2026 Kia Tasman X-Pro Review

Jumping into a new segment is a massive endeavor, let alone jumping into one of the most competitive areas of the market with, we’d argue, the world's most discerning 4x4 ute-buying public.

After a marathon promotional run to drum up excitement, indeed awareness of the fact Kia is making a ute, the Tasman is officially here.

Things certainly looks promising, though there is probably no greater challenge than jumping head first into the current 4x4 ute segment with a brand new product designed to grab the market's biggest names by the shirt collar.

Just how well does the Tasman stack up against its fierce 4x4 dual-cab ute rivals then and is it worth stretching the budget for the range-topping Tasman X-Pro? We got behind the wheel to find out.

Kia Tasman Competition

How Much Does It Cost?

Prices for the MY26 Kia Tasman range kick off from $38,010 for the entry-level Tasman S 4x2 single-cab chassis and stretch out to $74,990 for this flagship X-Pro 4x4 dual-cab version.

• Tasman S 4x2 Single Cab Chassis - $38,010 + ORC

• Tasman S 4x4 Single Cab Chassis - $45,010 + ORC

• Tasman SX 4x4 Single Cab Chassis - $49,520 + ORC

• Tasman S 4x4 Dual Cab Chassis - $48,240 + ORC

• Tasman SX 4x4 Dual Cab Chassis - $52,740 + ORC

• Tasman S 4x2 Dual Cab Ute - $42,990 + ORC

• Tasman S 4x4 Dual Cab Ute - $49,990 + ORC

• Tasman SX 4x4 Dual Cab Ute - $54,490 + ORC

• Tasman SX+ 4x4 Dual Cab Ute - $62,390 + ORC

• Tasman X-Line 4x4 Dual Cab Ute - $67,990 + ORC

• Tasman X Pro 4x4 Dual Cab Ute - $74,990 + ORC (tested)

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Kia Tasman X-Pro 4x4 Dual Cab Ute Specifications

What Features Does the Kia Tasman X-Pro Have?

Sitting at the top of the pile, the Tasman X-Pro picks up every bell and whistle Kia has up its sleeve.

Features specific to the Tasman X-Pro include a set of 17-inch black alloys wrapped in proper all-terrain tyres, an electronic locking rear differential, added underbody protection, an X-Trek multi-terrain mode, a ground view monitor and upgraded off-road driving information for the dash.

The X-Pro also picks up some creature comforts like a heated steering wheel, a panoramic sunroof, ventilated front row seats and heated second row seats.

This comes atop the Tasman X-Line’s enhancements, like the projector LED headlights, roof rails, leatherette upholstery, column-mounted shifter with flappy paddles, a surround-view monitor with front & rear parking sensors, dual wireless smartphone chargers, heated front seats and the rear wheel arch storage system, though you can't get this little storage bin with tan or white finishes.

There’s also all the gear bundled into the Tasman S, SX and SX+ which means you'll receive a tub liner, LED fog lights, ambient lighting, under-seat storage and air vents in the second row, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, adaptive cruise control, keyless entry & start, rear bumper steps, LED headlights and daytime running lamps.

Kia Tasman X-Pro Connectivity & Infotainment Features

All versions of the MY26 Tasman lineup come packing the same, impressive technology suite that sees a trio of displays standing proudly atop the dash.

This is a key area the Tasman really claws out a commanding lead over some of the more old-school rivals in the ute segment… we're looking at you, HiLux, Navara, D-Max and BT-50.

Kia’s infotainment setup is so solid, in fact, we’d be happy to argue it’s amongst the best, if not the best unit anywhere in the segment - especially when you consider that even entry-level versions don't miss out.

All Tasman variants come packaged with Kia's 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster paired seamlessly with the 5.0-inch climate control panel and another 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display smack-bang in the centre of the cabin.

It’s the same arrangement you’ll find in many of Kia’s higher-ranking SUVs and one that, in our opinion, looks nice and clean without totally dominating the dash with a 40-inch tablet that we've seen coming from many of its Chinese rivals.

Kia’s 12.3-inch display ticks all the boxes when it comes to screen brightness, pixel density and the system's responsiveness to quick inputs while trawling through menus.

Kia's menu layout is clean and easy to navigate, with this X-Pro picking up some bespoke off-road sub menus displaying things like your tyre pressures, pitch and roll angles.

There's AM/FM and DAB+ digital radio thrown in alongside factory satellite navigation and a premium 12-speaker sound system courtesy of Harman Kardon in this X-Pro variant serving as a worthy upgrade over the standard six-speaker unit.

Buyers also pick up a seven-year subscription to the Kia Connect suite of services, offering remote vehicle tracking, diagnostics, emergency calls, live traffic, weather and navigation as well as receive over-the-air software updates.

Does the Kia Tasman Have Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

It sure does.

Potential buyers will be happy to hear that all versions of the Kia Tasman range offer both wired and wireless smartphone mirroring via Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

The process of pairing your Android or iOS device with Kia's 12.3-inch infotainment system is quick and simple, so too is the process of handing over the primary connection with your co-pilot.

Kia's infotainment system is also quick to recognise your phone when climbing aboard and, in X-Line and X-Pro formats, offers a pair of wireless charging pads on the centre console.

Is the Kia Tasman X-Pro Comfortable to Drive?

The Kia Tasman platform confidently holds its own when it comes to the on-road driving experience and while its engine doesn't lead the segment, the bespoke suspension tune makes it a mighty all-rounder on Australian roads.

Under the bonnet, the Tasman range comes powered by the same 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel unit we've seen powering the Sportage, Sorento and the Carnival family chariot for a number of years now.

In the Tasman, combined outputs stand at 154kW of power and 440Nm of torque which puts it down on torque compared to the segment's yardsticks.

On the road, the Tasman doesn’t feel particularly under gunned, though it’s clear there's a torque disparity between it and the beefiest four-cylinder turbo-diesel engines in the segment when you really dig deep, let alone those packing a six-cylinder donk.

You also notice it when asking for a bit of mid-range acceleration, with the Tasman preferring to drop down a cog or two via the snappy eight-speed transmission, depending on the input or incline.

This means the transmission seems to be working harder than many of its rivals.

While the Tasman defaults to 4A upon start up, it can be driven in RWD via a quick button toggle, with the low-range transfer case offering 4L when the going gets tough.

On a mundane drive around town, we found the Tasman to be a reasonably friendly and slick runaround.

It’s worth noting that the Tasman is slightly longer than heavy hitters like the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux though, in spite of its long footprint, it's well-mannered around town.

That's because Kia has given the Tasman an extremely light weighted steering rack that is easy to throw around while parking or navigating your way through a roundabout.

The X-Pro’s 12.5 metre turning circle is ever so slightly larger than the rest of range, though, meaning it's a smidge more cumbersome to drive in tight quarters, though the difference is negligible.

Leaving the city in the rear-view mirror, the Tasman really begins to come into its stride.

That’s because Kia gave it a thorough shake-down for Australia's poor road conditions and has come up with a bespoke suspension tune for Aussie road conditions.

This is a clever move that Kia, thankfully, expanded from its SUV lineup and means the Tasman remains comfortable and confident while tumbling its way up a rough stretch of road.

While there’s no escaping the laws of physics when it comes to the inherently-flawed layout of utes and their firm, work-ready suspension packages, Kia has given the Tasman a balanced suspension tune with the company's clever sensitive damper control and hydraulic rebound hardware.

As a result, the Tasman feels beefy and secure on a high-speed and rutted stretch of tarmac, soaking up some of the smaller, sharper bumps on the road without too much in the way of crashiness - something that plagues every dual-cab 4x4 ute.

To be clear, it's still a firm ride, but the same can be said of each and every one of its rivals.

The Tasman handles the bumps with a high degree of confidence and remains one of the most versatile in the segment with the help of that local suspension tune, representing an incredibly well-polished driving experience for a first generation product.

Is the Kia Tasman X-Pro a Good Off-Roader?

While we didn’t get a chance to explore the outer edges of the Tasman’s limits, we did tackle some more general off-roading and can confidently say that it's a legitimate performer.

This program included some steep inclines on loose surfaces and a particularly challenging stretch of soft sand driving that it confidently chewed up.

The Tasman platform as a whole stacks up well, considering there's a tonne of ground clearance, a low-range transfer case and a locking rear differential fitted as standard, though the X-Pro stands out with its adventure-ready enhancements.

With the help of those 17-inch alloys wrapped in properly grippy all-terrain tyres, the upgraded electronic locking rear differential and Kia's terrain modes, the Tasman X-Pro held its own on a mix of challenging off-road scenarios.

There's a stack of real estate inside the arches for wheel articulation, a welcome 252mm of ground clearance and no side steps fitted as standard, meaning you can crawl your way over some serious terrain.

The Tasman S 4x2 has ground clearance figures of 231mm, increasing to 224mm in the Tasman S, SX, SX+ and X-Line variants.

A locking differential for the front axle would be a worthy addition to this flagship variant, though it's not the only range-topper in the segment missing this bit of kit.

• Ground Clearance: 252mm

• Wading Depth: 800mm

• Approach Angle: 32.2 degrees

• Breakover Angle: 25.8 degrees

• Departure Angle: 26.2 degrees

Is it Fuel Efficient?

Kia's 2.2-litre turbo-diesel unit is pretty much neck and neck with its biggest rivals when it comes to fuel economy.

On a combined cycle, Kia says you can get the Tasman down to the 8.1L per 100km on a combined cycle.

We came close to matching these with the help of Kia's lethargic, eco drive mode, averaging around the 8.5L per 100km mark, though when we put it back into normal mode and drove as we normally would, this figure climbed quickly.

Kia's drivetrain defaults into four-wheel drive upon starting up rather than the more fuel efficient rear-wheel drive mode.

All up, on a mix of town, country and highway driving with some off-road excursions covering 750km in total, we averaged 9.3L per 100km.

This shows that it’s actually a difficult task to match Kia’s official fuel claims, largely because you're mashing the throttle more than you might expect in some situations due to the small torque deficit.

The Tasman comes fitted with an 80 litre fuel tank and emits a claimed 214 grams per kilometre of CO2.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

We’ll come right out and say it - the Kia Tasman's cabin is one of the best in the segment.

The Tasman's interior layout is stylish and practical in equal measures, representing a breath of fresh air for a segment overflowing with more basic, utilitarian and frankly outdated cabins.

On the design front, the Tasman in this flagship X-Pro variant presents no shortage of premium touches and interesting little design notes.

The honeycomb arrangement that spans the width of the dash adds a bit of character which, flanked by the climate control toggles and door handles that look like a bit of heavy-duty climbing equipment, certainly add some flair.

Better yet, all these little styling tweaks come sitting atop a particularly strong bed of ergonomics.

The Tasman’s seats are outstanding, offering a nice amount of under-thigh support, a wide base, side bolstering and, I've been saying it for quite some time now, some of the best head rests in the business.

There's also a great range of both reach and rake adjustment for the steering wheel which, combined with strong marks for headroom, mean the Tasman is welcoming for a wide range of body shapes and sizes.

Our knees did, however, find some nasty, hard plastic to bang up against on the centre console tunnel and inside the door sill.

Another key area the Tasman puts many, if not most of its rivals to shame, is its ability to swallow up loose items.

Storage options are plentiful and in some key areas, only available in the Tasman.

There's the unique centre console armrest, for example, which offers the usual accommodation inside but also features a double opening mechanism that folds forward and presents a perfect place to get some work done on a laptop.

Alternatively you could use it as a perch for your lunch or a game of cards for smoko… you get the picture.

Fold that away and you're presented with a small nook for keys or sunglasses, a pair of large cupholders and a massive rubber-lined tray that, in more premium variants, houses two wireless charging pads.

In front of the passenger, there's the two gloveboxes while each door sill comes with a super wide opening for multiple small bottles.

Move to the rear of the cabin and once again, the Tasman holds its own against the biggest names in the segment when it comes to family-friendly accommodation.

Ultimately, the dual-cab platform is a bit compromised whichever marque you're going for, though the Tasman does well to offer usable real estate, even behind a tall driver.

I was able to sit behind my 185cm driving position without too many issues with legroom, though headroom was a little tight and access into the high-riding cabin may prove difficult without ticking the side steps box on Kia's list of optional extras.

For kids, however, the Tasman’s second row is bang-on and sits on the more generous side for the dual-cab ute segment and there's some seriously clever under-seat storage buckets that are easy to access via a pull tab on the seat base.

Amenities in the second row include some zip-up pockets on the front row seatbacks, air vents, two USB-C charging ports, a folding armrest with cupholders and phone mounts, door bins and in this X-Pro variant, heated second row seats.

For the parents out there, the Tasman comes equipped with ISOFIX anchors on each of the outboard seats and two top tether mounts on the back of the cab.

How Big is the Kia Tasman X-Pro's Tray?

The Tasman's tray offers some serious real estate thanks to its substantial footprint.

There’s also a range of small touches that make a huge difference for those putting their Tasman to work, with a 240-volt outlet, four stationary tie-down points inside the tub and a adjustable rail system that slides across a good two-thirds of the tray's length.

You'll also find a little storage compartment incorporated into the right-side wheel arch cladding, with relatively easy access into the tub provided by a side step hiding on each rear quarter.

• Length: 1,512mm

• Width: 1,573mm

• Height: 540mm

• Tub Volume: 1,173L

How Much Weight Can the Kia Tasman X-Pro Carry & Tow?

The Tasman holds its own when it comes to both payload and braked towing capacities.

While many of its flagship ute rivals have their payload figures dipping below the one-tonne mark, the Tasman X-Pro's payload figures stand at a hefty 1,013kg.

Within the wider Tasman family, payload figures total 1,013 - 1,124kg, depending on the variant and body shape.

The Tasman's braked towing capacities meet the 3,500kg benchmark for the segment, with gross vehicle mass (GVM) figures standing at 3,250kg while the gross combination mass (GCM) totals 6,200kg.

• Payload: 1,013kg

• Braked Towing Capacity: 3,500kg

• Kerb Weight: 2,237kg

• Gross Vehicle Mass: 3,250kg

• Gross Combination Mass: 6,200kg

Is it Safe?

Kia throws in a heap of active safety tech into all versions of the Tasman, though the calibration of that tech can be a little paranoid and invasive at times.

As standard, the Tasman picks up autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alerts, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assistance with lane centring, trailer sway control, tyre pressure monitoring, a rear-view camera with front & rear parking sensors and seven airbags inside the cabin.

Upgrading to the Tasman SX+ means you pick up Kia's highway driving assist.

The Tasman X-Line and this X-Pro version also pick up blind-spot view monitors that show you a live feed from each respective mirror while indicating alongside a surround-view monitor alongside a surround-view monitor and parking collision avoidance.

Does the Kia Tasman Have an ANCAP Safety Rating?

While the Kia Tasman range has received a five-star ANCAP safety rating, the X-Line and this flagship X-Pro version remain unrated by ANCAP.

That’s because Kia's flagship versions of the Tasman are missing a requisite front bumper design that ANCAP mandates in order for a five-star rating.

For reference, we’ll list the Tasman's full ANCAP safety scores below, though we need to remind you that this five-star ANCAP safety rating does not currently apply to the X-Line nor X-Pro.

• Adult Occupant Protection: 85%

• Child Occupant Protection: 85%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 74%

• Safety Assist: 80%

What Warranty does the Kia Tasman Come With?

The Tasman presents buyers with one of the longest warranties on offer in the ute segment.

Short of a few of the conditional warranties that stretch out to ten years, the Tasman's seven-year/unlimited kilometre warranty is a particularly strong selling point for the new platform.

Buyers also receive up to eight years' worth of roadside assistance and capped price servicing that spans out to seven years or 105,000 kilometres.

Servicing costs are far from the cheapest in the segment, however, and upgrading to this range-topping X-Pro version also ushers in the priciest servicing of the range.

Seven years’ worth of capped price servicing for the Tasman X-Pro is priced at $4,265, which is up from the $3,971 total for the Tasman 4x2 range and the $4,093 bill you'd pay servicing the rest of the Tasman 4x4 range.

• Warranty: Seven-year/unlimited kilometre

• Roadside Assist: up to eight years

• Capped-price Servicing Total: $4,265

• Service Intervals: 12 months or 15,000 kilometres

Our Verdict: Is the Kia Tasman X-Pro Worth it?

For a brand new, first-generation product, the Kia Tasman has no right to be such a solid and competent all-rounder that wastes no time in taking the fight to some of the best in the segment.

The extent to which Kia has nailed it in with the first iteration of the Tasman is truly impressive and it represents a red-hot offering in the ever competitive world of 4x4 utes from the get-go and an incredibly promising lineup moving into the future.

The Tasman's cabin is visually striking and incredibly practical in equal measures, cementing itself at the very top of the class when you judge on interiors alone, while its Aussie-tuned suspension package gives it confidence on the rough stuff.

There’s a lot of boxes that a 4x4 ute needs to tick in order to be amongst the best in segment and, we're pleased to report, the Tasman ticked them all with a surprising degree of confidence.

Within the Tasman range, however, we might be taking a closer look at the more affordable SX+ or the X-Line which present similar off-road chops without pushing into a new price bracket and retaining more affordable servicing.

Don't forget that our team of car-buying experts are waiting on hand to help find you the best possible deal on your next car, so reach out today to see how much they can save you.

Five Kia Tasman X-Pro Specs You Need to Know

1. Seven-year/unlimited kilometre warranty

2. 1,013kg payload

3. 3,500kg braked towing capacity

4. 8.1L per 100km fuel economy figures

5. Five-star ANCAP safety rating (does not apply to X-Line & X-Pro)