Kia’s inaugural entry into the pickup truck arena has certainly sparked interest. The initial feedback regarding the design of the new Tasman has been quite critical, describing it as unconventional, to say the least. Although it falls under the mid-size truck category, Kia has stated that it won’t be released in North America.

Kia Tasman Will Not Be Available in the U.S.

2025 Kia Tasman X-Pro Rear

Kia

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A company representative confirmed to Car And Driver that while introducing a truck to the U.S. market makes logical sense, the Tasman is not included in those plans. Up until now, Kia had remained silent on this topic since the Tasman’s launch in October, even when a prototype was seen undergoing testing in California.

Instead, the Tasman will debut in its home country, South Korea, before being exported to the Middle East, Africa, and Australia. Despite its controversial design, the Tasman utilizes a traditional body-on-frame platform and offers a range of gas and diesel engines, both with automatic and manual transmission options. An all-electric version is currently in the works.

Additionally, Kia plans to release an off-road variant of the Tasman, featuring a raised suspension that provides up to 9.5 inches of ground clearance, along with all-terrain tires and an electronic locking rear differential.

Competes Well with Theoretical Rivals

2025 Kia Tasman Interior

Kia

Kia asserts that the Tasman has a towing capacity of up to 7,716 pounds. This figure significantly surpasses the towing capacities of existing midsize pickups on the North American market, such as the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier. The Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon can nearly match the Tasman’s capability, reaching 7,700 pounds with the 2.8-liter Duramax turbodiesel when properly equipped.

Inside, the cabin is pleasantly less eccentric. As expected from a truck, the interior features plenty of hard physical buttons, accompanied by a widescreen display mounted on the dashboard—typical of Kia’s offerings.

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So, why is Kia withholding the Tasman from the U.S. market if it’s competitive? The culprit is the longstanding “chicken tax,” which imposes a 25-percent tariff on light trucks manufactured outside the U.S. since 1964.

On a more optimistic note, given the expansive U.S. truck market, Kia might aim to develop a dedicated pickup that won’t be sold abroad. However, should this be the plan, it would face stiff competition from established models like the Ram 1500, Ford F-150, and Chevrolet Silverado 1500.

Concluding Thoughts

2025 Kia Tasman X-Pro

Kia

Despite its unconventional design, the Kia Tasman appears to be a promising initial venture into a popular segment for the automaker.

Perhaps the new administration can abolish the chicken tax once and for all, facilitating the introduction of more pickups in the U.S. A thriving market is beneficial for a country rooted in capitalism.

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Source:www.autoblog.com