Hot on the heels of its local debut at the recent Melbourne Motor Show, Kia New Zealand has announced pricing for its first-ever ute, the Tasman. The upcoming ute will start at $52,690 for the TX 4WD and is scheduled to go on sale in Kia dealerships around the country in the second half of the year.
Kia New Zealand has also confirmed the bodystyle and engine available, launching with the double cab wellside variant - a style which is incredibly popular amongst Kiwi ute buyers - powered by a 154kW/440Nm 2.2-litre diesel engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The Tasman will initially be available in five trim levels, with the aforementioned TX 4WD kicking off the range at $52,690. The TX will be followed by the TXR 4WD at $58,690 and the TXS 4WD at $62,690. At the top end of the range, the X-Line 4WD will land at $69,690, while the X-Pro 4WD tops the Tasman launch range at$79,690
The double cab diesel variant won't be the only variant for long, however, with Kia New Zealand's managing director of Kia New Zealand, Todd McDonald, saying "This will be the first of a number of new variants we will introduce over coming months, meaning there will be a Tasman model to suit almost all requirements."
"Reaction to the Kia Tasman has been nothing short of phenomenal," said McDonald of his company's first entry into the ute market.
"It’s a statement making machine which combines rugged aesthetics with an impressive powertrain and functionality that can be counted on to get the job done.
"Overseas testing of the new Ute has proven it to be an incredibly capable offroad performer."
The Tasman offers an 800mm wading depth across all models in the lineup, while a locking differential is also standard on all variants in the Tasman. The top of the line X-Pro model also delivers ground clearance of up to 252mm.
McDonald said that the Tasman has also undergone extensive durability testing, both from a performance and longevity perspective, and has been subject to tens of thousands of kilometres across a variety of terrain and environments.
The Tasman will also offer five years of Kia Connect, Kia's online service that includes over-the-air (OTA) updates. Kia has also released additional new model information and specification details relating to the Tasman in a "pre-release brochure" that you can read about here.
