Get ready, New Zealand, for the arrival of the all-new Kia Tasman, a formidable ute engineered to meet the unique demands of the Kiwi lifestyle. While this may be Kia’s first foray into the competitive ute market, its rugged DNA runs deep. Since 1973, Kia has been a dedicated developer and supplier of heavy-duty military vehicles for the South Korean armed forces, and their expertise extends to exports in over 20 countries. This heritage of building tough, reliable, and highly capable vehicles, from the Kia Light Tactical Vehicle (KLTV) to various cargo and utility trucks, provides the foundation for the Tasman’s durability and performance.
The New Zealand ute market is one of the most fiercely contested in the world, with established players like the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux dominating the scene. Now, there’s a new, ambitious player stepping into the ring, backed by a history of building heavy-duty military vehicles for the South Korean army. This is not just another ute; it’s Kia’s first-ever, purpose-built, body-on-frame utility vehicle, and it’s engineered to be a serious contender for Kiwi buyers who demand a vehicle that’s as tough as it is technologically advanced.
The Tasman is poised to make its mark with a powerful 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine, a 3,500kg braked towing capacity, and a body-on-frame chassis built for serious work and play. With features like low-range gearing, an electronic locking differential, and terrain modes for challenging conditions, the Kia Tasman is not just a new ute; it’s a culmination of nearly 50 years of robust vehicle engineering, now tailored for New Zealand’s diverse landscapes.
With a launch in the third quarter of 2025, the Tasman arrives with a range of models designed to cater to a variety of needs, from the work-focused trades person to the adventurous weekend warrior.
What’s In The 2025 KIA Tasman X-Pro Range?
Kia New Zealand is launching the Tasman with a five-variant, double-cab wellside line up, all powered by a robust 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine.
- Tasman TX 4WD Ute: Starting from $52,690, the TX is the entry point to the Tasman range. It comes with a solid foundation of features, including a 2.2L turbo diesel engine, an 8-speed automatic transmission, and a full-time 4WD system with a mechanical differential lock.
- Tasman TXR 4WD Ute: For $58,690, the TXR builds on the TX with the addition of 17-inch alloy wheels, built-in satellite navigation, and Highway Driving Assist.
- Tasman TXS 4WD Ute: The TXS, priced at $62,690, further enhances the package with 18-inch alloy wheels, a bedliner, tray bed LED lighting, and a 240V power outlet. The seats are a mix of cloth and composite leather, and the interior gets mood lighting and a wireless phone charger.
- Tasman X-Line 4WD Ute: The X-Line, at $69,690, is where the Tasman’s off-road aspirations truly start to shine. It features a unique X-Line exterior and interior treatment, projection-type LED headlights, and a Surround View Monitor. It also includes composite leather seats, heated front seats, and a second-row that slides and reclines for greater comfort. The ground clearance is also increased to 224mm.
- Tasman X-Pro 4WD Ute: The range-topping X-Pro is available for $79,690. This is the ultimate off-road machine in the Tasman lineup, featuring an electromechanical rear diff lock and a significantly higher ground clearance of 252mm. It also includes an “X-Pro” exterior and interior package, a rear fender storage cubby, and a second wireless phone charger.
One of the most exciting aspects of the KIA Tasman’s launch is the range of accessories that has been built in partnership with local businesses right here in New Zealand. The Tasman will be launched with 149 different accessorise options, which will put the competition to shame, as they are all built tough and designed to work only for the Tasman.
What’s features does the 2025 KIA Tasman X-Pro have?
Every Tasman model in New Zealand is equipped with a 2.2-litre, inline four-cylinder turbo diesel engine, which produces 154 kW of power and 440 Nm of torque. This is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Tasman boasts a robust 3,500kg braked towing capacity across all 4WD variants and a payload of just over 1,000kg, making it a proper one-tonne ute ready for any job or adventure.
We do a deep dive inot the Off-road features and capabilities, this is where the Kia Tasman sets itself apart, leveraging its military vehicle heritage to deliver genuine off-road performance.
- Robust Chassis and Drivetrain: The Tasman is built on a strong ladder-frame chassis, providing the rigidity and durability needed for demanding off-road conditions. Its full-time 4WD system offers a range of modes (2H, 4H, 4A, and 4L), giving drivers complete control over the drivetrain.
- Differential Locks: The lower-spec models (TX, TXR, and TXS) come equipped with a mechanical locking differential to provide enhanced traction.The top-of-the-line X-Pro goes a step further with an electromechanical locking differential, which offers more precise control and is ideal for serious off-roading.
- Terrain Modes: Kia has developed a sophisticated “Terrain Mode Select” system that optimises performance and safety across various conditions.All variants come with Snow, Sand, and Mud modes, while the X-Pro adds a dedicated Rock mode for technical low-speed crawling.
- X-Trek Mode (Low Speed Off-Road Cruise Control): The X-Pro introduces a clever low-speed off-road cruise control system called “X-Trek”. This feature automatically manages the throttle and braking at speeds up to 6km/h, allowing the driver to focus solely on steering when navigating challenging terrain.
- Ground Clearance and Wading Depth: The Tasman’s ground clearance is an impressive 206mm on the TX, TXR and TXS models, increasing to 224mm on the X-Line, and a substantial 252mm on the X-Pro. This, combined with an 800mm wading depth, means the Tasman is ready to tackle deep ruts and water crossings.
- Advanced Off-Road Technology: A dedicated off-road page on the infotainment screen provides real-time data on tyre pressure, pitch, and roll. The X-Line and X-Pro models also feature a “Ground View Monitor,” which uses cameras to give the driver a virtual view of the ground directly under the vehicle, a game-changer for navigating obstacles.
- Practical Touches: The Tasman’s practicality extends to its design, with features like rear bumper corner steps for easier tray access, and on the X-Pro, a lockable storage cubby behind the rear wheel arch, perfect for stowing muddy gear or a recovery strap.
With its blend of rugged engineering, advanced technology, and a well-defined model lineup, the Kia Tasman is set to be a significant disruptor in the New Zealand ute market. It’s a vehicle built on a legacy of toughness, but refined for modern-day comfort and connectivity, making it a compelling option for any Kiwi who needs a ute that can truly do it all.
What’s The Interior Like In The 2025 KIA Tasman X-Pro?
The interior of the 2025 Kia Tasman is a significant departure from the utilitarian focus of traditional utes, instead embracing the brand’s commitment to modern design and advanced technology. The cabin is immediately impressive, with a panoramic curved display that houses both a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This wide screen provides a high-resolution, integrated view of vital driving information and advanced infotainment features. While the digital displays are a key highlight, Kia has intelligently retained physical buttons for essential functions like climate control, ensuring a user-friendly and intuitive experience for Kiwi drivers.
Comfort and practicality are at the core of the Tasman’s interior design, making it as suitable for a long road trip as it is for a hard day’s work. The rear seats are particularly noteworthy, with Kia claiming best-in-segment headroom and shoulder room. On the higher-spec X-Line and X-Pro models, the second-row seats can both slide and recline, providing superior comfort for passengers. The interior also features a variety of clever storage solutions, including hidden bins under the rear seats that offer a generous 33 litres of storage capacity. Additionally, a large folding console table and a 240V power outlet in the cabin provide a mobile workspace, blurring the line between a work vehicle and a mobile office.
Across the different trim levels, the Tasman’s interior is available with a range of premium features and sustainable materials. The lower-spec models feature durable cloth or a combination of cloth and composite leather, while the top-of-the-line variants offer a truly premium experience with composite leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. Higher grades also benefit from a premium Harman Kardon audio system, a wireless phone charger, and ambient interior mood lighting. The X-Line and X-Pro models also introduce a dedicated off-road menu on the infotainment screen, complete with a “Ground View Monitor” that uses cameras to show the terrain directly under the vehicle, a crucial feature for navigating challenging off-road tracks.
What’s The 2025 KIA Tasman X-Pro Like To Drive?
To launch the KIA Tasman in New Zealand, a ute market that is dominated by a few select brands, KIA had to think outside the box. In a massive collaboration with KIA New Zealand and Dirt Farm in Wellington, they built a purpose build extreme off-road track just for the Tasman. We were the second group to experience the Tasman at this brand-new facility. The day was focused around two main tracks, one self drive and the other was a more extreme track where we were passengers.
The self drive track took us through a mid-range off-road track, covering multiple obstacles, like rock crossings, logs, uneven terrain and steep embankments. This allowed us to use the 4-lo settings, X-Trek features and the onboard surround cameras for views of the terrain around the vehicle we couldn’t see from the cabin.
Even though the Tasman felt a bit longer than other utes, it handled really well. Everything that track threw at it, the Tasman took in its stride. The X-Trek features are particularly impressive, as it combines the terrain modes and an off-road cruise control that allows the vehicle to crawl forward at a predefined speed. Leaving you to focus on the road ahead, and the surrounding terrain in the off-road camera view.
The passenger track was another step up, and was driven by professional off-road drivers. This track took the vehicle through a range of extreme grades, wading pools and massive uneven section of the track that flexed the full range of the Tasman’s chassis and suspension.
What was most impressive about the Tasman, was that all they had modified from the vehicle that will be on sale at the dealerships, was mud tyres and some bash plates for protection. This means that right out of the box, the new Tasman is a very capable off-road machine, and should impress tradies, farmers and off-roading enthusiasts.
What do we think of the new 2025 KIA Tasman X-Pro?
In short, I really like it. At first, you’re left feeling a bit unsure about its visual look, but once you look around it, and get in it, those feelings soon fade away. It’s got a great spec level, that far exceeds other utes, and the fit and finish is top-notch. It’s a tough looking truck, and once you look at the options, you can create a vast array of looks from the huge range of accessories available.
For now, I think the Ford need to look out, as this could be the one to topple the Ranger from its top spot. KIA have come into the market with a go big or go home attitude, and their first swing could be a knock-out.
We look forward to getting more time behind the wheel when we do our full in-depth feature review once the press car becomes available.
