- The Kia Tasman will debut on October 29, but its design has already faced criticism.
- The CEO of Kia Australia confirmed that a fender flare add-on will be available at launch.
- The company may also offer the option of body-colored fenders, reducing the visual impact.
Kia’s first-ever pickup truck, the Tasman, is on the verge of being officially unveiled, but the grumbles about its boxy fender design have already started making the rounds. The Koreans seems to have taken note of the early feedback, as they’re preparing to offer solutions for those seeking a more conventional aesthetic. It’s a subtle admission that the design might be polarizing, but at least they’re ready with a remedy.
Fender Controversy
The issue is glaring in the official photos of camouflaged Tasman prototypes, where the fenders appear like chunky slabs of unpainted plastic awkwardly grafted onto the bodywork. While it’s not uncommon for trucks and off-roaders to boast angular wheel arches rather than the more traditional round shape, Kia’s execution here is undeniably divisive. The design language might scream “rugged,” but it also whispers “unfinished.”
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Damen Meredith, CEO of Kia Australia, hinted at a potential fix during a conversation with our colleagues at CarSales. He dropped a rather casual, yet telling line: “I can assure you that an accessory fender flare will be there at launch,” confirming it will come at a budget-friendly price point. This factory-fit accessory could likely extend the unpainted plastic around the wheel arches, softening the blow for buyers who aren’t sold on the current look.
Body-Colored Options
There’s also speculation that Kia might offer body-colored fender alternatives—an option that could go a long way in making the stock units appear more integrated into the overall design. In fact, Kia’s latest teaser of a blacked-out Tasman effectively hides the cladding, offering a glimpse of how the truck could look with more cohesive styling.
Kia’s debut into the midsize pickup segment is serious business, and the Tasman will ride on a ladder-frame chassis. Beneath the hood, we’re expecting to find a 2.2-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder engine, with power sent to all four wheels. With a towing capacity of 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs) and a payload of 1,000 kg (2,204 lbs), the Tasman is positioned to compete toe-to-toe with segment mainstays.
As Meredith puts it, “We asked for a light commercial vehicle in March 2018, and six years later they’ve come to market with this amazing product.” He revealed that the team had already seen the Tasman in pre-production form earlier this week, calling it “impressive.” According to him, the truck “ticks all the boxes that are required for trade, agriculture, and lifestyle,” and he’s optimistic about how well it’ll be received in the market.
Global Offering But Not In America
Beyond Australia, the Kia Tasman is set to launch in New Zealand, Southeast Asia, Korea, Africa, and the Middle East, where it will face strong competition. Its main adversaries include heavy hitters like the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi Triton, Isuzu D-Max, Mazda BT-50, VW Amarok, and even some up-and-comers from China, like the BYD Shark, GWM Cannon Ute, and the soon-to-arrive Chery pickup.
As previously mentioned, there are no current plans to introduce the Tasman to North America—unless Kia sets up local production to dodge the infamous Chicken Tax. However, it’s believed that Kia is working on a completely different electric truck for the North American market, possibly linked to the EV9, which would align with the brand’s electrification strategy in the region.
