will bring a vehicle that has a bigger cabin that is very well equipped and laid out, and it will have a host of clever inclusions that you won’t find on other products in the segment.

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The Tasman will arrive in five variants including the single-cab and 2WD model. There will be no extra-cab offered as these are not popular in Australia. The popular 4x4 double-cab variants will come in Baseline, X-Line and X-Pro model grades, and all will be driven by Kia’s 2.2-litre diesel engine that produces a claimed 155kW of power and 441Nm of torque.

While output is no match for the class-leading engines in the HiLux, Amarok and Ranger, it is close to the D-MAX and Triton. Kia says that the performance of Tasman is not about the peak torque figure but the broad usable delivery lower in the torque curve.

This engine is already well established in other models in the Kia range but has been optimised for the Tasman 4x4 with specific features including an upgraded cooling system for better engine temperature control at low speeds and when towing heavy loads. At launch it will be the only engine offered in Tasman in Australia.

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Kia has a broad range of EV powertrains that it uses elsewhere in its model line-up and it will only be a matter of time before we see some form of electrification in the Tasman.

When the Tasman goes on sale in Australia the diesel engine will only be in EU5 configuration which means it won’t need Adblue SCR, but it does meet EU6 standards in other markets and can be updated if and when that standard becomes necessary in Australia.

The transmission is a traditional torque converter driven eight-speed automatic and the part-time transfer case offers 2WD, 4x4 auto, locked 4x4 high range and locked 4x4 low range, much like that found in the current Ranger. The 4x4 driveline is optional on the Baseline model and standard on X-Line and X-Pro models.

The X-Pro is the most off-road focused model thanks in part to its 252mm ground clearance, which is 28mm higher than the rest of the Tasman range. The X-Pro also rides on 17-inch alloy wheels fitted with all-terrain tyres in lieu of the 18-inch wheels paired with highway tyres on other variants. Tasman X-Pro also gets a lockable rear differential while no front locker is available.

Off-road drive modes include Sand, Mud, Snow and Rock settings, while an X-Trek mode gives low-speed cruise control for off road use. Kia quotes the wading depth at 800mm at a speed of 7km/h or slower, and this is enabled by having the engine air intake entering via a highpoint on the inner guard.
Tasman gets a class standard 3500kg towing capacity with up to 350kg on the tow ball. The ute also has configurable settings for different trailers that optimise Tasman’s ADAS systems when towing.

The Tasman isn’t the first – and I’m sure won’t be the last – vehicle that owners say looks a lot better from the inside than out. The interior is spacious and well laid out with dual 12.5-inch wide-screens giving the dash a premium look and keeping the driver informed of all the vitals. The multimedia screen has all the usual phone mirroring and navigational features while oft-used functions like the dual cabin temperature toggles and volume dial are all outside of the screen and easily accessed.

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The sculpted, leather-trimmed seats in the X-Pro model we sampled are comfortable with lots of adjustment and you can feel the extra width of the cabin when you sit in the driver’s seat. This width is also appreciated in the rear seat, as is the ability to slide the seats forward giving more angle on the backrest for passengers.

This was possible with adults in both the back seat and the seat in front of it. Families with teenage kids will certainly appreciate the extra cabin space and versatility of the Tasman over most other utes in this class.

The Tasman has nifty features and tricks all around that add to its versatility and practicality. There are 240V power outlets (GPO) in the cab and in the cargo tub to power and charge your electrical devices, a little glovebox sized lockable storage compartment in the plastic cladding down the driver’s side, and foot holes in the corners of the rear bumper to aid getting in and out of the tray.

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However, we reckon the designers of these steps must have small feet as they barely let your boot in them, so they are not as useful as the similar ones on a Ford Ranger. Lighting in the cargo tub is a useful addition.

The tub measures 1515mm long and 1572mm wide, with 1186mm between the wheel arches, and is 540mm deep. The total volume of 1173 litres is claimed to be class leading. And while most manufacturers like to boast that they can fit a Euro pallet in between the wheel arches, Kia proudly claims that you can fit a wider Australian pallet in the back of the Tasman.

Kia has been testing Tasman prototypes in the harshest environments that it could find around the world, including Australia, over several years and it is says that its ute is now ready for Australia.

We’ll have to wait until next year to confirm this claim with the Tasman planned to hit showrooms in mid-2025.