Since the news broke that Kia is producing a new bakkie called the Tasman, numerous international publications have reported that the double cab is coming to South Africa, even if the manufacturer has not yet said so.
In a March 4th article, US-based Motor1.com wrote that in addition to focusing on Australia, “the Tasman will also be sold in the Middle East and South Africa, but we haven’t heard anything about a potential launch in the United States.”
Similarly, on 11 April, Bloomberg reported that the Tasman “will be sold in the Middle East, South Africa, South America, and parts of Asia, but Australia is clearly the focal point.”
On the same day, Kia itself said that the new double cab is “set for [a] phased global launch in 2025, including [in] markets such as Korea, Australia, Africa, and the Middle East” – with our market sure to be under heavy consideration given the popularity of bakkies among local motorists.
More evidence in support of this argument includes the fact that Kia’s head office in Seoul, South Korea lodged a trademark application in South Africa for the “Tasman” badge as far back as April 2023, as per local publication Cars.co.za.
While such a trademark application can not be considered a confirmation that a vehicle will launch in a specific country, it does show that the company is mulling it over and wants to reserve the rights to a specific nameplate should it decide to go ahead with the introduction.
Now, seemingly all that awaits is for Kia’s domestic subsidiary to make an official announcement that the Tasman is coming to South African roads, which at this point sounds like more of a formality than a ground-breaking revelation.
Everything we know about the Tasman
The new Tasman is set to take on segment heavyweights like the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, and Isuzu D-Max.
Australian reports indicate that it will utilise a ladder-frame chassis instead of a unibody construction like on Kia sister brand Hyundai’s Santa Cruz, which will enable it to meet industry standards in terms of towing, hauling, and off-roading.
Under the hood, it is widely expected that the Tasman will be available with a 2.2-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel engine and eight-speed automatic gearbox which are already doing duty in other large Kia vehicles including the Sorento and Carnival.
The driveline produces 148kW and 440Nm, which is on par with models such as the Mitsubishi Triton 2.4DI-D (133kW/430Nm) and Nissan Navara 2.5DDTi (140kW/450Nm), but lower than the Hilux 2.8GD-6 (150kW/500Nm) and Ranger 2.0Bi-Turbo (154kW/500Nm).
As such, Kia may consider boosting the performance of the 2.2-litre mill going into its new bakkie as it aims to dethrone the segment favourites.
Kia Tasman Spy Shot, Source: The Korean Car Blog
Rumours were rife that the Tasman may also be delivered with a 3.0-litre, V6 powerplant at launch.
However, the automaker recently put these suggestions to bed by stating that upcoming emissions regulations will not allow for such an engine to be sold in pure combustion guise, but that it may form part of hybrid configurations being planned for a later introduction.
Four-wheel drive will, of course, be a cornerstone of the new Kia double cab, and pre-production Tasmans have been spotted with leaf-spring rear suspension suggesting it will provide respectable abilities such as 1,000kg payload and 3,500kg towing capacities.
Pre-production Kia Tasman testing with Ford Ranger Raptor. Source: Drive
Design-wise, prototype bakkies seen on public roads around the world show a blocky profile with a large grille and LED headlights similar to those of the US-market Kia Telluride SUV.
Photos of camouflaged Tasmans suggest that it will be rather similar in size to the Ford Ranger, which measures 5,350mm (L) by 2,015mm (W) by 1,886mm (H).
The Kia will eventually be sold in chassis-, single-, and double-cab body styles, though at launch it will likely only be offered in four-door guise attracting lifestyle-focused buyers.
Kia Tasman Interior Spy Shot. Source: Blue Sky
Leaked videos of the Tasman’s cabin show amenities such as leather seats, a camera system, and large cupholders.
More updates on the Tasman will be provided in due course. According to Kia Australia, they will include details on accessory fitting and durability testing, towing, ride and handling, the final design reveal, and the first release of specifications.
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