Tow test: 2026 Kia Tasman X-Pro

Kia’s new Tasman ute is finally in showrooms after months of hype. We took it out for a spin in Central NSW, testing its offroad use and towing ability.

Thinking about the new Kia Tasman, I was reminded of some family folklore. My mother entered me in a baby competition, back when showing off your newborn was a thing. After the winner was announced, my aunt, who was also in tow, asked my mum why she was hanging around the empty event. My mum responded that she was sure they had made a mistake and would soon come to tell her that I had won.

I imagine a similar feeling swept the design studio where their new baby, the long-awaited and much hyped Tasman, was born. The reaction to the looks of the new ute hasn't been favourable, and that’s putting it kindly. They must be wondering, like my mum, why the world doesn’t see their baby with loving eyes.

Insider feedback indicates that three concept designs were sent to Kia dealerships worldwide, and they all opted for a more mainstream rendering. However, Kia president, Mr Song, overrode the majority and insisted on the design we see. He wanted a bold, adventurous, rugged and polarising look, and it’s fair to say he got what he asked for.

The local Kia team admits some anxiety about achieving their 20,000 units a year, given the hammering the latest entry to the offroad sector has seen in Australia and abroad.

And while it’s true that the ugly duckling will never evolve into a thing of beauty, marketplace perceptions around the rugged and adventurous vibe might ultimately prevail over time.

The 2026 Kia Tasman

Testing out the new Kia Tasman

To discover what’s under the hood, Kia invited motoring scribes to the Australian launch at a wintry Bathurst, NSW. Kia engineering and marketing management took us through the tech and let us loose with the top-of-the-line Tasman X-Pro on drives through the backroads around Sofala and Orange before pointing us to a pretty challenging offroad course in the state forest west of Meadow Flat.

Tasman’s foundations are familiar with a ladder frame, twin wishbone independent front end, a leaf-sprung live rear axle, an auto gearbox and a turbocharged diesel engine. Power goes to all four wheels, and a two-speed transfer case with rear diff lock gets proper offroad capability. This is amplified with some high-tech traction control and advanced suspension, including frequency-selective shock absorbers that adjust damping according to the frequency of vibrations for a softer ride on smooth surfaces and firmer control in rougher conditions. The system combines with hydraulic rebound stops to help prevent harsh jolts over rough surfaces. The five years of development under local conditions have delivered real-world improvements over some competitors in handling, ride and offroad ability.

The Kia Tasman launch in Bathurst, NSW

Bold exterior design

The standout visual impression suggests a ute that’s larger than average, and the stats support that, even if it’s only differences in centimetres here and there. The Tasman is longer and higher than the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger and has a better ground clearance at 252mm at the diff. For offroaders, the 800mm water wading depth is also impressive, aided by clever ducting of the intake air supply.

Exterior colour options include black, white, blue, tan and a couple of greys across the range and add Cityscape Green and Runway Red to the two premium versions, and you can personalise with colour-toned or black flares, which make a big difference to the look.

The Kia Tasman has an 800mm water wading depth

The engine and performance

A fair bit of criticism has landed on what some consider a lack of engine performance, and against the class-leading Ranger, it might seem a tad lame, especially with the Ford’s 600Nm of torque.

Kia has fitted a modified version of the 2151cc turbocharged four-cylinder diesel used in the Carnival and Sorento models, rather than larger engines found in some of its commercial range. The reason is straightforward. Like its competitors, Kia has prioritised the relatively low emissions of these more advanced and higher-stress compact engines to meet government standards. While some still believe in the ‘bigger is better’ mantra, times are changing. To be fair, the engine’s life expectancy and reliability across Kia’s range have been impressive. Kia has earned a well-deserved reputation for customer satisfaction and warranty.

The Tasman’s 440Nm and 154kW compares favourably with the Isuzu D-MAX, being 10Nm short but with 14kW more, and the Isuzu has long been considered a favourite tow vehicle. The wide torque band operates between 1750 and 2750 rpm, and the eight-speed auto gearbox is a better option than the six-speed in the D-MAX and helps deliver a performance that won’t embarrass you in traffic. We will get to towing in a minute.

The Kia Tasman’s engine

Kia Tasman specs

Interior comfort and tech features

The Tasman is the latest entry in the crowded lineup of utes, most of which have been here for a while without significant style changes. Against its mainstream rivals, the interior of the Tasman looks fresh with a modern dash layout and controls, which for the most part are easily accessible. The highlight is a twin 12.3in digital display, with selectable style varieties for graphics and readouts. A separate central screen shows the climate control display, but it’s somewhat hidden behind the steering wheel. Leather-look seats in the two premium models (X-Line and X-Pro) and cloth options in the cheaper range (S, SX and SX+) are well contoured and comfortable. The rear seats are roomiest in class, with handy storage bins underneath, and offer reclining and sliding capabilities for the premium versions.

Spacious and stylish interior

Safety ratings and driver assistance

Most of the less expensive variants of the new Kia Tasman have a five-star ANCAP rating, but the X-Pro and X-Line are currently unrated, allowing them to boast better approach angles in an offroad environment. This is because the top rating needed a pedestrian-friendly low bar under the front bumper. The rating will please fleet owners and, according to Kia, many buyers will accept the rating badge and fit a bullbar for a more practical solution.

Safety features across the range include electronic stability, hill start assist, downhill brake control, lane keeping assist (which is easily disabled), autonomous emergency braking, speed limit assist and traffic alerts. The top-end X-Pro model has the handy features of blind spot monitor, ground view and all-around camera display. Towing safety is improved with an integrated brake controller and a stability assist program that adapts for trailer weight and rear traffic monitoring.

Kia Tasman fitted with a bullbar

On-road driving impressions

I found it easy to get comfortable, thanks to the well-contoured seats and central alignment behind the steering wheel. The X-Pro features an unusual gear selection, accessed through a thick, twisting control located to the right of the steering column. Moving the gear stick here opens up some space on the centre console for personal items and a handy table that folds forward from the centre storage bin. I’m not a fan of the new gear selection arrangement, and I’m not convinced it enhances the driving experience, but time will tell.

A wide spread of low-down torque and the finely tuned eight-speed gearbox give the Kia Tasman an adequate show of performance in urban driving conditions. Steering is light and direct, vision spreads wide and the turning circle won’t prove a problem in parking lots.

Once on the open road, the handling is direct and predictable without undue body roll on spirited winding roads. The ride feels a touch bouncy and harsh at lower speeds but shows the strength of the locally developed progressive shock absorbers and suspension design at higher speeds over rough conditions. Over our road course through hilly country around Bathurst, I saw fuel consumption around 10L/100km but closer to the claimed 8L/100km at posted speeds on the highway.

The lack of noise in the cabin was remarkably pleasant. Some clever insulation and body shaping mean there is very little engine or wind noise, and even the offroad tyres were silent. Well done Kia.

Kia Tasman offroad capability

I bet there were a few surprised looks and sighs of relief from the Kia engineers when a Tasman made it to the top of Beer O’Clock Hill recently. The notorious hill climb at The Springs 4x4 Park in southern Queensland has embarrassed numerous owners of highly modified rigs over the years, but the Tasman crawled up effortlessly.

The gnarly track the Kia team found for us wasn’t quite Beer O’Clock Hill level challenging, but I’m sure many of the Tasman’s competitors would have struggled. The rock crawling mode in the X-Pro surprised me with its agility on the steep, bumpy climb. My only criticism was the ease with which I disabled the traction control with the toggle switch in the centre console. Pushing it forward for more speed, toggling it back for slower and pushing it down to turn off the system all became too much for my ham-fisted movements. Familiarity with the control should overcome most mistakes, but in the heat of battle on a steep track, I would rather it was foolproof.

Kia found a challenging track for testing the Tasman’s offroad capabilities

Ground view on the infotainment display

Towing a caravan with the Kia Tasman

Our towing experience took us on a mix of highway and rural dirt roads with moderate climbs. Hooked to a twin-axle Jayco weighing somewhere around 2200kg, the Tasman performed without fuss. The three levels of towing mode for various weights adjust shift patterns and maximise torque through the range. The built-in brake control has 20 levels of adjustment, and the trailer sway control should be a welcome safety feature that we didn’t have to test.

The gears shifted seamlessly, and we had no problem keeping up with traffic and it handled rural roads smoothly. While the 440Nm won’t match a Ranger or LandCruiser on steep hills, for real-world driving, the Tasman is a capable and comfortable option. The new ute is rated to tow 3500kg, and it can, with some caution. Sure, with a couple of passengers and a full tank of fuel, you could legally stay within the gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 6200kg, but the tow vehicle would be lighter than the trailer which nobody recommends as a safe option. Happily, Kia has a towing matrix on its website that sets limits for towing based on the payload. Once we add the usual options like bullbar, winch, tow bar, cargo, a fridge, fuel and a couple of other options, the available towing weight translates to a more realistic 2200kg–2500kg, which is in line with the capability of most of the utes in its class. I saw fuel use of around 16L/100km with a van hooked up, which is better than I expected and will please owners with plans for long-distance towing. The 80L tank should give a range of around 450km when towing with a 5L reserve.

To find out what goes into a GVM upgrade, check out our guide here. 

Getting ready to tow test the Kia Tasman

Kia Tasman pricing

The base S model single cab chassis starts at $45,010 but you will need a tray or canopy to set it up for touring. The S series in dual-cab ute format is $49,990. Those looking for the top comforts and the latest tech will opt for the X-Pro, which is listed at $74,990, right in line with premium versions of Ranger, HiLux and D-MAX.

So, should you buy a Kia Tasman?

In chasing 20,000 annual sales, Kia has set itself a formidable task in the crowded ute space. Since the development began five years ago, the Australian market has changed significantly with the entry of Chinese imports and the addition of hybrid-powered models from established players. The Tasman will benefit from Kia’s solid reputation for reliability and a seven-year warranty. Just as the judges at that long-ago baby show were wrong, I’m sure local buyers will come to appreciate the Tasman’s rugged good looks. Let’s introduce the family from the back of the ute, get them aboard and take them for a drive, because the interior will win them over. Slap a bullbar on and it actually looks pretty good.

Testing out the Kia Tasman near Bathurst, NSW

Measuring up

Pros

• Best in class interior
• Well balanced on the road
• Seven-year/unlimited kilometre warranty

Cons

• Polarising looks

2026 KIA TASMAN RATINGS

VALUE FOR MONEY 8/10

Modern technology and loads of high-quality tech

TOWING PERFORMANCE 7/10

Suits vans up to 2500kg and performs well

HITCHING UP 9/10

On board brake controls and adjustable weight settings. Great all-round cameras

CREATURE COMFORTS 8/10

Has modern vehicle comforts and a stylish interior. Rear seats are roomy and recline

ACCESSIBILITY OF SPARE PARTS 8/10

Good Kia network

FUEL ECONOMY 8/10

Good fuel economy for long-distance towing

SOLO PERFORMANCE 8/10 

Fun to drive, sporty for a ute and has predictable steering and powerful brakes

ENGINE POWER 7/10 

Not the most powerful in class, but the mix of gearing and torque keeps it moving well

INNOVATION 8/10

Locally developed suspension and steering give it an edge

X-FACTOR 8/10

Polarising looks will win in the end

2026 KIA TASMAN SPECS

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

DRIVETRAIN

GENERAL

2026 Kia Tasman X-Pro price from $74,990(before on road costs)

MORE INFORMATION

Kia

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