- Kia is developing a Tasman-based rugged SUV that could compete with the Ford Everest.
- The model may launch in the near future, but final approval hinges on global demand.
- An expanded ladder-frame lineup of pickups, SUVs, and EVs is also under consideration.
The Kia Tasman pickup might just be the opening chapter in a larger story for the brand’s ladder-frame ambitions. As interest in rugged utility vehicles grows, Kia is eyeing the possibility of turning the Tasman into a broader platform.
var adpushup = window.adpushup = window.adpushup || {que:[]};
adpushup.que.push(function() {
if (adpushup.config.platform !== “DESKTOP”){
adpushup.triggerAd(“0f7e3106-c4d6-4db4-8135-c508879a76f8”);
} else {
adpushup.triggerAd(“82503191-e1d1-435a-874f-9c78a2a54a2f”);
}
});
A high-level exec has confirmed that an SUV variant based on the Tasman is actively being considered, and more off-road-focused models could follow. But for any of this to happen, there will need to be strong demand beyond a single market.
More: This Is How You Make Kia’s New Pickup A True Off-Road Monster
Over the past year, there’s been plenty of speculation about a possible SUV spin-off from Kia’s first midsize pickup, with Australian leadership especially vocal in support of the idea. That conversation has now shifted from rumor to reality, thanks to official confirmation from Dong Hoon Kang, Vice President of Kia’s Mid-Large Sized Vehicle Chassis Engineering Design Center and the lead engineer behind the Tasman.
SUV Variant Could Take on Segment Heavyweights
Speaking to Australian media Drive, Kang shared that Kia is “starting to consider” the idea of a ladder-frame SUV, one that could go up against models like the Ford Everest, Toyota Fortuner and Land Cruiser (known as the Prado in Australia), Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, and Isuzu MU-X.
Unofficial renderings have already given us a preview of how the polarizing styling language of the pickup would look on an SUV that could feature a slightly shorter wheelbase and a three-row seating layout.
While internal development work is likely underway, the SUV hasn’t yet received formal approval from senior management. Kia Australia’s head of product planning, Roland Rivero, explained that the project’s future depends on broader global interest:
var adpushup = window.adpushup = window.adpushup || {que:[]};
adpushup.que.push(function() {
if (adpushup.config.platform !== “DESKTOP”){
adpushup.triggerAd(“bb7964e9-07de-4b06-a83e-ead35079d53c”);
} else {
adpushup.triggerAd(“9b1169d9-7a89-4971-a77f-1397f7588751”);
}
});
“I think it has to be globally feasible. So it can’t just be Australia that’s strongly pushing for it to see the light of day and get the green light. We’ll need the Middle East, we’ll need South Africa, we’ll need South America all on board wanting one as well.”
If the SUV moves forward, it could arrive within the next few years. Kang noted that development of the Tasman began around 2019 and took significant time, but suggested the SUV could follow a quicker path since the groundwork is already in place:
“We started to develop the Tasman since, maybe, 2019 – it takes a long time. But maybe I think that the SUV would be a little bit shorter than that – we already have the kind of foundation.”
More Ladder-Frame Models on the Table
var adpushup = window.adpushup = window.adpushup || {que:[]};
adpushup.que.push(function() {
if (adpushup.config.platform !== “DESKTOP”){
adpushup.triggerAd(“b25ecba7-3bbb-4ea7-a3a8-dbea91695c07”);
} else {
adpushup.triggerAd(“e46c436a-adeb-4b5e-a2c7-56bc36561c10”);
}
});
Besides confirming that Kia is actively considering a Tasman-based SUV, Dong Hoon Kang also revealed that the company is exploring additional rugged models: “Not only for Tasman, we are considering ladder-frame vehicles, utes and SUVs. We need to consider all of that.”
His comments indicate that Kia is aiming to become a stronger presence in the off-road market, potentially broadening its appeal to a new audience.
Kia has already confirmed it is working on a midsize pickup for North America, which will likely be one of the upcoming ladder-frame models. This model will be separate from the Tasman and is rumored to adopt a fully electric powertrain. As for the debut date, it could arrive between 2026 and 2029, possibly alongside a Hyundai sibling.
More: Hyundai Is Finally Building A Proper Pickup Truck
While still speculative, Kia could eventually expand its lineup with an SUV version of its upcoming US-market pickup. It would serve as a counterpart in the same way the Rivian R1S relates to the R1T, or the Scout Traveler to the Tera, though likely positioned in a slightly smaller segment.
With any luck, Kia’s leadership will give these projects the green light, as there’s plenty of room in the market for more rugged SUVs with real off-road capability. It’s also worth noting that Kia is developing a more hardcore version of the Tasman aimed at rivaling the Ford Ranger Raptor, along with hybrid and electric powertrain options that could join the lineup further down the road.
#Kia #Build #Sounds #Lot #Land #Cruiser #Rival
