After sister brand Hyundai launched the Santa Cruz in 2021, Kia will have its own pickup in 2025. Announced today under the “Tasman” moniker, the newcomer will be a more capable truck by riding on a chassis in scale. to have a unibody construction. It is touted as a global model, but for now its availability is only confirmed in South Korea, Australia, Africa and the Middle East.
We asked Kia if it plans to bring the Tasman to the United States and will update this article as soon as we hear back. We won’t hold our breath since the truck won’t be made in the United States, at least not that we know of. By importing it from elsewhere, that means the pickup would be subject to the 25 percent chicken tax established in 1964. We think that would make it too expensive.
In the meantime, there’s a new teaser video to highlight the model name, originally offered by the company’s Australian branch. The nickname is an obvious nod to the island state of Tasmania and the Tasman Sea. Kia’s second body-on-frame vehicle after the Mohave aka Borrego, still sold in certain markets, the new Tasman will compete with the Ford Ranger, Volkswagen Amarok and Toyota Hilux.
Technical specifications remain shrouded in mystery, but reports from Australia indicate that it will initially be sold with a turbodiesel engine. It would be a 2.2-liter four-cylinder borrowed from the Sorento, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Two- and four-wheel drive derivatives are rumored to be in the works.
It’s unclear if a more powerful six-cylinder is planned and/or if there will be hybrid powertrains later in the life cycle. Speaking of electrification, Kia has committed to launching two electric trucks by 2027 with “dedicated” and “strategic” models. The first will likely be based on a bespoke electric vehicle platform while the other could share its underpinnings with an ICE model.
