Kia’s New Global Ute, the Very Australian “TASMAN”

After being pestered about a ute more times than Kia execs care to acknowledge, Kia has finally revealed the name of its Hilux-bashing ute: the Tasman. The carmaker is adopting a global approach to naming their models, and the Kia Tasman Kia’s first global model with an Australian naming influence.

Kia sells cars in many markets and many of them put forward suggestions, with Tasman being the one selected by the Australian arm of the Korean giant. The Tasman Sea and Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, lend their street cred to a ute bound for off-street use.

Kia Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, Damien Meredith, said “The team at Kia Australia has been working closely with the Research and Development team at headquarters to develop Tasman, a vehicle we believe will meet the needs of our unique market, so it’s very rewarding that it has been granted an Australian-inspired name befitting its personality.”

“We have strong ambitions for Tasman in our market, and the fact that its name has such distinct links to our region is evidence of Kia Australia’s instrumental role in its development and future success.“

Kia, first known for its cheap’n’cheerful passenger cars is morphing into a maker of reliable SUVs and EVs, yet remains committed to their passenger car market. The thing missing from the showroom was a tough-stuff ute that could tow, scamper up mountains, but most importantly, to carry a tradie’s load. Kia longed to created something whose rear could take a tradie’s load being dumped carelessly. The market had been left to the Japanese and the occasional American interloper. European Utes are rare, and the Volkswagen recnt effort was abandoned, now little more than a rebadge Ford Ranger. Mercedes’ rebadged Nissan ute fell at the first pothole so failures are more than possible, they’re probable.

Although Kia rarely puts a foot wrong, it has had many a model muted. With that in mind, Kia Tasman goes boldly where no Korean has gone before, beating a path down a paddock littered by the carcases of knackered Navaras, trashed Tritons, and hacked Hiluxes. The muddy track is a well-worn one, and its buyers know that toughness is now only one a veritable cornucopia of amiable attributes to which a new player must aspire.

It isn’t just a bare-chested tradie who might be lured into the bright headlights of the Tasman. The Kia ute will be a boon for those into watersports and camping, or both. Rubber and neoprene can be tossed in without the need for a liner. An SUV can be a little precious when banged about without taking precautions. Tasman can have the town bike can be shoved in the rear, along with all manner of toys and tasty weekend treats. A family car, a fun ute, a school run, and a trip to the shops are what the ute will be called up to complete, every time, without fail.

Think, 7-year warranty.

ABOVE: 2025 KIA Tasman (teaser shots)

Development will always include Australian input past the badge itself

But there is an even more important fact of note: the debut of the brand’s first-ever ute expands Kia’s ICE range past the pedestrian and into the unknown. Kia is either incredibly brave or frightfully foolhardy. Will we see an electric ute? Let’s crawl before we run!

Kia Australia is taking Expressions at Kia Australia website where potential punters can get early notice of the 2025 Kia Tasman launch.

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