The 2026 Kia Tasman makes its debut as the brand’s first pickup truck, although it is still unclear whether it will be available in the U.S. market. The body-on-frame Tasman features several powertrains, including a diesel engine that comes with an optional six-speed manual transmission. Kia’s truck features a live rear axle and is capable of towing up to 7,716 pounds while fording 32 inches of water. Instead of just dabbling, Kia is diving right into the uncharted land of pickup trucks. The 2026 Kia Tasman, the first truck made by the Korean company, was released today and can be bought in a number of foreign markets. However, they have yet to concern the United States. Kia’s Inaugural Pickup Truck The only things in a Kia shop that look like the Tasman are the big “Kia” (or is it “KN”) badge and the headlamps that look like the Telluride. The company has never made a model like this before, so it’s possible that this was done on purpose. With a length of 213.0 inches, the Tasman is about five inches shorter than the Jeep Gladiator. Besides that, the Kia’s length is 128.7 inches, which is about 10 inches longer than the Hyundai Santa Cruz’s. The Tasman is not like Hyundai’s small truck because it has a strong body-on-frame structure, a solid rear axle with leaf springs, and an independent front suspension. The Tasman’s rear-drive models can carry up to 2,635 pounds, and they can tow as much as the Gladiator (7,716 pounds), which shows that they are a real truck. The Tasman will come in three trim levels when it first goes on sale: basic, x-line, and x-pro. The base model only has rear-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive is normal on the other two. Depending on the market, there will be different engine choices. A 2.2-liter diesel engine makes 207 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, while a 2.5-liter gasoline engine makes 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The diesel engine has three wheels and a manual transmission with six speeds. The gas engine, on the other hand, can only be paired with an automatic transmission with eight speeds. The Tasman can only be set up as a single cab with an unknown bed size in the base form. The crew cabs on the X-rated trucks are bigger, and the storage boxes are six feet long. As Chevy trucks have done for years, Kia has added side steps to the back bumper to make getting into the bed easy. Since copying something is the best way to show appreciation, Kia’s first pickup truck should be a big compliment to American trucks. The Tasman’s dashboard is symmetrical and made of a big glass panel that holds a 12.3-inch touchscreen for entertainment and a cluster of gauges. It comes with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and two wireless charging pads. The radio has eight speakers and is made by Harman/Kardon. The controls on the inside are similar to those in other Kia cars. There is a gear selector placed on the steering column and a mix of capacitive and tactile buttons. The center console, inspired by the Ford F-150, has ample storage room and can be folded open to serve as a temporary table. Under the table, there is about one cubic foot of storage room, and the back chairs can be leaned back. The Tasman X-Pro is an off-road car that stands out thanks to its unique 17-inch wheels and all-terrain tires. It also has unique drive settings and an automatic rear differential lock. The X-Pro has a 9.5-inch ground clearance, which Kia says is due in part to its 1.1-inch lift. The truck can also drive through water up to 32 inches deep. There are a lot of extras for the Kia pickup, just like there are for any other good car. Some of these are beadlock wheels and side steps. The Tasman can also have a sports bar, a ladder rack, and single or double bed add-ons put on it. The second one has a storage box and a tonneau cover, while the first one has a canopy and a rack for, say, a rooftop tent. You can change your Tasman to do business or other specific tasks with the available chassis-cab versions. After its first show in Korea in the first half of 2025, Kia wants to bring the Tasman to Australia, Africa, and the Middle East. Will it ever make it to America, which needs trucks? The result is still unknown, but the Tasman seems to fit right in.
