With its blend of bold, rugged styling and considered execution, Kia’s Tasman double-cab will look to blaze its own trail in a highly competitive segment
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With the mercury steadily rising to 35 degrees Celsius, not to mention the humidity level at an almost unbearable (for my constitution, at least) 74%, I was eager to make my way out of the heat of the Middle East sun and into the Jeddah Super Dome, not only for the air conditioning but, more specifically, for what could be considered the main event of the 2024 Jeddah International Motor Show — Kia’s official unveiling of its highly anticipated Tasman double-cab bakkie ahead of its mid-2025 arrival on the South African market.
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According to Kia, there has been a great deal of uncertainty from some quarters regarding the firm’s ability to produce a competitive bakkie. However, the automaker is confident it can prove detractors wrong by building something entirely new — a bakkie that paves and follows its own path.
“The Kia Tasman is a progressive pick-up truck that follows its own path – not the competition. [It] combines true pick-up values with exceptional capability and practicality, and advanced features that defy conventional thinking,” said Kia President and CEO Ho Sung Song.
The company’s confidence in the Tasman was not spawned overnight, however. Kia says this dream was only realised after years of thoughtful consideration, meticulous market analysis and extensive R&D. Indeed, the Tasman underwent a remarkable 1 777 tests in a variety of environments, including the scorching deserts of the Australian outback and the snowy tundra of Sweden, and more than 18 000 rounds of evaluation before its official unveiling in Saudi Arabia.
Proving its metal
Although the Tasman is Kia’s first-ever bakkie, it’s not the automaker’s first product to be underpinned by a body-on-frame chassis. The manufacturer’s lesser-known Special Vehicle division, South Korea’s designated defence industry firm since 1973 and a separate entity to Kia’s passenger vehicle department, has been developing vehicles — which includes mid-size ladder-frame models — for its home market’s military for the past 24 years. And it’s the legacy of these purpose-built vehicles to which the Tasman’s bold exterior broadly pays homage.
In the metal, the Tasman undoubtedly looks purposeful, especially in X-Pro guise (seen here in ‘Tan Beige’ paintwork). This off-road-focused model — which gains a suspension lift of 28 mm (to 252 mm), an electronic rear differential, and ‘X-Trek’ driving mode — trades the (more urban-oriented) X-Line variant’s 18-inch alloys and road-biased rubber for 17-inch wheels and all-terrain tyres.
Measuring 5 410 mm in length and 1 930 mm in width, with a wheelbase spanning 3 270 mm, the Tasman sits on a double-wishbone front and rigid-axle rear suspension arrangement. The setup further incorporates the brand’s ‘Sensitive Damper Control’ and ‘Hydraulic Rebound Stop’ tech for improved body control and ride quality on various terrains.
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The Tasman’s load bed offers stowage and payload capacities of 1 173 litres and up to 1 145 kg (drivetrain dependent), respectively. A neat addition is the incorporation of a 6.3-litre storage box into the load bay cladding above the right-hand-side wheel arch. Those looking to press their Tasmans into off-roading and work duties will be pleased to hear that the braked towing capacity stands at 3 500 kg, the wading depth is rated at 800 mm (at speeds of up to 7 km/h) and a pair of colour-contrasted tow hooks are integrated into the front bumper. Kia will also offer an array of in-house-developed accessories, including full hard-top and coupé-style canopies.
Opposites, united
Staying true to its maker’s ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy, whereas the exterior takes on a more rugged approach, the interior is a more elegant affair. And, on first impression, the cabin’s perceived build quality is solid, with a combination of soft-touch materials and durable plastic trim lending it a premium yet robust feel.
Housed within a landscape-oriented binnacle are a pair of 12.3-inch displays and a 5.0-inch screen. In addition to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, the infotainment setup also incorporates ground-view monitoring in select models, allowing drivers to more easily spot and maneuver around off-road obstacles. The facia also houses a pair of wireless smartphone-charging pads sited below pleasingly analogue switchgear. In addition, two 33-litre storage boxes are located underneath the Isofix-fitted rear seats, which can be reclined by up to 33 degrees. Kia further claims the Tasman offers up to 940 mm of rear legroom.
Although we’ve yet to drive it, Kia’s first tilt at the double-cab bakkie segment looks promising. It’s apparent the company has done its homework, checking off the necessary consumer requirement boxes and, indeed, adding its own unique touches to produce a bakkie that, as the firm says, paves its own way.
Kia Tasman Fast Facts
- Engine: 2.2-litre, four-cylinder, turbodiesel
- Transmission: 8-speed automatic
- Power: 154 kW
- Torque: 441 N.m
- 0-100 km/h: 10.4 seconds*
- Top speed: 185 km/h*
- Fuel consumption: 12.5 L/100 km* (4WD)
- Fuel tank: 80 L
*Claimed figures
Find the full feature in the February issue of CAR Magazine.
