KIA Tasman

Holding the large door handle was a feel-good moment, which instantly conveys quality and the refinement of the cabin. The inside does not seem like a workhorse; rather, it competes with high-end SUVs in terms of materials and design.

The seat arrangement is a perfect balance of command view and car comfort. My passengers and I were not tired after a 14-hour road trip to Muscat, which is a testament to the ergonomic design and supportive cushioning. The faux leather upholstery that featured unique stitching designs were incredibly resistant to the temperature extremes of the desert and did not crack in months of 45°C + weather.

The storage solutions all around the cabin are well-designed. The zippered storage compartments, which I have never seen in any other vehicle, are actually surprisingly useful in keeping small electronics and documents. The rear fold-down seats also expose more storage which was of great value during camping trips. The expandable console table in the front seat’s armrest helped me to keep my laptop or even my lunch box.

I was really impressed with the second-row space. The size of the truck is comfortable enough to carry three adults, and there is enough legroom since my 6-foot frame can fit in the truck even with the driver sitting in the seat that I would prefer. The 30-degree reclining seat was also a success among the passengers when they were on longer trips.

The high-tech driver assistance systems were especially useful when driving on the UAE highway. The intelligent cruise control system was effective in controlling the different speed limits in the busy roads such as the Dubai-Abu Dhabi highway and the lane-keeping assist offered slight corrections in the long desert roads where the driver may lose concentration.

The all-inclusive airbag system and collision avoidance technology gave me peace of mind, but I was lucky to never have to test the effectiveness of these systems. The 360-degree camera view and parking sensors were also very important in manoeuvring through narrow urban areas, where the size of the Tasman is very huge and needs a lot of manoeuvre.

The first thing that I saw when I stepped out of my garage that morning was the imposing figure of the Kia Tasman. This truck is 5,410 mm long and 1,930 mm wide, which makes it have a serious road presence.

The front fascia is admittedly violent, with the tiger-nose grille that Kia has made to be its trademark, and with LED headlights that slice through the notorious morning fog of Dubai with terrifying clarity. The LED fog lamps below are not merely ornamental, as when I was out on my morning desert runs, they gave me unparalleled projection in seeing the camel that occasionally crosses the road.

The feature that impressed me most about the X-Pro trim that I tested was its intentional design. The beige-green color scheme seemed unusual to the UAE taste at first, but after weeks in the desert, I realized the reasoning. This finish conceals the unavoidable desert dust, unlike the old style of white or black trucks that reveal each grain of sand, but still has an urban style.

The black trim of Kia Tasman features all around it, including the wheel arch dressing, and the heavy side steps, are two-fold. They offer visual contrast and reasonable protection when I am out exploring the wadis often. The roof rack system was also a life-saving feature when it came to transporting camping equipment on weekend outings to Hatta with the mountain bikes being easily secured without compromising highway stability.

The utilitarian, boxy pose was initially jarring but form comes after function in this case. The massive all-terrain tires that fit into the squared wheel arches are a necessity when I was exploring Liwa desert. Ground clearance of 231 mm implied that I was not afraid of going through hurdles that would scrap other pickups.

My test truck was powered by a 2.5 liter turbocharged petrol engine that generated 277 horsepower and 421 Nm of torque. Under UAE conditions, this powerplant was perfectly adapted to the local driving needs and provided smooth highway driving with an ability to overtake the car with confidence.

The 8-speed automatic transmission is commendable. This unit is also intelligent to throttle input unlike some truck gearboxes that hunt ratios, it operates smoothly during stop and go Dubai traffic. Calibration of the transmission desert mode was especially useful when driving in the sand, and second-gear logic ensured that annoying gear hunting was avoided.

The 0-100 km/h acceleration of 8.5 seconds may not be impressive in theory, but in practice, the Kia Tasman is fast indeed. The straight line torque delivery ensures a smooth transition to the Emirates Road, and the refinement of the engine at highway speeds amazed the passengers used to the diesel truck noise.

The average fuel economy was 10.2 L/100km in mixed driving, which is not bad considering the size of the vehicle and my heavy right foot at times. The 80-liter fuel tank gives it a great range - which is essential in the UAE desert adventures where fuel stations are few. Off-Road Capability: Desert Mastery

This is where the Tasman actually justified the engineering work of Kia. The four-wheel-drive system with terrain modes (Desert, Mud, Snow, Rock) transform the nature of the truck completely. The Desert mode calibration was especially useful during my long desert testing sessions with ASP stage-two settings offering the optimal performance and protection balance.

The electronic rear locking differential came in handy in the tricky climbs and the low-speed crawling ability of the X-Trek mode enabled me to climb the technical part without having to adjust the throttle continuously. The ground clearance of 231 mm coupled with the amazing approach and departure angles ensured that I was able to overcome obstacles that would have been daunting to other expensive competitors.

The water wading capacity of 800 mm became applicable in the case of flash flooding of deserts which were not predicted before, a lesson that the landscape of the UAE can be very deceiving to even the seasoned drivers. Months of rocky wadi exploration revealed no signs of damage to the underbody protection, which is a testimony to the strength of the construction of the Kia Tasman.

The technology integration is an important step that pickup trucks have taken. The integrated 12.3-inch cluster screen, small AC control screen, and the central 12.3-inch infotainment screen are all a unified digital experience that is more of a luxury car than a work truck.

Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity were perfect during my testing and touch inputs were responsive even when I was wearing work gloves which is a practical factor to consider in UAE construction sites. The wireless charging pad was also able to keep the device temperature within the acceptable limits, even in summer when cabin temperatures were very high.

The 360-degree camera system was very useful in tight parking locations in the malls and construction sites in Dubai. I was especially impressed by the 3D view mode, which gives the perspective that cannot be achieved by traditional mirrors. The ground-view camera proved to be indispensable when going on an off-road adventure as I can see the possible hazards before they turn out to be issues.

The Harman Kardon sound system is a high-quality sound system that provides audio quality that is truly impressive. The eight-speaker setup ensured that the sound was reproduced clearly at all frequencies even when the windows were down during desert drives.

The Tasman has a strong value in the UAE market with a base LX starting at around AED 128,000 and the fully-equipped X-Pro priced at AED 204,400. Compared to similarly equipped Toyota Hilux or Ford Ranger versions, the Tasman is better integrated in terms of technology, more civilized on the road, and has equal off-road performance at reasonable prices.

The extensive warranty coverage and the growing UAE service network of Kia give the potential purchasers an extra assurance. The fact that factory-fitted accessories are available implies that customization does not affect warranty protection which is a major plus to both commercial and recreational users.

The most important accomplishment of the Tasman is possibly its dual personality. It is a sophisticated commuter vehicle that works on Monday through Friday without much difficulty in overcoming the traffic jams of Dubai and offers excellent visibility and stunning comfort. The remote start option was also very useful in summer when one could pre-cool the cabin before getting into the car.

The adventure-ready nature of the Tasman is revealed during weekends. The urban refinement to off-road capability is a smooth process, as the terrain modes and drive settings change the behavior of the vehicle to suit the conditions.

Its Kia connect app feature was also impressive as it gave real-time vehicle position, remote climate control, and even the capability to move the vehicle remotely with the key fob, especially handy in tight parking scenarios where the door clearance is a problem.

The Kia Tasman is a successful daily driver and weekend adventure car. Purists may doubt its Korean roots in a segment historically controlled by Japanese and American producers, but the Kia Tasman is a strong offer in terms of refinement, capability, and value.

The most powerful feature of the truck is its versatility. The Tasman provides good performance in all situations that I was exposed to unlike its rivals who perform well in certain areas at the expense of others. The Tasman fits perfectly whether in the city setting in Dubai, in the desert on the weekend, or on the construction site.

The polarizing exterior styling and the absence of a diesel option are minor criticisms for those who are more concerned with fuel economy rather than performance. But all these fears are overshadowed by the overall ability of the Tasman and his unexpected sophistication.

The Kia Tasman is a successful attempt to break the pickup truck traditions and provide the UAE customers with a truly viable option that does not compromise on the ability to perform its functions and instead focuses on the user experience. 

Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Would I buy one myself? My X-Pro is now parked in my driveway and that tells a lot about how confident I am in the first attempt of Kia in making a pickup truck.