2025 Kia Tasman: Name confirmed, engine details firm

Kia has officially confirmed what we all knew was coming — the brand’s all-new dual-cab ute will be called the Tasman.

A new TV commercial published to Youtube has today confirmed the Tasman name to the public and also given us an official arrival date of 2025.

Like the first ad, the new commercial features a number of high-profile Aussie athletes and finishes with text on screen saying: “Kia Tasman ute. Arrival 2025.”

As well as bearing the name of the sea that stretches between Australia and New Zealand, the Kia Tasman Ute will benefit from some local testing and development as it strives to steal customers away from key rivals like the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-Max.

More than 100 Tasman utes are currently undergoing development testing around the globe.

What engines will power the 2025 Kia Tasman?

Kia is yet to reveal any official specs for the Tasman ute but just as its name was a poorly kept secret, it’s openly understood power will come from a 2.2-litre turbo diesel mated to an eight-speed automatic.

The engine is the same 2.2L ‘Smartstream' unit currently used in the Hyundai Santa Fe, Hyundai Palisade and Kia Sorento where it makes 148kW/440Nm.

If those outputs are carried over to the Tasman, it will put Kia’s ute in the same ballpark as rivals like the Isuzu D-Max, Mazda BT-50 and Nissan Navara which all make 140kW/450Nm.

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Another engine that could potentially slot into the Kia Tasman is the 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbo diesel currently found in the Genesis GV80 SUV.

In the Genesis, the big six-cylinder makes 204kW/588Nm which would give the Tasman a gutsy rival for V6-powered versions of the Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok.

This engine could be deemed too expensive for the Tasman, however, or Hyundai/Kia might choose to reserve it for its premium marks as the GV80 is currently the only model to use that diesel.

What body styles will the Kia Tasman offer?

Just like its key rivals, the 2025 Kia Tasman will be available as a single or dual-cab and have the option of either a cab-chassis or pick-up tray.

An extra-cab body style is said to be off the cards, for now.

March: Tasman teased as new ad campaign launches

The 2025 Kia Tasman ute has inched closer to its full reveal with a new video officially confirming what it’ll be called.

To kick off its teaser campaign, Kia has enlisted the help of a star-studded cast to announce the Tasman ute is “set for Australia”, with expressions of interest now open on its consumer website.

The first commercial – which premiered during the 2024 NRL season opener – features a host of Australian sporting legends gathered in a pub debating over what it should be called.

The stars include Ash Barty (tennis), Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin (AFL), Dylan Alcott (tennis), Mackenzie Arnold (soccer), Steve Waugh (cricket), Damien Oliver (horse racing) and Jessica Watson (sailing).

While it doesn’t explicitly reveal the name of the new ute, there are clever hints throughout the video, including a newspaper article stating “one [new ute] making its debut is The Tasman” and a scene where rugby legend Alfie Langer throws a dart that lands on the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand on a map.

The video ends with a tightly-cropped shot that partially shows the pub's exterior sign, suggesting its full name is 'Hotel Tasman'.

This spot is the first in what’s expected to be an extensive teaser campaign ahead of the Kia Tasman’s full reveal later this year and its Australian launch sometime in 2025.

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The Kia Tasman is based on a newly developed body-on-frame platform and will compete against the popular Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux, Isuzu D-Max and Mitsubishi Triton.

Kia hopes to sell around 20,000 units annually, which would assist in its ambition to overtake Mazda, Ford and Hyundai to become Australia's second-largest car brand behind Toyota.

Recent sightings of the Tasman in a South Korean carpark and during winter testing in Sweden against the Ford Ranger Raptor have provided insights into its design, which seems to align with Kia’s latest styling cues seen in models like the EV9 electric car and facelifted Sorento.

Inside, expect the Tasman to receive a similar look to Kia’s latest vehicles with a ‘panoramic curved’ display for the instrument cluster and infotainment system.

Visible components in the camouflaged vehicle include a traditional gear shifter, a selector for two-wheel-drive, manual four-wheel-drive, automatic four-wheel-drive and low-range, another control that appears to adjust the drive modes, and an engine start/stop button on the centre console. It also has mesh front headrests similar to the EV9.

The Tasman will feature a built-in step within the rear bumper to access the tub, like the Ranger.

While the Tasman will also be sold in the Middle East and South Africa, Australia has played a dominant role in forming the base specifications of the new ute range.

“A substantial amount,” said Kia Australia’s GM of product planning, Roland Rivero, when asked how much input Australia will have.

“A lot of work’s being done to, as much as possible, influence the development to suit our market. Australia’s position is being seen as a very important one.”