Kia Tasman Pickup Truck Breaks Cover

Kia’s first-ever pickup truck is available in single and double-cab configurations in X-Line and X-Pro trims to cater to a wide customer base

The Kia Tasman pickup truck has finally been unveiled. Note that this is the first-ever pickup truck from the Korean auto giant. Clearly, a lot is riding on it. It was revealed at the Jeddah International Motor Show and the global launch plan has been confirmed for 2025. With this, Kia plans to further expand its footprint by entering this highly lucrative but brutally competitive market space. The Tasman will be sold in the Middle East, South Korea, Australia and Africa. To play on its strengths and establish a distinction, Kia has tried to strike a balance between rugged off-roading capabilities with a ladder-frame chassis and cutting-edge technologies to decorate the cabin. While the carmaker currently has no plans of bringing it to India, we certainly won’t mind having it as a Toyota Hilux rival. Let us take a look at the details of the carmaker’s first-ever pickup here.

Kia Tasman Pickup Truck Debuts

In terms of design, the Kia Tasman certainly looks unique. There is a colossal bonnet with a black grille and rugged bumper. However, the LED headlamps with integrated vertical LED DRLs are rather tiny. On the sides, the wheel arches are prominent and the ORVMs are sturdy. I like the front and rear fenders with tough claddings to cover to elegant alloy wheels. On the inside, the Tasman gets sustainable materials for the cabin components along with 5 colour themes. For the outside, customers can choose between 9 paint options. Being a Kia, the list of tech, convenience, connectivity and safety features is rather long. The top highlights include:

• Dual 12.3-inch Displays – for Infotainment and for Digital Instrument Cluster
• 5-inch Display for HVAC and Music Settings
• 8-speaker Harmon Kardon Audio System
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Large Folding Table
• Dual Wireless Charging Pads
• 33-litre Storage Space Under Rear Seat
• Recycled PET Materials for Cabin
• Off-roading Accessories
• Bed outlet 220V
• ADAS Active Safety Equipment
• Blind Collision Warning
• Lane Following Assist
• Lane Keeping Assist
• Digital Key 2.0

Specs

The Kia Tasman pickup truck gets two powertrain options – a 2.5-litre petrol and a 2.2-litre diesel. These generate 281 PS / 421 Nm and 210 PS / 441 Nm of peak power and torque, respectively. Both these mills pair with a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic transmission allowing a 0-100 km/h acceleration in 8.5 s and 10.4 s, respectively. It gets double wishbone front suspension and a rigid axle with leaf springs at the rear. To enhance the comfort of the passengers, it gets frequency selective Sensitive Damper Control (SDC) and Hydraulic Rebound Stop technology.

The maximum ground clearance is 252 mm and the water wading capacity is 800 mm. It can tow 3,500 kg and has a payload capacity between 1,017 kg and 1,195 kg. One can choose between 17-inch or 18-inch wheels with dedicated all-terrain tyres as an option. To tackle challenging situations, there are multiple terrain modes including Rock, Snow, Mud, and Sand. Enabling the 4×4 configuration is a rear Electronic Locking Differential (e-LD). Hence, it gets all the bells and whistles to conquer just about any terrain. The first Kia pickup truck certainly looks ready to take on the rivals.

Also Read: Suresh Raina Buys New Rs 63.90 Lakh Kia Carnival Limousine