Kia Tasman bakkie confirmed for South African introduction

Kia have unveiled the full details of their all-new Tasman, the brands first bakkie.
The Kia Tasman is a unique take on the bakkie concept and has been designed to push the boundaries of what’s possible with a bakkie. The Tasman features a purposeful design alongside cutting-edge technology combined with class-leading convenience features and a spacious, comfortable cabin.
A fresh aesthetic approach
When designing the Tasman, Kia’s design team deliberately shunned the familiar form language and this fresh approach to aesthetics strips away the unnecessary to reveal a basic, honest form that highlights the vehicles sense of power through functional elements.
An upright windshield and rear glass contribute to the Kia Tasman’s bold silhouette, which is reinforced by the 45-degree angles of the vehicles striking graphic elements. The unique fender design combines practical functions such as headlights and storage, demonstrating functionality and a clear, confident design.
The practical nature is reinforced at the rear where the tailgate showcases a bold, stamped logo, while the tailgate handle and high-mounted brake light are seamlessly integrated.
A new benchmark for interior bakkie design
Inside, the Tasman introduces a new dimension of design quality for bakkie customers as purity and simplicity are prioritised in equal measure through a practical interior.
The interior design leverages concise, symmetrical proportions to create a stable, balanced appearance. Honeycomb patterns are a key feature and are emphasised via large air vents. A multi-function steering wheel and a modern, minimalist lower centre dashboard and tunnel sections provides intuitive control of the wide variety of technology.
Three displays measuring 12.3-inches, five inches and 12.4-inches create a panoramic widescreen display that work together to seamlessly allow for access to vehicle controls and advanced infotainment options. This is supported by an eight-speaker Harmon Kardon premium audio system.
The interior is also fitted with a wide variety of innovative features and equipment, including a large folding console table, dual wireless charging pads and hidden storage bins beneath the rear seats.
The interior is crafted from a variety of Kia’s sustainability items including a crash pad made from bioplastics, seats crafted from recycled PET fabric and bio-PU synthetic leather, a paint composition that includes BTX free and bio-paint and interior carpeting made from recycled PET material.
The Kia Tasman is fitted with the latest technology to help keep occupants safe including Advanced Driver Assistance Systems such as lane keeping assist, blind spot collision warning and remote parking assist through Highway Driving Assist 2, which has also been optimised with trailer profile functionality
Under the bonnet
In regions including Middle East and Africa, customers can choose between the 2.5-litre petrol engine equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission which produces 207kW and 421Nm or a 2.2-litre diesel engine paired with either an eight-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission which offers 154kW and 441Nm.
The Kia Tasman rides on a double wishbone front suspension setup and a rigid axle with leaf springs for optimum robustness and load carrying ability at the rear. This setup is supported by Kia’s frequency selective Sensitive Damper Control and Hydraulic Rebound Stop technology.
Model range
The Kia Tasman will be offered as a double cab base model and in X-Line and X-Pro trim, the latter offering an extra 28mm of ground clearance for a total of 252mm.
Both the X-Line and X-Pro are fitted with all-wheel drive as standard which switches automatically to the configuration required to provide optimum traction on different road surfaces and which works in conjunction with three driving modes as well as various terrain modes including Desert, Mud, Snow and Rock modes.
X-Pro derivatives also include an automatically engaging rear Electronic Locking Differential and X-Trek mode.
Local introduction
Kia South Africa have confirmed that they are hard at work to make the Tasman’s local introduction a reality with the aim of introducing the bakkie here in the second half of 2025.