by Kia’s plans to create a new off-road vehicle have encountered obstacles due to slow sales of its Tasman pickup. This has led to the postponement of the development of an SUV version of the vehicle. However, there may be a silver lining: Kia is considering the possibility of releasing a hybrid version of the Tasman, which could improve its competitive position.
SUV Plans Postponed
Kia’s first mid-size pickup, the Tasman, failed to reach its planned sales targets, and this failure is affecting the brand’s future initiatives. The SUV variant, which was reportedly already in early stages of development, is temporarily frozen.
Back in June, Kia executives expressed the idea of creating an SUV based on the Tasman’s body-on-frame platform, suggesting a possible launch within three years. By August, a senior company representative confirmed that such a model was under consideration, but the final decision would depend on global demand. Currently, this demand appears uncertain. The future of the SUV is closely tied to the success of the pickup, and for now, things are not going according to plan.
“Any research into an additional body variant would depend primarily on the success of the pickup itself,” noted Roland Rivero, General Manager of Product Planning at Kia Australia.
Rivero also emphasized that global interest, not just enthusiasm from individual regions, is necessary to justify development. He noted that while Australia would be interested in an SUV version, similar demand would need to be expressed by other markets such as South America, the Middle East, and the domestic South Korean market.
Sales and Prospects
In November, the Tasman ranked ninth in the mid-size pickup segment in Australia, with 607 units sold. On the home market in South Korea, the situation was slightly better: 592 units were sold, making it the country’s most popular pickup of the month.
Kia hopes that future model modifications will help improve these figures. If sales pick up, the SUV project could be returned to development.
Competitive Environment for the Future SUV
If the project is eventually realized, the Tasman-based SUV will enter a highly competitive environment, where body-on-frame models such as the Toyota Land Cruiser and Fortuner, Ford Everest, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, and Isuzu MU-X are already present. Most of these models combine off-road capability with a family-friendly format, typically offering three rows of seats.
Speculative renders created by digital artists, including Theophilus Chin, show a possible design direction. These illustrations depict a model with a shorter wheelbase than the pickup and a redesigned rear section more suitable for passenger transport.
Electrification as a Path to Competitiveness
While the SUV project is frozen, Kia is not slowing down work on electrification. Rivero confirmed that powertrain development is actively ongoing. He previously noted that the Tasman’s body-on-frame architecture could support a range of powertrains, including hybrid and fully electric systems. The latest information suggests that a plug-in hybrid option is being seriously considered, potentially allowing the Tasman to compete with models like the mild-hybrid Toyota Hilux and the plug-in Ford Ranger.
The situation with the Tasman demonstrates how closely different models in a single brand’s lineup are interconnected. Failure on one front can halt development on another. The focus on electrification appears to be a logical step, as the market gradually reorients towards more eco-friendly solutions, even in the commercial and off-road vehicle segments. The success of a hybrid version could become the key factor that not only improves pickup sales but also paves the way for the long-awaited SUV, creating synergy between models. All of this is happening against the backdrop of a general transformation of the auto industry, where traditional body-on-frame constructions are trying to find their place in the era of electromobility.
