2025 Kia Tasman Launches 'Globally' as Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger's Ruggedly Wacky Enemy

As such, Kia's first-ever pickup blends a decidedly quirky styling with great off-road chops, and depending on the market and region, it will have both gasoline and diesel engines under the hood. Plus, there are all the traditional body styles – chassis cab, plus single and double cab variants.

The global launch has been confirmed for 2025 as Kia shares the full details about its frequently teased and ultra-spied Tasman mid-size pickup truck. The motif for this launch is titled 'Dive into a New Dimension,' and the South Korean automaker seeks to blend "purposeful design and cutting-edge technology" and then combine them with “class-leading convenience features and an ultra-spacious, comfortable cabin,” all to allow the drivers “to explore new horizons.”

In order to do that, Kia was inspired for the design and off-road capabilities by the Mohave SUV, but – unfortunately or luckily, depending on your POV – in the United States, it will be a forbidden fruit because it won't be coming to North America. Instead, the global launch Kia refers to has to do with regions like South Korea, Australia, the Middle East, and Africa.

The exterior design is decidedly wacky from just about every angle, and there are nine colors available to try and make it more palatable - Clear White, Snow Pearl White, Steel Gray, Interstellar Gray, Cityscape Green, Runway Red, Aurora Black Pearl, plus the all-new Tan Beige and Denim Blue. Inside, the craziness makes way to the latest technologies – there's a triple screen layout (12.3 plus 5 plus another 12.3-inch), some traditional switchgear that still looks futuristic, including the locking differential and the switch for low-range because this is a traditional body-on-frame truck not a unibody like the Ford Maverick.

The truck's dimensions are listed inside the cabin (!) – 212 by 75 and 75 inches in length, width, and height, while the wheelbase is 128.7 inches. Depending on the market, under the hood, there's a 2.5-liter gasoline engine producing 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft (at home in Korea, for example) or a 2.2-liter turbodiesel good for 207 hp and 325 lb-ft. (Australia) while customers in Africa and the Middle East can choose either of them. They're also available with six-speed manual and eight-speed auto transmissions plus two- and four-wheel-drive setups.

Last, but not least, there's a 21.1-gallon fuel tank irrespective of the powertrain, and the maximum towing capacity is 7,716 pounds while the payload capacity varies between 2,242 and 2,635 pounds with a maximum cargo bed volume of 41.4 cubic feet. There are also X-Line and X-Pro trims, four-bed accessories (Single Decker, Double Decker, Sports Bar, and Ladder Rack), and a total of 13 accessories from launch – which is pegged during the first half of 2025 at home, followed by the rest of the markets later.