2025 Kia Ute: Top Features, Pricing and What to Expect in Australia
The Australian ute market is one of the most competitive in the world. For decades the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger have dominated the sales charts, leaving little room for new entrants. These cars have set the standard for utes in Australia, known for their practicality, ruggedness, and off-road capabilities. But the winds of change are blowing and a new challenger has arrived to shake up the ute game. Meet the 2025 Kia Tasman ute, a vehicle that will redefine the rules and become a new favourite for tradies, families and adventurers across the country. Positioned among other utes in the market, the Kia Tasman stands out with its premium interior features, advanced technology, and superior comfort compared to other utes.
The new Kia ute has been the subject of speculation for years and the Kia Tasman is the long awaited answer. As specialists in ute accessories we’ve been watching its development closely. This isn’t just another car, it’s a purpose built machine designed for Australian conditions. Compared to other utes, the Kia Tasman offers a unique blend of practicality, style, and impressive off-road capabilities, making it a strong competitor in the segment. The Kia Tasman ute is more than just a vehicle; it’s a blank canvas, ready for personalisation and enhancement. This guide will cover everything we know about the Kia ute Australia is so excited for, from pricing and features to raw capability, so you can understand the incredible platform you’ll soon be able to accessorise.
The Kia Tasman ute is launching with a full range of models to suit every need, from a basic workhorse single cab chassis to the top of the line, feature packed X-Pro. Whether you’re after a Tasman S, SX, SX+, X-Line or the flagship Kia Tasman X-Pro there’s a model in the range. Kia has clearly done their homework and focused on delivering a comfortable and convenient driving experience. The interior has features like heated rear seats, dual wireless phone chargers and a thoughtfully designed centre console with plenty of storage space, making it a genuine contender as a primary family car.
Meet the Kia Tasman: Introduction to the 2025 Ute
The arrival of the Kia Tasman ute marks a bold new chapter in the Australian ute landscape. Designed from the ground up as a proper one-tonne ute, the Tasman is engineered to take on heavyweights like the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger. Under the bonnet, you’ll find a punchy 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine paired with an advanced eight-speed automatic transmission, delivering the kind of power and efficiency that’s essential for both work and play. Kia has clearly set its sights on dominating the ute game, offering a vehicle that’s as tough as it is refined. With its robust build, smart technology, and impressive towing credentials, the Kia Tasman ute is ready to carve out its place as a top contender for tradies, families, and anyone who demands more from their ute.
Pricing and Cost: How much will a Kia Tasman cost?
Kia is known for its aggressive and value packed pricing and the Tasman ute is no exception. They’re looking to carve out a big slice of the market and that starts with a competitive price.Early indications are the Kia Tasman ute will start from around $42,990 plus on-road costs for the base dual cab chassis model. That’s competitive against the base models of the established players. As you move up the range the price will increase with the top of the line, off-road focused Kia Tasman X-Pro expected to land at around $80,000 drive away.
These prices are key for buyers. By offering a capable ute at a competitive price Kia is giving customers room in their budget to accessorise. Those on-road costs, which include stamp duty, registration and compulsory third party insurance, are an unavoidable part of any new car purchase. But factoring in the value of a potential trade-in can make the numbers even more attractive. This pricing means you can drive away in a brand new Kia ute and still have the funds to fit it out with the essentials – be it a canopy for the tools, a bull bar for country driving or upgraded suspension for serious off-road work.
Design and Features: Tough and Tidy Dual Cab Pick Up
First impressions count and the Kia Tasman makes a big one. Its design is tough, modern and unapologetic. The muscular stance, prominent wheel arches and aggressive front grille give it a presence on the road. The Tasman’s design language draws inspiration from Kia’s electric vehicles, such as the EV9 and EV5, blending ruggedness with modern styling cues. But it’s not all show and no go; it’s functional too.
One of the most impressive stats is its class leading ground clearance of 252mm, giving it a natural advantage when navigating rough tracks or worksites. That’s matched by a wading depth of 800mm and a remarkable steering angle of up to 45 degrees, which will make tight manoeuvres a breeze. The design extends to the tub with features like corner steps for easy access to the big tray space. Inside the Tasman dual cab ute, Kia has applied its expertise in creating comfortable and tech-laden interiors. The driver is met with a modern steering wheel with controls, so everything from adaptive cruise control to audio is at your fingertips. The steering column is ergonomically positioned for easy access and integrates advanced features such as a shift-by-wire system, enhancing driving convenience and dashboard integration. The front seats are designed for long haul comfort, while passengers in the back of the dual cab ute have plenty of shoulder room and the rare luxury of heated rear seats.
The tech package is comprehensive. An eight-speed auto promises smooth and efficient power delivery from the turbo diesel engine. The cabin has dual zone climate control, a wireless charging pad for your devices and a big infotainment screen featuring satellite navigation with real-time route guidance, Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay courtesy of Apple Inc. With features like Kia Connect, a smart key and customisable ambient lighting the Kia Tasman feels like a premium vehicle, blending workhorse utility with comfort.
For those interested in customization, the Tasman offers a range of accessories, including a sports bar designed for outdoor activities and lifestyle needs. Among the exterior color options, tan beige is available; however, rear fender flare storage is not offered with this color, which may influence your customization choices.
Capability: Built for Australian Adventures
A ute in Australia must be more than just a pretty face; it has to perform when the bitumen ends. The Kia Tasman ute has been engineered from the ground up to deliver exceptional off-road capability. This isn’t a soft-roader with a tray; it’s a genuine four-wheel drive machine built for tough terrain.
At its core is a robust ladder-frame chassis, the strength needed for tough work. The four-wheel drive system is paired with a proper low-range transfer case and a locking rear differential, the combination essential for serious off-road work. This hardware means the Tasman ute can put its power to the ground effectively, even in low-traction situations. To further enhance its off-road performance Kia has added a multi-terrain drive mode system. This allows the driver to adjust the vehicle’s throttle response, traction control and transmission settings to suit conditions like mud, sand and rock. The Tasman also boasts competitive departure angles, which, along with its ground clearance, wading depth, and steering angle, contribute to its ability to tackle challenging terrain and improve overall off-road capability. Top spec models like the X-Pro will have an exclusive X-Trek mode and come with rugged all-terrain tyres on black alloy wheels straight from the factory. Features like a forward-facing camera with Rock Ground View provide critical visibility of obstacles directly in front of the vehicle, increasing driver confidence and helping to provide protection to the vehicle’s components and occupants from underbody damage when navigating tricky lines.
Towing and Payload: The Heart of a Workhorse
For many Australian ute owners towing and payload figures are non-negotiable. This is where a ute proves its worth as a tool of the trade and a weekend enabler. The Kia Tasman has been engineered to meet and exceed the benchmark in the proper one-tonne ute category. The Tasman dual cab pick stands out as a versatile option, offering strong off-road and towing credentials for a wide range of buyers.
The Tasman ute has a towing capacity of 3,500kg, equal to the segment leaders like the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux. This is backed by a gross combination mass (GCM) of 6,200kg and a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 3,250kg. The GCM represents the maximum combined weight of the vehicle and trailer that can be safely towed, while the GVM is the maximum allowable weight of the vehicle including its load and passengers. These numbers are critical for ensuring safe towing, meeting legal requirements, and maximizing payload. The payload capacity is equally impressive at 1,013kg, a true workhorse.
Kia has also included smart towing technology. The integrated trailer brake controller is a massive win for those who tow heavy loads, saving owners the cost and hassle of fitting an aftermarket unit. The eight-speed auto is also tuned for towing, holding gears intelligently to maintain control and momentum. The combination of a strong chassis, powerful turbo diesel engine and smart tech means the Tasman is capable of hauling tools and materials during the week and towing the boat or caravan on the weekend. The tub also has lift assistance for the tailgate making daily use just that little bit easier. In summary the 2025 Kia Tasman ute is going to be a game changer in the Australian market. It’s got rugged good looks, a feature packed and comfortable interior, serious off-road credentials and benchmark towing and payload capacities. As it hits the showrooms the excitement will only grow.
For new owners the journey starts the day you drive it home. That’s where we come in. Every Kia Tasman is a blank canvas and the right accessories will unlock its full potential and protect your investment. From heavy-duty seat covers and floor mats for the interior to bull bars, canopies, suspension upgrades and lighting solutions for the exterior we will be your one-stop shop for all things Tasman. Keep an eye on our catalogue as we release a full range of premium accessories for this amazing new Kia ute.
Accessories and Customization: Make It Your Own
One of the standout strengths of the Kia Tasman ute is its incredible potential for customization. Kia has developed a comprehensive range of factory accessories, allowing owners to tailor their Tasman to suit any lifestyle or job. Whether you need a rugged steel tray for heavy-duty work, a canopy for secure storage, or side steps for easier access, there’s an option to match your needs. The premium Kia Tasman X-Pro model takes things up a notch, boasting features like heated rear seats for passenger comfort, dual wireless phone chargers to keep everyone connected, and a unique centre console that displays a graphic of the car’s key dimensions—perfect for those who appreciate both form and function. With so many ways to personalize your vehicle, the Tasman ute is more than just a car; it’s a statement of individuality and capability, ready to stand out on any road or worksite.
Release Date and Availability: When Can You Get One?
Eager to get behind the wheel of the new Kia Tasman ute? The wait is almost over. The dual cab pick-up model is set to hit Australian showrooms in July 2025, with pre-orders already open for those keen to secure their spot. If you’re after a single cab chassis or dual cab chassis, these variants will follow later in the year, giving buyers even more choice. Pricing for the range starts at a competitive $42,990 plus on-road costs, making the Tasman ute an appealing option for anyone in the market for a new car—whether it’s for family adventures or hard work on challenging terrain. With advanced features like adaptive cruise control, LED headlights, and dual zone climate control, the Kia Tasman ute is designed to impress as both a family car and a reliable workhorse. No matter which model you choose, you’ll be getting a vehicle that’s ready to tackle Australia’s toughest conditions and look good doing it.