Kia’s First Pickup Truck, the Tasman Built for Adventure, Designed for Comfort

Abu Dhabi : Kia unveiled its first-ever pickup truck worldwide last year, the brand’s foray into the commercial pickup segment. To offer a compelling choice to pickup buyers, Kia has designed and developed the Tasman keeping in mind the tough applications and requirements of the customers. It comes with bold design, advanced tech, and class-leading comfort. With Kia’s decades of off-road expertise, it’s a versatile truck that suits both tough work duties and weekend leisure adventures.

Now, buyers in the UAE get to drive this one right here as the all-new Kia Tasman made its debut in early this year. This marks the Korean brand's first step into the one-tonne pickup segment. Although the pickup market is already hyper competitive, the Tasman’s entry couldn’t have been at a better time. Customers in the Emirates always look for a rugged and highly capable pickup that doesn’t compromise on comfort or technology. 

Tasman remarkably combines a bold exterior with the latest technology, comprising Kia’s Digital Key 2.0, advanced off-road features like Desert Mode, and safety systems usually associated with SUVs. The Tasman is available in both diesel and petrol engines, promising to take on highly established rivals such as the Toyota Hilux, Isuzu D-Max, Ford Ranger, and others. With the Tasman, Kia is targeting to attract serious business users as well as leisure drivers on weekends, available in single, double cabin and chassis configurations.

Variants and prices in the UAE:

You get to choose from five different available variants of the Tasma. Starting with the LX at AED 118,490, and going up to the top-end X-Pro variant priced at AED 180,000. Prices for the EX, EX-Top, and X-Line trims are yet to be announced, but bookings are open on Kia’s UAE website. This range offers buyers in the Emirates diverse choices from entry-level to fully equipped pickup models.

Top Highlights 

Exterior

• Strong and rugged 17-inch all-terrain tyres ensure greater performance.
• For better visibility, standard LED rear combination lamps
• Stylish and distinctive front fascia highlights Kia’s modern design language.
• Extra toughness is ensured by solid side cladding options.
• Several exterior colour options including Runway Red, Interstellar Grey, and Aurora Black Pearl.
• Desert Mode exterior styling tweaks for off-road identity.

Interior

• Textured infotainment buttons for an elegant experience.
• Kia Digital Key 2.0 for smartphone access.
• Crash pad storage for everyday essentials.
• Passenger walk-in switch for rear passenger convenience.
• Modern infotainment setup with multi-mode display.
• Choice of durable fabric or premium leather seats.

Safety

• Electronic Locking Differential (e-LD).
• Ground View Monitor for off-road visibility.
• Multiple terrain drive modes (including Desert Mode and X-TREK).
• Comprehensive airbag coverage.
• Advanced driver assistance features support lane departure and collision avoidance.

Powertrain

Specification	2.5L T-GDI Petrol	2.2L Diesel
Engine Type	Turbocharged 4-cylinder	Turbocharged 4-cylinder
Transmission	8-speed automatic / 6-speed manual	8-speed automatic / 6-speed manual
Power	281 hp	210 hp
Torque	422 Nm	440 Nm
Drive	4WD (2H, 4A, 4H, 4L)	4WD (2H, 4A, 4H, 4L)

Conclusion

Kia has entered this globally popular commercial segment for the first time after being in the market for over 5 decades. What the Tasman represents is not just the Korean brands' first pickup; rather, it is a statement with a serious aim to disrupt the market by offering a compelling pickup to buyers. 

This is amply clear once you spend time with this splendid pickup, be it exterior, interior, features or built quality, it shines in almost every aspect. With decades of experience across the world, Kia has put in a lot of effort in the Tasman. It has created a pickup that is capable of our desert drives, and successfully blends off-road strength, SUV-like safety, and passenger car comfort.

So, if you’re in the market to shop for a pickpocket, this is a new option that deserves your attention. It isn’t here to replace the segment leader, Hilux, overnight, but it does offer buyers something new. For anyone considering a lifestyle truck that balances work and leisure, the Tasman is worth a test drive.