- The Kia Tasman appeared in a revealing video teaser, without any camouflage.
- The global debut will take place at the Jeddah International Motor Show on Oct 29.
- The midsize truck rides on a body-on-frame architecture, fitted with a diesel engine.
After a barrage of teasers and prototype sightings, we finally have an official date for the debut of Kia’s very first pickup truck in the fiercely competitive midsize segment. Kia has confirmed that the new Tasman will make its premiere at the Jeddah International Motor Show in Saudi Arabia on October 29. The announcement came with fresh teasers, revealing the midsize pickup without its usual camouflage.
The teaser campaign for the Tasman has been running since April 2024, but this latest batch of images and video finally strips away the mystery, showing a black Tasman cutting through desert terrain and posed on what looks like a CGI field.
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The truck’s design is characterized by boxy lines, an upright nose, pronounced fenders, and vertically-stacked LEDs. A distinctive horn-shaped trim above the grille connects the front bumper to the hood. In this configuration, it features a dual-cab setup, a standard-sized bed, and ample ground clearance.
Kia claims that the Tasman addresses “the drawbacks typical of existing pickup truck designs”, though they’ve been completely vague on what that actually means. What we do know is the interior is shaping up to be high-tech, as an earlier spy video revealed a digital cockpit, sunroof, heated seats, and modern aluminum-style accents.
The Korean brand promises that the Tasman will bring “impressive off-road capability”, borrowing all-terrain tech from its popular Telluride SUV. However, while the latter rides on a unibody platform, the Tasman will be built on a rugged ladder-frame chassis, likely shared with the Kia Mohave.
We already know the Tasman will pack a diesel engine, most likely the 2.2-liter four-cylinder CRDi, which produces 199 horsepower (149 kW / 202 PS) and 325 lb-ft (441 Nm) of torque in the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento. There’s also speculation that Kia might offer a more powerful 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel option, but nothing has been confirmed yet.
The Kia Tasman will go head-to-head with midsize pickup heavyweights like the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi Triton, Isuzu D-Max, Mazda BT-50, and VW Amarok. Kia is aiming for a towing capacity of 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs) and a payload of 1,000 kg (2,204 lbs), putting it squarely in the ring with the segment’s toughest competitors.
Where It Will Be Sold
While the Tasman will be sold in Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, Korea, Africa, and the Middle East, don’t get your hopes up if you’re in the US. Prototypes have been spotted on American roads, but Kia has made it clear that the Tasman isn’t coming stateside—at least not anytime soon, no thanks to the infamous ‘Chicken Tax’.
This 25% tariff on imported light trucks has long been a roadblock for foreign automakers trying to break into the U.S. market with pickups. Unless Kia opts to manufacture the Tasman domestically, it’s unlikely we’ll see it on American lots anytime soon.
