Following on from the reveal of local pricing for the Tasman ute, Kia New Zealand has provided more detailed information about its upcoming pickup via a pre-release brochure that details model specification, as well as upcoming versions and a range of "potential" accessories.
As revealed with the pricing announcement, the Kia Tasman will be available in five trim levels; TX, TXR, TXS, X-Line, and X-Pro. The double cab wellside 4x4 variant will be released in August this year, followed by a double cab-chassis later in the year and the single cab-chassis in Q1 2026. The base TX model will get a 2WD drivetrain in single cab-chassis and double cab wellside forms in Q1 2026.
All Tasman models so far announced are equipped with a 154kW/440Nm 4-cylinder 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission across all trims.
Every double cab Tasman comes standard with disc brakes all around, a mechanical locking differential, LED headlights, a Terrain Mode Select system, integrated trailer brake control, a rear bumper corner step, keyless entry and push button start, a 12.3” digital instrument cluster and a 12.3” touchscreen infotainment system.
The entry level $52,690 TX comes on 17inch steel wheels and has manually adjustable cloth seats, while the $58,690 TXR adds 17-inch alloy wheels, integrated satellite navigation and Highway Driving Assist to the TX's equipment.
The $62,690 TXS further adds 18-inch alloy wheels, a bedliner, LED tray lighting, cloth and artificial leather seats, two 240V AC Power outlets (one exterior, one interior), interior mood lighting, and a single wireless phone charger, while the $69,690 X-Line expands on this generous standard spec with an exterior and interior "X-Line Treatment", projection-style LED headlights, a surround view monitor, full artificial leather seats, a powered driver's seat, heated front seats, one rear fender storage compartment, second row sliding and reclining seats and two wireless phone chargers.
The range-topping $79,690 X-Pro model looks set to be the most serious off-roader of the range and gets an exterior and interior "X-Pro Treatment", an electric diff lock, 17-inch wheels and All-terrain tyres, an X-Pro specific menu page with Ground View Monitor, a heated steering wheel, a powered front passenger seat, ventilated front seats, a sunroof, and a Harman/Kardon Premium audio system.
All Tasman models will feature Kia Connect with Over-The-Air (OTA) updates, free for 5 years. This system allows for remote control of vehicle functions and provides ongoing software updates.
Kia is also developing a range of genuine accessories specifically for New Zealand conditions with examples of "potential accessories" shown in the brochure including a steel underbody bash plate, a snorkel Kit, towing mirrors, seat protectors, a roof rack, a sports bar kit, a roof awning, "Cargo Zone" removable tray partitions , an electric roller tonneau, a load slide, side steps, and a towbar kit.
Kia says these accessories are currently under development and are anticipated to be available around late 2025, although their "potential" status suggest that not all of them will make it into production.
While Kia New Zealand hasn't revealed the colour range for the Tasman yet, in Australia the ute comes with eight colour options (Clear White, Steel Gray, Interstellar Gray, Aurora Black Pearl, Tunway Red, Cityscape Green, Tan Beige and Denim Blue), with the white and beige options featuring body-coloured fender flares, side-stepping the Tasman's most controversial feature - those black "Thomas Magnum's moustache" floating fender flares. Whether that is the case here remains to be seen.
