Kia Tasman 2025: In a high stakes gamble that no one saw coming until this week, the Korean automotive juggernaut has pulled back the curtain on the full specs and pricing details for its all-new 2025 Tasman pickup, suggesting Kia intends to upset the competitive ute market.
It is Kia’s first entry into the lucrative ute market in Australia and New Zealand, and the flagship model crosses into premium territory with a price closing in on $80k.
A Tactical Foothold in the Ute Wars
It’s the Tasman, which represents an important strategic turn for the Kia brand, which in the last decade has painstakingly filled out its faucet from small cars to SUVs to the new and fiercely competitive pickup truck segment.
Name for the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand — two huge markets where utes are incredibly popular — it will contested favorites such as the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger and Mitsubishi Triton.
Kia’s Regional Director for Oceania Marcus Davidson said: “The Tasman does not simply represent a new model for Kia – it is an indication of our desire to compete in all major automotive segments worldwide.
“We have spent almost five years creating a car that doesn’t just compete with the competition, but leads in several areas.”
Specs on Power and Performance
For different user needs and budgets, the 2025 Kia Tasman would come with three separate powertrain options:
The base version uses a 2.2-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel good for 210 hp and 441 Nm in torque. This efficient engine is mated to an eight speed auto and is offered in both RWD and 4WD configurations.
Mid-range variants get a more powerful 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 281 hp and 421 Nm, exclusively combined with 4WD and the same eight-speed automatic.
On the top end is the flagship variant featuring a hybrid powertrain consisting of a 1.6-liter turbocharged petrol engine paired with an electric motor to supplement a total grunt of 320 hp and a whopping 516 Nm of torque.
This alternative to the conventional, petrol engine results in a class best fuel economy figure of 7.4 liters per 100km in combined driving conditions.
Towing capacity is a very impressive 3,500kg on diesel and petrol models, while the hybrid achieves still-impressive 3,200kg. Depending on the configuration, payload capacity is between 980kg and 1,105kg.
Trims and Pricing
Tasman trim levels are layered in four tiers, each adding some creature comforts and refinements:
Tasman S – From $42,990 (plus on-roads)
Among the items are the queuing to the range:
17-inch alloy wheels
8-inch infotainment screen
— Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Cloth interior trim
Rear parking sensors with reversing camera
Lane keeping assist and autonomous emergency braking
Tasman Sport — From $51,490 (plus on-road costs)
Building on the S model with:
Machined-face 18-inch alloy wheels
– 10.25-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation
Dual-zone climate control
Heated front seats
Leather-appointed interior
Blind-spot monitoring
Rear cross-traffic alert
Tasman GT-Line — From $62,990 (excluding on-road costs)
Finishing it with extra touches such as:
– 19-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain rubber
•LED headlights with adaptive front lighting
September 27, 2023 – September 28, 2023 – 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
Contrast stitching in premium leather interior
– Front seats with adjustable power and memory function
Heated steering wheel
360-degree camera system
An advanced driver assistance suite from Kia
Tasman GT-Line Hybrid – $78,490 (plus on-road costs)
The flagship model featuring:
Exclusive hybrid powertrain
Exclusive 20-inch aerodynamic forged aluminum wheels
Head-up display
Harman Kardon premium sound system
Ventilated front seats
Heated rear seats
Solar-reflective windshield glass
Remote Smart Parking Assist
That price positioning places the Tasman marginally below like-for-like Japanese and American opposition at the entry point, while the high end skews further into the domain traditionally occupied by European brands.
Unique Design Language
While retaining familiar fleet styling traits, the Tasman does represent something of a departure from Kia’s current passenger vehicle design language.
The front end still features the brand’s evolution of “tiger nose” grille, which is stretched wider and taller, bookended horizontally with vertically-oriented LED headlights that give the vehicle an assertive appearance.
A prominent shoulder line spans the length of the car, linking muscular wheel arches that can house wheels from 17 to 20 inches wide depending on specification. At 1,570mm (L) and 1,620mm (W), the bed is 510mm deep, competitive segment dimensions.
The interior design is a mix of rugged and modern, with water-resistant materials in work-oriented models and plush leather upholstery in fancier trims.
The dashboard layout echoes that of Kia’s successful SUVs but contains hardier switchgear that can be operated with work gloves.
Technology And Connectivity Features
Kia’s latest-generation infotainment system is featured in the Tasman, including wireless smartphone integration throughout the range and over-the-air update capability. In the higher-end models, there is an embedded 4G modem, permitting remote monitoring and control of the vehicle via Kia’s smartphone app.
More technological ljghts include:
Optional 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system
USB-C ports in the cabin (and also in the bed for plugging in external equipment)
Qi wireless charging pad designed for larger smartphones
Smartphone-activated digital key capability
-Not only limited to cars but also became an in-vehicle commerce platform to order services and process payments
Every variant of the Tasman will have with it Kia’s suite of driver assist systems, too, including autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance.
Higher-spec models can add junction turning assistance, blind-spot collision avoidance, and Kia’s Highway Driving Assist system that combines adaptive cruise control with lane centering.
Off-Road Capabilities
Knowing full well that building a credible ute means more than just being able to go off the road, Kia gave the Tasman some seriously impressive credentials for leaving the blacktop behind.
In addition to the four-wheel-drive system, there’s an electronic locking rear differential, hill descent control, and a terrain management system with particular modes for mud, sand, snow, and rocks.
Ground clearance is a competitive 256mm, with approach and departure angles of 28 degrees and 27 degrees. While the Tasman’s wading depth is rated at 800mm – a figure that sees it rank as one of the more capable offerings in class.
“We set the benchmark for the most capable vehicles in the segment and we matched or exceeded their off-road metrics,” says Sung-Ho Lee, Lead Engineer, Tasman project. “But equally it was important that this capability did not come at the cost of on-road comfort and refinement.”
Market Positioning and Free User Segments
Tasman: Kia’s market research showed (surprise!
The diesel powertrain, the entry and mid-level specifications will attract traditional work users after durability, payload capacity and value for money.
The mid to high-grade petrol variants will likely be the preferred choice of active lifestyle customers who prioritize attributes like versatility, technology, and comfort.
The flagship hybrid model will appeal to urban professionals seeking distinctive styling, high quality features, and environmentally friendly credentials.
It’s indicative of a changing ute market, where these vehicles have transformed from utilitarian workhorses into lifestyle statements and family cars.
Usability and Ownership Experience
True to Kia form in terms of strong ownership propositions, the Tasman is offered with the brand’s industry-leading 7-year, unlimited-kilometer warranty. This broad coverage also encompasses the hybrid system components itself, with concerns around the lifespan of this new technology.
Diesel models have service intervals of 12 months or 15,000 kilometers while petrol and hybrids have intervals of 12 months or 10,000 kilometers.
Kia is also providing the first five years of ownership with capped-price servicing, which can be obtained from $375 for the first service.
A Serious New Contender
The 2025 Kia Tasman is a well-studied, well-developed player in one of the most competitive segments in the automotive space. Tasman has the styling smoke, tech must-haves, ability credibility, and value proposition to take one with the established players.
It will raise some eyebrows that the top-line hybrid will set you back nearly $80,000, but its spec does reflect both the premium positioning of the most upmarket variant and the fact that SUVs have been getting ever more luxurious over the years.
The breadth of the range means there’s a Tasman for most potential buyers, from tradies to weekend warriors to eco-conscious professionals.
