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About Tasman

The Tasman is Kia's first pickup truck, a midsize body-on-frame ute designed primarily for Australia, where pickups like the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger are among the best-selling vehicles. Its name a nod to the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, it represents Kia's ambition to compete in a lucrative segment that it had never entered before. It offers four-wheel drive, a turbocharged diesel engine and a range of trims from basic work trucks to well-equipped family vehicles, and it is aimed at tradies, farmers and families alike.

The Tasman was revealed in 2024 and went on sale in 2025, but its styling, with a blocky front end and unusual angular wheel arches, divided opinion and became the subject of widespread criticism on social media. Sales in Australia were well below Kia's expectations, prompting the company to cut prices by up to 13,000 Australian dollars on some versions and to develop styling countermeasures, including an accessory kit to address the design backlash. Kia admitted it was not satisfied with the truck's performance.

The Tasman competes with the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max, Mitsubishi Triton, Nissan Navara, BYD Shark and GWM Cannon in Australia, and with similar trucks in South Africa and other markets where it is sold. Its strengths include its comfortable interior, technology and capability; its weakness, beyond its looks, is that it entered a market where loyalty to established brands runs deep. It is not sold in the United States or Europe.

Coverage includes reviews, pricing changes, sales results, styling updates and market launches, along with comparisons with rivals. The Tasman's story will be one to watch as Kia tries to turn around its fortunes in the ute market, and you will find news about its efforts in Australia, South Africa and other markets, as well as any plans for electric or hybrid versions in the future. Few launches have offered a clearer lesson in how much styling matters to truck buyers.