Imagine the undertaking of designing and building a first-ever double cab bakkie in the here and now, with no prior expertise to draw from, and then launching it into the South African market where bakkie brand loyalty runs deep. And yet, here’s the Kia Tasman, a double cab that looks like nothing else we’ve seen before…
Does it really look so different?
Yes, it does. Typically, I don’t like to dwell on styling since it’s a subjective matter, and, in the metal, the Tasman certainly elicits polarising opinions. For one, there are those vertically-stacked headlights pushed to the outer extremities of the front, with a substantial grille front and centre that further foregoes the softer, more conventional headlight and grille placement you’ll find on other bakkie offerings.
I wasn’t initially sold, but it definitely grew on me. It’s different to anything my brain would normally register as aesthetically pleasing, with boxy proportions that follow the stylistically retro resurgence we’ve been seeing of late. I’d argue that it’ll age considerably better than peers subscribing to the safer, more traditional approach. And yes, the military has had some hand in it, so form is bound to follow function here… more later, though.
Where have all the buttons gone?
For the most part, they’re still there… just integrated differently. Most functions are accessible through the wrap-around screen on the dash, with dual 12.3-inch displays for the infotainment and instrument cluster, with a small, separate display showcasing the current climate control status.
The seats are comfortable, exceedingly so, with concept-car-like headrests and hexagonal detailing throughout the fascia. All surfaces have a genuine soft-touch quality, while build quality scores top marks.
What I appreciate, though, is that Kia hasn’t gone to town with full touchscreen-integrated architecture. Volume control is a physical, knurled rotary wheel and climate has dedicated toggles for temps, modes, and fan speed. The steering wheel also features actual pressable buttons for frequently called-upon functions.
And the drive? Any good?
The Tasman is powered by Kia’s 2.2-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel Smartstream unit, which is also shared with the Sorento and Carnival in a slightly different tune. It produces 154kW and 440Nm of torque (that’s 6kW more than its siblings with the same engine) and is paired with an 8-speed automatic gearbox that’s standard across the range. These numbers place it on level footing with established rivals like the Ford Ranger 2.0-litre bi-turbo (a powertrain said to be phased out in favour of the 2.3-litre EcoBoost), producing an identical 154kW, while the Ranger has a slight edge in torque at 500Nm.
On pull-away, the engine feels eager throughout the rev range with smooth power delivery. It’s no speed machine (no surprise) with the 0-100km/h sprint taking a claimed 10.4 seconds, yet overtaking is dispatched with enough urgency considering its 2.3-tonne heft. The steering is light but responsive enough for confident manoeuvring in tight parking spaces, with a relatively quick ratio that belies the Tasman’s substantial size.
On smooth tar surfaces, it’s composed and comfortable, but on undulated surfaces, there’s a wallowy ride quality that rears its head. The rear end, predictably, has some of that characteristic chop of an unladen leaf-sprung bakkie and speaking of, the LX 4×2 can haul a 1,123-kilogram load while the 4×4 models are both rated at 1,008kg. Still, cabin insulation is excellent, and conversation at speed is effortless despite the grabby all-terrains that are known for producing considerable road noise.
Fuel consumption isn’t its greatest strength, with the trip computer consistently hovering in the mid-nines, even during normal driving, which is considerably heavier than Kia’s claimed 7.8l/100km.
Can the Tasman do off-road?
This is where some context is important. Kia has played a significant role in the production of vehicles for the South Korean military since 1973. Remind you of any other brands? Land Cruiser, perhaps? The business reasoning behind why it took Kia so long to build its first commercially available off-road bakkie is too layered to unravel here, but the point stands that at least some of that expertise has trickled into the mechanical makeup of the Tasman.
A clear standout during a 100-kilometre-plus trek across battered gravel is the suspension, which is remarkably well composed when the going gets tough… at speed. It absorbs the worst of the bumps without so much as flinching. On-paper specs are equally impressive, with ground clearance measuring 252mm for the X-Pro (SX 4×4 is slightly lower to the ground at 224mm), 800mm worth of water wading depth and a 32.2-degree approach angle. Breakover and departure angles are rated at 25.8 and 26.2 degrees, respectively.
Mechanically, the Tasman relies on part-time 4×4 with the standard 4-high and 4-low settings, in addition to the default 2-High. The range-topping X-Pro 4×4 variant, however, features 4A mode, which automatically distributes drive based on surface conditions. Its capabilities further extend to X-Trek mode, available on the X-Pro we drove on launch, which automatically manages acceleration and braking during off-road crawling when 4-Low is activated. It also ships with dedicated off-road drive modes (Sand, Mud, Snow, and Rock) that regulate power and traction based on the selected surface.
Should you buy a Kia Tasman?
Kia’s Tasman range starts at R679,995 for the rear-wheel-drive LX derivative and steps up to R879,995 for the SX 4×4 model. The range-topping X-Pro 4×4 derivative is priced at just under a bar, costing R999,995. Colour-coded styling options are available for an additional R5,000. On pricing, the X-Pro competes against the Ford Ranger 3.0TD V6 4WD (R995,000) and isn’t far off the Toyota Hilux 4×4 Legend 55, which costs R945,300. The Hilux GR-Sport, meanwhile, exceeds the one-bar mark at R1,009,000.
In direct comparison, the Tasman’s interior loadout and refinement surpass those of the Ranger and Hilux at this price point, while its aftersales offering also provides long-term peace of mind. The Tasman comes with a competitive 5-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, matching the 6-year/90,000km service plan offered with the Hilux. What it doesn’t yet have, though, is years of proven resale value, so that’s definitely something to consider.
As a first attempt at a double cab, the Tasman is remarkably complete as a product. Its off-road ability and composure are genuinely impressive, and the interior sets a new benchmark for bakkies. Kia’s 2.2-litre powertrain, while not class-leading on efficiency, delivers in all areas that matter. Whether all its strong qualities (and its unique styling) will be enough to pry local buyers away from established bakkies is a question that only time can answer. I, for one, think it stacks up incredibly well.
Kia Tasman Pricing
Kia Tasman 2.2D AT 4×2 LX R679,995
Kia Tasman 2.2D AT 4WD SX R879,995
Kia Tasman 2.2D AT 4WD X-PRO R999,995
