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We know now that a new-look Kia Tasman is coming, and now we're getting an idea of what it could be like, as unofficial renders begin popping up detailing the new-look that could save the Tasman in Australia.
Emphasis on the word unofficial. While Kia has confirmed it has been vocal about visual changes to the Tasman, it also concedes that change likely won't arrive until late 2027 or 2028.
When previously asked by CarsGuide when Kia in Australia would ask its Korean HQ to update the look, a spokesperson replied "you're assuming we haven't already".
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"We've been quite vocal, and we always have been with this car in particular," they said. "We're very vocal with our superiors, and up front. We're definitely being very deliberate in what we think might be hampering its sales performance.
"If we want to be a third of the total production volume, they've got to be receptive. But it's not necessarily going to happen at the speed at which you might feel the market might be thinking.
"Because a major redesign; it's not simple. And when you've already invested in tooling for sheet metal and tooling for plastics, it's a multi-million-dollar process."
Now the internet is giving us a clear look at what a new Tasman could look like, with a more traditional dual-cab look profile that maintains plenty of Kia design language.
The model pictured here would appear to be a modern take on an X-Pro, with tub lining, sport bar and underbody protection complete with recovery hooks.
While a refreshed Tasman is coming, it won't be spawning an SUV-based variant anytime soon, with Kia telling CarsGuide its lineup was now big enough without adding any new models in the short term.
Asked specifically about a Ford Everest-rivalling ute-based SUV, Spencer Cho, Kia’s Senior Vice President and Head of the Global Business Planning Subdivision, told CarsGuide it wasn't on the priority list.
“Well, there might be options, but at this point, we are trying to focus on what we can and what we can do better, and of course, we can give much more choices to the customers,” he said.
“At this time, as you know, we have the ICE line-up, and we also have close to the full EV line-up as well.
"So our model line-up itself is big enough.
“Instead of adding other model lines, we try to focus on product improvement and also improve our competitiveness with what we have in our hands right now."
Instead, Cho says the company's focus will be on improving the Tasman, saying that the market's reaction has delivered "good lessons".
“The reactions and early disappointment we have in the Australian market, that gave us a lot of good lessons, then we will provide the counter measures for the coming years," he said.
“We will have other power train choices, if we can, and also other design changes or improvements, or any other offerings for new features and content and technology.
“Currently we are working on every area in which we can improve the performance of the Tasman, especially in the Australian market.”
