A leaked document has revealed Kia’s plans to introduce updates to the Tasman model lineup, including an ‘expansion of derivative models’.
In May 2026, we reported that a Kia executive revealed the Tasman will receive styling updates, with the South Korean carmaker “working on short-term and mid-term solutions at the same time”. A leaked internal document — from Kia’s Employment Stability Committee and shared by The Korean Car Blog — has now revealed that the company’s plans include updates to the Tasman. In addition, the firm is looking into the “expansion of derivative models”. Could the latter include the long-rumoured Tasman-based SUV, which will rival the Toyota Fortuner, Ford Everest, and Isuzu MU-X?
In 2025, Kia Australia’s Chief Engineer for Ride and Handling told Carsales that a seven-seater SUV sharing the Tasman’s platform will arrive down the line. However, this statement was shut down by Kia Australia’s General Manager of Marketing, who maintained that the automaker must first get the Tasman “right”.
The “product improvements” will likely pertain to the Tasman’s exterior styling, rather than the introduction of new powertrains, while the “expansion of derivative models” could include fresh variants to bolster the lineup. As a reminder, the Tasman arrived in South Africa in April 2026. The local lineup is available with the choice of three trim grades — LX, SX, and X-Pro — with a single engine option, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission, employed across the range. Two drivetrains are on offer: 4×2 and 4WD.
The Tasman’s 2.2-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine produces 154 kW and 440 N.m of torque — the former and latter available from 3 800 and 1 750 r/min, respectively. Kia claims a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 10.4 seconds. However, on our test strip, we bested the manufacturer’s claim, with a recorded 10.04 seconds. Kia claims average fuel consumption figures or 7.5 and 7.8 L/100 km for the 4×2 and 4WD, respectively.
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