- Kia has officially confirmed the name of its new mid-size pickup truck, which will be called the Tasman.
- The Tasman is expected to be sold in Australia, New Zealand, Korea, and select Asian markets. However, its availability in the United States remains unclear.
- At least one diesel engine will be offered for the new ute that will compete against the popular Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.
A few weeks after Kia Australia launched an engaging promotional campaign for its forthcoming pickup truck, debating what it should be called, it now has a name. It will be called the Kia Tasman, as we had long suspected.
Last year, the company trademarked the Tasman moniker, drawing inspiration from the Tasman Sea, which lies between Australia and New Zealand, as well as the explorer Abel Tasman, who discovered Australia’s island state of Tasmania. It’s a fitting name for a vehicle that will consider Australia one of its most important markets.
Read: New Kia Tasman Pickup Spied Testing With Ford Ranger Raptor
The Korean company states that ‘Tasman’ was originally suggested by Kia Australia and selected from a pool of names sourced from various global markets. It further noted that the Tasman has been “crafted with a variety of work, trade, and leisure activities in mind” and is scheduled for launch in 2025.
The mid-size pickup truck has been developed as a direct competitor to the Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, and Isuzu D-Max. It will feature a boxy appearance dominated by plenty of straight lines and sharp edge, Additionally, it will come equipped with vertical LED daytime running lights, similar to those seen on the Sorento and EV9. Inside the cabin, utilitarian elements will be prevalent, catering to the vehicle’s aim of conquering the rugged terrain of Australia.
It is unclear if the Kia Tasman will be sold in the United States, but it seems unlikely unless the brand commits to local production to avoid the so-called Chicken Tax, which imposes a 25 percent tariff on foreign-made trucks.
While many technical details about the Tasman remain under wraps, Kia Australia has confirmed it will feature a diesel powertrain, likely the brand’s 2.2-liter CRDi four-cylinder mill. It’s possible that a larger 3.0-liter turbo-diesel could be offered.
Kia is also developing a second pickup truck for global markets, including the U.S. This model will be all-electric and is expected to be built on the existing E-GMP platform.
