Kia’s first pickup truck, the Tasman will be launched in Australia next year; Toyota Hilux Rival incoming.
Kia is a bit late to the pickup truck segment but it will definitely be worth it. The Korean carmaker’s first pickup will go by the name Tasman and it will be launched in Australia next year, followed by its debut in other international regions. As per the reports, the Kia’s upcoming pickup could debut in the second half of 2024 and give a big blow to the segment stalwarts like the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger. In India, there are no updates regarding its launch, however, it could be a good contender to the Toyota Hilux, Isuzu D-Max V-Cross and the upcoming Mahindra Scorpio X.
Kia Tasman Pickup: The Basics
Being a pickup truck, we can expect the Tasman to be based on the ladder frame chassis for a rugged stance. Under the hood, Kia’s familiar 2.2-litre diesel engine will be a part of the package. A proper 4WD hardware with a low-range transfer case becomes necessary for any pickup truck and the same will follow for the Tasman. The familiar 2.2-litre turbo-charged diesel unit will be tuned for a better torque delivery in the lower rev band, thus aiding its overall power dynamics.
Kia Tasman Pickup: Launch Details
Internationally, the Kia Tasman will rival the likes of the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok. As far as the pickup’s India launch is concerned, there are no updates available currently and we could get some concrete information only after its global debut. Kia will launch of new-gen Carnival (KA4) Premium MPV and EV9 in India this year.
Kia Tasman Pickup Launch: Will it be worth it?
Being quite late to the segment won’t do any good for Kia. However, with the company’s track record, we can expect something out of the box that will set the Tasman apart from its rivals.
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