The Most Intriguing Truck of 2025 Is Ducking the Big Show

After a long series of staged teases and partial reveals, Kia officially announced its first-ever pickup truck back in October, the Kia Tasman.

The mid-sized truck is entering one of the most competitive sectors in the automotive industry and will compete directly against icons like the Toyota Hilux.

While the initial announcement confirmed that the Tasman would head to a variety of international markets, uncertainty still loomed over whether it would eventually make it to the truck big leagues, a.k.a. the U.S. Now, though, a Kia representative has officially confirmed what many already suspected. 

It’s Official: the Kia Tasman Isn’t Coming to America

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The U.S. is by far the world’s largest pickup market. According to Statista.com, pickup sales generated an estimated $75.1 billion in revenue in 2023. The next closest market in terms of revenue was Canada, which generated a mere $7.2 billion in revenue in the same year. 

So, any brand with serious aspirations of making a name in the segment eventually must compete here. 

In the case of the Tasman, though, a Kia representative confirmed with Car and Driver that the truck won’t be launched in the U.S. As the story reports, “a Kia representative told us that while it would make sense for the company to sell a truck in the U.S. market, it won’t be the Tasman.”

Reading between the lines suggests that Kia isn’t ready yet to engage with one of the most, if not the most, lucrative yet competitive automotive segments on earth. The Tasman itself certainly seems prepared to handle U.S. roads, at least based on features. The truck had previously been spotted conducting test drives in California. Kia also openly mentions how it tested the Tasman in the U.S. to gauge its performance against steep inclines.

The Tasman will launch in South Korea in the first half of 2025, followed by Australia, the Middle East, and Africa.

Here’s everything else you need to know about the Kia Tasman. 

Kia Says the Tasman Is a “Lifestyle Vehicle”

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According to the press release, the Kia Tasman “offers world-first solutions to those seeking a lifestyle vehicle for leisure and outdoor activities.”

Kia states that the Tasman is based, at least in part, on its Mohave SUV, marketed as the Borrego in the U.S. Measurement-wise, its 213-inch length makes it about 5 inches shorter than the Jeep Gladiator and 10 inches longer than Hyundai’s Santa Cruz.

But the Tasman Offers Plenty of Rugged Truck Chops

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Despite the lifestyle verbiage, the Tasman is a different animal compared to something like the Hyundai Santa Cruz. It features a stiff, body-on-frame chassis, a double wishbone suspension, and a rigid rear axle with leaf springs for improved load carrying over rough terrain. 

Depending on how it’s configured, the truck can haul between 2,242 and 2,635 pounds in its 41.4 cubic feet bed. Any AWD version has a max towing capacity of 7,716, which is slightly more than the Jeep Gladiator. 

Kia also specifically designed the pickup to handle deeper water by positioning the air intake inside the truck’s front fender and waterproofing select connections for interior parts. As a result, the Tasman can ford up to 32 inches of water.

The Ground View Monitor system (GVM) leverages the truck’s camera and infotainment systems to show drivers what’s going on at ground level while navigating rough terrain. 

Select trims also gain additional key off-reading features, and Kia even appears to have “borrowed” the bumper-integrated side steps already popularized by Chevy. 

Three Trim Options Will Be Available, Including an Off-Road-Focused Variant

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The baseline version is a double cab equipped with two-wheel drive, but buyers can opt for a single-cab version with AWD as an option.

The X-Line and X-Pro trims are both double cabs with 6-foot-long beds that come standard with AWD. All AWD configurations feature three default ECO, Smart, and Sport driving modes and specialized terrain modes that will vary by market. 

The X-Line offers slightly bolder looks, with 18-inch alloy wheels and all-terrain tires. 

The X-Pro is more off-roading focused, as evidenced by its feature set. It boasts a 1.1-inch lift for 9.5 inches of ground clearance and an automatically engaging rear Electronic Locking Differential (e-LD). Two driving modes are also unique to the X-Pro, including a Rock mode for rockier terrain and a special driving mode dubbed X-Trek, which can keep the vehicle moving ahead at a slow speed without needing pedal input from the driver, freeing them up to focus on navigation. 

Available Powertrains Will Vary By Country

The Korean version of the Tasman will come with a 2.5-liter gas engine capable of 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. Australia will receive a 2.2-liter diesel-powered version capable of 207 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. Both variants will be paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. 

Buyers in the Middle East and Africa can access both engine variants, but in select countries, the diesel version can also be paired with a six-speed manual transmission. 

Kia Is Naturally Making a Variety of Compatible Accessories Too

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Buyers looking to outfit the Tasman for more specific pursuits will have the option to pick from 13 different Kia-made add on’s like side step variants and bed add-ons, including single and double-decker bed options, to support items like rooftop tents as well as storage boxes and bed covers.

The Interior Also Features a Variety of Smart Bells and Whistles

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The interior of the Tasman is defined by two large, equally sized 12.3 displays. One is reserved for gauges, while the other handles infotainment. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported and users can charge mobile devices via integrated dual wireless charging pads. 

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There are a few other clever interior design choices. Like the Ford F-150, the center console top can unfold to form a small table. The back seats can also flip up to reveal small storage cubbies and recline for added passenger comfort.

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