The new Kia Tasman was revealed to the world just one month ago and the automaker’s local division has already managed to get a single unit in front of the South African media’s eyes.
The Tasman represents the Korean automaker’s first proper foray into the bakkie segment, hands down the most popular category of car in the country.
The double cab has elicited mixed reactions from the public owing to its rather eccentric (for the segment) design but Kia is confident it has what it takes to win over even the more staunch critics.
Those who are already interested in the Tasman and can’t wait to get their hands on them, I have good and bad news.
The good news, it’s coming to South Africa in three derivatives including a base model that will function as a platform on which enthusiasts can build their dream ride – à la Toyota Land Cruiser 300.
The bad news, we don’t know exactly when it’s coming, but we do know it will be a minimum of seven months.
Kia noted that the start of series production is scheduled for April/May 2025, and in the absolute best-case scenario, it will go on sale domestically in July.
Don’t even ask about price, the company made it clear that we’re not getting that until much closer to the launch date. From what we’ve heard and seen, however, we don’t think this vehicle will be pitched at budget-conscious buyers.
The trailblazing Tasman
Focusing on the lifestyle segment instead of the commercial space, the Tasman will only be offered in double-cab guise in South Africa, with other body styles possibly to be introduced at a later date should it gain enough traction.
Kia aims to carve itself a niche in the high-end bakkie arena by outdoing its rivals in the style and features departments, whilst providing similar performance and capabilities.
For better or worse, the Tasman looks like nothing else on the market right now and that will strike a chord with some, but not with others.
Personally, I was on the fence about the bakkie’s aesthetic before seeing it in the metal. Now, I think Kia hit it out of the park.
It doesn’t photograph all too well but standing right there before you, it’s a handsome machine that oozes character, unlike many of the other models in the segment who try to go the traditional route and end up blending into a sea of uniformity.
The proportions do not seem as exaggerated as when you look at it on a screen and it’s brawnier than you might think.
The moustache-like wheel arches also have a purpose – the left side tactfully hides the petrol port which is sure to confuse a few pump attendants, and the right is a nifty storage area for your wares when taking the bakkie off the beaten track.
You’ll just have to remember to keep the above-wheel storage hold empty when back in the city as it doesn’t look like it’ll be too difficult to gain access to it.
Similar to the Ford Ranger, the Tasman also has built-in steps on the edges of the rear bumper that make it easier to reach into the load bin for the more vertically challenged owners, and the damped tailgate opens slowly and gracefully instead of just falling flat.
The cabin is a standout attribute of the Tasman. It goes all out on practicality while offering similar levels of refinement and luxury as a premium SUV.
The top-spec X Pro model on display comes with lavish leather seating with heating and ventilation, a heated steering wheel, two big screens, wireless chargers, a honeycomb-pattern insert on the dash hiding the climate control vents, tasteful ambient lighting, a sunroof, and mesh headrests similar to the automaker’s posh electric vehicles.
The sturdy, industrial-looking door handles are another highlight.
Interior practicality was equally important, it seems.
There are two glove boxes, big cupholders, two smartphone trays, a centre console storage bin whose lid folds out to become a flat workspace, integrated laptop bags on the backrests of the front seats, and sizeable door bins.
The large multifunction steering wheel now also houses the drive and terrain mode buttons right below the horn which are easily visible and pressable without taking your eyes off the road.
The front row is uber spacious and the driving position is car-like, too, though the rear row of seating is a bit on the tighter side in terms of leg room.
There’s also a cool little graphic between the front seats displaying the dimensions of the bakkie, handy if you want to keep the roof and mirrors spotless when driving into tight parking garages.
While the specifications of the Tasman have yet to be finalised, the company said we should be getting the 2.2-litre, turbo-diesel block doing duty in its other products such as the Sorento and Carnival.
The unit generates a solid 148kW and 440Nm which is on par for the segment and “more than capable” to do what it needs to do, said Kia.
Power will be relayed to all four corners via an eight-speed automatic transmission and it provides a “4A” mode that allows the driver to keep the vehicle in four-wheel drive at all times and let the computers decide how to best distribute power for the situation at hand.
The 2.5-litre petrol motor is being “considered” for South Africa but it’s “highly unlikely” that it will be offered unless the demand for petrol-powered bakkies increases significantly, said Kia.
The spokesman also let slip that an electric Tasman will see the light of day over the coming years, though similar to the petrol model, don’t expect it to come to our roads unless electric-vehicle adoption rates suddenly shoot through the roof.
Only time will tell if the reward will have been worth the risk with Kia’s divisive new Tasman.
The automaker is aiming for anywhere between 50 and 100 sales a month within the first year of arrival, and if it’s priced well, I can definitely see a world where it hits this mark.
It appears that more than enough South Africans have the means for R1-million-plus bakkies, and while Kia may be new to the segment, it’s not new to the country like a few other recent entrants.
Once the first Tasman hits the roads and these deep-pocketed individuals witness it themselves, I’m sure the next stop for many of them will be a Kia dealer.
Kia Tasman X Pro
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