2026 Kia Tasman X-Pro review: Long-term introduction

Aside from the best-selling Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux, the Kia Tasman is arguably one of the most talked-about utes on the market.

But that's not because of its features, powertrain, or capability – on-road or off. It's because it's been widely criticised for its looks, and that’s putting it nicely.

While I admit I was also a little taken aback when the covers came off at the reveal event in Hobart in late 2024, I’ve thawed a bit since then, and I don’t think it’s quite as bad as everyone says.

View the Tasman through the lens of a dual-cab Jeep Gladiator competitor, and it begins to make more sense.

Regardless, sitting inside the Kia Tasman for the first time was a surprise too, but for all the right reasons. I remember thinking this was a whole new thing in the segment, borrowing some cues from larger US pickups and Kia’s own SUV range to deliver a more comfortable and family-friendly environment.

Since then, Kia has released an entry-level single-cab/chassis body, with buyers also able to choose from five different grades across the range: the Tasman S, SX, SX+, X-Line, and X-Pro.

Given Australia’s obsession with utes, and the fact the Tasman was, as the name suggests, conceived with significant input from Kia Australia – which also played an unusually large role in its development and local chassis tuning – the company has thrown us the keys to a range-topping X-Pro for a few months, to get a feel for what it’s like to live with.

How much does the Kia Tasman cost?

The base Kia Tasman single-cab/chassis ute with two-wheel drive kicks off the range from $38,010 before on-road costs, and it tops out with the X-Pro pickup with four-wheel drive, at $74,990 plus on-roads.

Given how crowded the ute market is these days, there's no shortage of choice for buyers looking for a capable workhorse that can perform family duties and handle some rough stuff out in the bush.

The Tasman's pricing suggests it's bridging the gap between legacy value utes like the Mitsubishi Triton, Nissan Navara, and KGM Musso, and segment-leaders like the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux, and Isuzu D-Max.

However, given the equipment packed into the Tasman, it's also fighting against Chinese newcomers, such as the GWM Cannon Alpha, MG U9, LDV Terron 9, and Foton Tunland V9.

To see how the Kia Tasman lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What's under the bonnet?

The Kia Tasman is currently only available with a single engine: a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine making 154kW of power and 440Nm of torque, the latter as per the Sorento large SUV and Carnival people mover.

Bolted to the back is an eight-speed automatic transmission, with low-range four-wheel drive for all but the base Tasman grades, which are rear-wheel drive as standard.

Kia received a lot of flak when the engine was announced, with the peanut gallery slamming it for having just 154kW and 440Nm.

Granted, it's no powerhouse, but it matches the 4.5-litre turbo-diesel V8 that was so beloved in the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series, which put out 151kW and 430Nm before it was discontinued and replaced by a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel with 150kW and 450Nm.

If it's good enough for a 70, it's good enough for the Kia.

To see how the Kia Tasman lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What do you get?

The Tasman is quite well-equipped out of the gate – Kia hasn’t skimped on screen technology in the base model, and even fits a rear differential lock in the entry-level 4x4 grade. Spend the coin on the range-topping X-Pro, and you're getting quite a lot of swag.

2026 Kia Tasman S equipment highlights:

• 17-inch black steel wheels
  • Full-size spare wheel
• LED headlights
• Daytime running lights
• Rear bumper steps
• Tailgate with ‘lift assistance’
• Smart key with push-button start
• Cloth interior upholstery
• Dual-zone climate control
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Six-speaker sound system
• Under-seat second-row storage
• Mechanical rear differential lock (4×4)

The Tasman SX adds:

• 17-inch alloy wheels 
• Power-folding side mirrors
• Terrain Mode
  • Snow, Sand, Mud
• First-row safety power window
• Satellite navigation

The Tasman SX+ adds:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• LED fog lights
• Bedliner
• 240V tub outlet
• Cloth and artificial leather upholstery
• Wireless smartphone charger
• Ambient mood lighting
• Second-row air vents
• 240V centre console outlet

The Tasman X-Line adds:

• LED projector headlights
• Roof rails
• Rear wheel-arch flare storage system
  • Not available on Tan Beige and Clear White examples
• Artificial leather upholstery
• Heated front seats
• Eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
• Column shifter and shifter paddles
• Dual wireless smartphone charger
• Second-row armrest
• Privacy glass
• Remote smart-park assist

The Tasman X-Pro adds:

• 17-inch black alloy wheels
  • All-terrain tyres
• Fuel tank underbody protection
• Electronic rear locking differential
• X-Trek mode
• Terrain Mode
  • Snow, Sand, Mud, Rock
• Ground view monitor
• Off-road dash information
  • Steering direction, steering angle, oil level
• Heated steering wheel
• Ventilated first-row seats
• Heated second-row seats
• Harman Kardon sound system
• Sunroof

To see how the Kia Tasman lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

Is the Kia Tasman safe?

The Kia Tasman received a five-star safety rating from ANCAP, however, that score specifically excludes the X-Line and X-Pro – technically making this particular variant unrated.

It seems a little odd that the range-toppers are excluded, given how similar they are to the variants tested, but ANCAP claims the off-road bumpers on the X-Line and X-Pro affect vulnerable road users like pedestrians.

Further, the X-Line and X-Pro add parking collision avoidance assist, blind-spot cameras, and 360-degree parking cameras over lower grades.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• Autonomous emergency braking
  • Pedestrian, cyclist, junction, vehicle detection
• Adaptive cruise control
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Lane-centring assist
• Lane-keep assist
• Rear-view camera
• Trailer sway control
  • Integrated trailer brake controller

Kia’s Highway Driving Assist 2 system and navigation-based adaptive cruise control are standard on the SX grade and above.

To see how the Kia Tasman lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How much does the Kia Tasman cost to run?

The Tasman is covered by Kia's seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty for private buyers, which changes to seven years and 150,000km for businesses.

There's also up to eight years of roadside assistance, conditional on the vehicle being serviced through Kia's dealer network.

Kia offers up to seven years or 105,000km of capped-price servicing. Curiously, the total cost over those seven years changes between the X-Pro and the rest of the 4x4 lineup, despite the vehicles being mechanically identical.

To see how the Kia Tasman lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

CarExpert's Take on the Kia Tasman X-Pro

If you’re opposed to the way the Tasman looks on the outside, the best thing you can do is step inside one.

Away from the hype of the launch event in Tasmania, it’s good to know the cabin is just as impressive as I remember.

The Kia Tasman doesn't feel like a cheap and nasty light commercial vehicle; it’s far more upmarket, with box-quilted leatherette upholstery, knurled buttons and knobs, and a double-wide screen. Some of the Chinese utes that have come to market are also impressive, but this is certainly one of the best in the segment.

It might not feel like a commercial ute, but the build quality still feels very high – as do the cabin materials, like the plastics. Sure, you probably don’t want to keep the window down when you kasploosh through a mud hole, but it still feels very hardy inside – like it was made to last and stand up to some abuse, but without compromising luxury and tech.

Kia has clearly focused on the details in here, paying special attention to the switchgear and touchpoints. And the head restraints, which might be the best I’ve used.

On the road, our initial impression is that the Tasman feels pretty soft, particularly at the front. We’ll explore this a bit more, but it feels as if Kia has prioritised off-road capability over on-road dynamics, meaning its reactions to driver inputs aren't particularly sharp or direct.

The good news is that soft feeling translates to a high level of comfort, helped by decent sidewalls on the tyres.

Ladder-frame utes are often oversprung to account for high payloads, but that isn’t entirely the case here. The unladen rear-end isn’t as compliant as the front-end, but it doesn’t jolt the occupants like the Tasman's competitors can – though some smaller bumps can ripple through the chassis on occasion.

Despite this, the Tasman can still get around a bend with some confidence. We’re not about to enter the big girl into the Targa Tasmania tarmac rally, but this ute doesn’t fall over itself when it encounters a corner.

The powertrain strikes a good balance between power and economy – it doesn’t have the bragging rights of the Ranger’s V6, or the versatility of the plug-in hybrid powertrain in the BYD Shark 6, but we haven't found ourselves wanting for more – not so far, anyway.

Our early impressions are that Kia has done a good job with the Tasman, and there's plenty here to keep us entertained during our time with it. Stay tuned for more.

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MORE: Explore the Kia Tasman showroom