Australia’s ute buyers have picked from the same handful of names for a decade, but that shortlist just got a new entry. The Kia Tasman is the Korean brand’s first proper dual-cab pickup, and it isn’t tiptoeing into the segment — it’s landed with five grades, genuine off-road hardware, and a cabin that leans harder into screens and tech than almost anything else with a tray on the back.
What is the Kia Tasman?
The Tasman is a dual-cab ute built to go toe-to-toe with the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max on their own turf: worksites, tow-balls and unsealed roads. It’s offered across five trims — S, SX, SX+, X-Line and X-Pro — with the entry S available in either 4×2 or 4×4 form while every grade above it is 4×4 only. Pricing runs from roughly $42,990 for the base S 4×2 up to $74,990 for the range-topping X-Pro 4×4, with the mid-tier SX+ ($62,390) and near-flagship X-Line ($67,990) squarely aimed at buyers cross-shopping equivalent high-grade Ranger variants. Every grade shares the same drivetrain, so the climb up the range is mostly about equipment, styling and off-road ability rather than outright performance.
Grunt, towing and payload that mean business
Under the bonnet, every Tasman grade runs the same 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder, sending 154kW and 440Nm through an 8-speed automatic — enough to keep it relevant against the class benchmarks without chasing a horsepower war. Where the Tasman argues its case is in the numbers that actually matter to owners: payload ranges from around 1,000kg up to 1,124kg depending on grade, braked towing capacity tops out at 3,500kg with a 350kg tow ball rating, and the tub swallows up to 1,336 litres (SAE) of gear. A 6,200kg gross combination mass and 3,250kg gross vehicle mass round out a spec sheet built for owners who genuinely load and tow, rather than just window-shop the brochure.
A cabin built around screens and comfort
Step inside and the Tasman feels less like a tradie’s tool and more like a tech showcase. A tri-panel display setup — a 12.3-inch driver cluster, a 5-inch climate panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen — spans the dash, paired with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so nobody’s hunting for a cable. Kia Connect brings over-the-air updates to keep the software current long after delivery. Higher grades layer on heated and ventilated front seats, dual-zone climate control, slide-and-recline second-row seating for long hauls, wireless phone charging and 240V outlets for camping gear or power tools, while X-Line and X-Pro swap the traditional lever for a column-mounted shifter to free up console space.
Off-road hardware and safety nets
The Tasman’s off-road credentials scale with the grade. Four-wheel-drive variants get low-range gearing, and the X-Pro adds an electronic rear differential lock alongside Snow, Mud, Sand and Rock terrain modes plus an X-Trek low-speed crawl function for tricky descents. A Ground View Monitor on the X-Pro effectively lets the driver see under the front wheels, while Surround View and a Blind Spot View Monitor are available further down the range. On the safety side, Autonomous Emergency Braking with Forward Collision Avoidance and Highway Driving Assist 2 come standard on higher grades, and select variants carry a 5-star ANCAP rating — solid reassurance for a vehicle that’s as likely to be doing school pick-up as a supply run to a job site.
Who the Kia Tasman suits
- Tradies who need serious payload and a tub that can actually take a full day’s gear
- Grey nomads and weekend tourers planning to tow a caravan, camper or boat
- Families who want a genuine 5-star safety case alongside big-screen tech
- Weekend off-roaders after low-range gearing, terrain modes and driver-assist backup
- Anyone cross-shopping a Ranger or HiLux who wants a fresher cabin and equipment list
Kia Tasman price and availability in Australia
Kia opened orders for the Tasman in April 2025, with dual-cab deliveries landing from July 2025; single-cab and cab-chassis versions are following later. Drive-away pricing spans roughly $42,990 for the entry S 4×2 through to $74,990 for the fully loaded X-Pro 4×4, putting it in direct competition with the established players on price as much as capability. For current grade-by-grade specs, dealer stock and the build-and-price tool, head to Kia Australia’s official Tasman offers page.
