2025 Kia Tasman debut marks brand’s foray into pickup arena

• Tasman is Kia’s first pickup truck
• Midsize pickup features body-on-frame construction and choice of gas and diesel powertrains
• Sales unlikely to start in U.S.

Kia used the 2024 Jeddah auto show on last week in Saudi Arabia for the debut of its first pickup truck, the midsize Tasman.

The Tasman is a proper truck featuring body-on-frame construction, a live rear axle, rear leaf springs, and, depending on the market, will offer the choice of gas and diesel powertrains. Buyers will also be able to choose from manual and automatic transmissions, and single- and dual-cab bodies.

The gas powertrain is a 2.5-liter inline-4 rated at 277 hp, which will only be offered with the automatic, in this case an 8-speed. Kia estimates 0-62 mph acceleration in 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 115 mph.

The diesel is a 2.2-liter turbo-4 with 207 hp. It will be offered with either the automatic or a 6-speed manual. Kia said the diesel requires 10.4 seconds to accelerate to 62 mph from rest, and the top speed is unchanged from the gas engine.

The Tasman measures 213 inches long, making it longer than popular midsize trucks like the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma. It also features a 5.0-foot bed with a volume of 41.4 cubic feet and a maximum payload rating of 2,634 pounds. The towing capacity is 7,716 pounds.

Inside, the Tasman has a modern design with a single panel integrating a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the infotainment. There’s also a large folding console table, dual wireless charging pads, an eight-speaker Harman/Kardon stereo, and hidden storage bins concealed beneath the rear seats.

Buyers will also find loads of useful tech, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a transparent hood-style system Kia calls the Ground View Monitor. It uses cameras to show what’s happening to the front wheels, which is useful when traversing tricky terrain when off-roading or in some parking situations. For off-roaders, The Tasman comes in X-Pro form which brings extra ground clearance, an electronic rear locking differential, and all-terrain tires.

The Tasman starts sales in the first half of 2025 in Kia’s home market of Korea, before heading to markets in Africa and West Asia, plus Australia. A U.S. launch hasn’t been ruled out but is unlikely unless production starts here, given the punitive tariffs placed on imported light trucks. Kia is instead expected to focus on an electric truck in the U.S., which the automaker previously confirmed as one of 14 EVs due by the end of 2027.