Australia gets it. So does South Korea. But so far, the U.S. has to watch from the sidelines as Kia prepares to launch its first-ever pickup truck, the Tasman. Slated for a late 2025 launch overseas, the Tasman is shaping up to be a serious contender in the mid-size segment — a space that’s been heating up fast thanks to revamped models like the Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger, and Chevy Colorado. But while off-roaders in Sydney and Seoul will get first crack at this trail-ready ute, what about those of us in the U.S.? Is there hope? The answer is yes — but not in the way many expected.

Let’s dig in.

Born for the Bush

Kia’s long-awaited Tasman pickup truck is no longer a camouflaged prototype — it’s real, rugged, and officially rolling into overseas markets later this year. The Tasman makes its debut as a proper midsize truck: body-on-frame, diesel-powered, and clearly aimed at heavy hitters like the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux.

The Tasman wasn’t built in a vacuum — it was built for Australia. That means long-haul durability, diesel grunt, and off-road chops right out of the box. In other words, exactly the kind of platform American trail riders, overlanders, and utility-first drivers love to build on. Kia isn’t phoning this one in. The Tasman was styled with the goal of looking like a true workhorse. Think: bold fender flares, vertical grille bars, and a cab shape that leans more American than Asian-market utility. Power comes from a 2.2-liter turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine paired to a 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmission. That’s not going to win any Baja races, but the emphasis here is on torque and reliability — key for anyone towing gear or crawling over remote terrain.

It’s not just about brawn, either. Kia’s recent push into more premium interiors, such as the Telluride EV9, suggests the Tasman won’t be a bare-bones hauler. Expect digital displays, drive-mode selectors, and a more refined cabin than what you’ll find in a fleet-spec Ranger.

Why the U.S. Needs the Tasman

Let’s be honest — the American mid-size truck scene has been a two-horse race for a while, dominated by Toyota and Ford. But cracks are showing: Some buyers want a simpler diesel option without jumping to a heavy-duty platform. Others want a blank canvas for overlanding that doesn’t come with a premium badge or a $60,000 sticker. The Tasman could slot in as a no-nonsense adventure rig that undercuts the segment on price without skimping on capability. It has the potential to compete with niche favorites like the Nissan Frontier Pro-4X or even shake up the base-trim Tacoma crowd.

Kia has already said it plans to bring a truck to the U.S. — the question is when, and which one. The Tasman could be that truck, though it might need a gas or hybrid powertrain swap to meet American emissions and buyer expectations.

At this week’s Seoul Mobility Show, Kia CEO Ho Sung Song confirmed what off-road and truck enthusiasts have been speculating for months: the company is in the early stages of planning a midsize pickup for the U.S. market. But here’s the twist — it won’t be the Tasman.

“We are now seriously studying how to get into the pickup truck market in the United States through a different model that is not the Tasman,” Song told media.

That’s a key distinction. The truck Kia is planning for America may share bones with the Tasman — the same body-on-frame architecture and global durability focus — but the final product might take on a different name, powertrain, or even structure altogether. Some interpret Song’s comments to mean a new, unibody-style truck à la Hyundai Santa Cruz. Others see hints of electrification, pointing to Hyundai’s forthcoming IMA (Integrated Modular Architecture) platform, which has been engineered from the ground up to support electric trucks.

The bottom line? Kia wants a piece of the American truck pie — and it’s not afraid to tailor its offering specifically for this market.

The Tasman: Kia’s Global Off-Roader

The Tasman might not make it here as-is, but it’s still worth looking closely at what Kia just rolled out to the rest of the world. Because if this is the foundation for a future U.S. truck, it’s a damn promising start.

Key specs for the 2025 Kia Tasman:

• Engines: 2.5-liter turbocharged gas (277 hp / 311 lb-ft) or 2.2-liter turbo-diesel (210 hp / 325 lb-ft)

• Transmission: 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic

• Towing capacity: Up to 7,716 pounds

• Ground clearance: Up to 11.1 inches

• Top-spec trim (X-Pro): Electronic rear locker, terrain drive modes, underbody protection, beadlock-style wheels

From the start, Kia has positioned the Tasman as a dual-purpose truck — capable of tackling rugged trails on the weekend and pulling a trailer mid-week. The X-Pro trim, in particular, is geared toward off-roaders, with a lifted stance, aggressive tires, and trail-specific tech.

Head-to-Head: Tasman X-Pro vs. Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro

So how does the Tasman stack up against the reigning champ of midsize trail trucks, the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro? On paper, it’s closer than you might think.

The Tacoma still wins the power and tech war — especially with its hybrid drivetrain and advanced suspension. But the Tasman isn’t far behind, especially in terms of utility and raw trail capability. It offers more towing capacity, nearly equal clearance, and a diesel option — something the U.S. market lost when GM retired the 2.8L Duramax.

Will the U.S. Truck Be Better?

With a formal U.S. pickup under development, the question becomes: Will it be based on the Tasman or go in a new direction entirely?

If Kia opts to retain the body-on-frame layout, we could see a rebranded Tasman variant — potentially with a gas or hybrid powertrain to meet emissions standards and appeal to American buyers. If it leans toward unibody, expect something closer to the Santa Cruz or Ridgeline, possibly electrified on the IMA platform.

Whatever form it takes, the U.S. version would almost certainly need to be built stateside to sidestep the 25% Chicken Tax on imported pickups — a key reason most non-domestic truck attempts have failed in the past. (Not to mention whatever tariffs remain in place from Trump’s hardline stance on bolstering American manufacturing).  Kia is expected to reveal more details during its annual Investor Day presentation on Wednesday, April 9. Keep your eyes on that date — it could mark the start of a major shakeup in the midsize truck market.

A Truck Worth Hoping For

Aside from the tariffs, the biggest barrier to North American entry is regulation. The Tasman’s diesel engine, designed for global markets, may not pass U.S. emissions without modification. There’s also the matter of branding — can Kia sell a rugged pickup in a market that still associates it with economy sedans? That said, the success of the Telluride proves Kia can change perceptions. If the company leans into the outdoor and utility lifestyle messaging that sells trucks in the U.S., the Tasman could be a dark-horse hit.

Whether it arrives as a modified Tasman, an all-electric rig, or a unibody adventurer, Kia’s move into the U.S. truck market is real — and getting closer. The Tasman, in its current global form, gives us a clear view of what Kia is capable of: a tough, capable, no-nonsense trail truck with strong towing chops and smart design. If the American version builds on that foundation — with the right badge, drivetrain, and build location — it could give the Tacoma, Ranger, and Colorado something to worry about. And for off-roaders looking for a new platform to build out and beat on, that’s worth getting excited about.

You can learn more about the Tasman by visiting Kia’s global site: https://worldwide.kia.com/int/tasman