Kia is looking to make waves with the arrival of its Tasman bakkie, which will hit the South African market at the end of March.
When driving through Bloemfontein, you’re almost always met with familiar faces, or should I say grilles: the household names that have been running the Bloemfontein bakkie scene. Many other brands have stepped into the ring to challenge the heavyweights, but few have succeeded. Could the Tasman be the one?
Kia is not typically a brand that you associate with bakkies but that is about to change. Soon, the line-up won’t just feature the famous workhorses, the K2500 and K2700. Kia will soon have a distinctive niche lifestyle bakkie in its arsenal, ready to compete in an already growing segment.
But what does the arrival of the Tasman mean for Bloemfontein? Bakkies have become part of the culture here. They are all over the city! It will provide Bloemfontein bakkie lovers with an additional option. So, if you’re looking to stand out and not go the mainstream route, the Tasman might be for you.
Another question that also needs answering is, what is the Kia Tasman meant to be? Will it just be a lifestyle bakkie or will you be able to take it on a rugged adventure as well? According to Kia South Africa, the Tasman will be the best of both worlds. The line-up will include a 4×4 derivative which they say will be more than capable. So, you should be able to switch from grocery and school runs to 4x4ing, camping and hitting the “grondpad” with ease.
According to Kia, the model provides up to 1,173 litres of cargo capacity. That should make trips to the nursery much easier. You’ll be able to carry more than enough plants, compost, and gardening tools, but at the same time still be able to look good when popping in at the grocer. The best of both worlds.
Both parents should be able to benefit from the Tasman – the perfect lifestyle vehicle for mom and dad’s weekend escape.
The distinctive design of the Tasman will definitely cause heads to turn. When you look at the front-end of the bakkie, you are welcomed with a big grille and front section. The headlights are also quite far apart. They are found just above the fenders. If that doesn’t make sense, just picture Sid from Ice Age – it’s a similar idea. The Tasman is clearly designed to stand out.
Kia also claims that the Tasman will have segment-leading headroom, front legroom and second-row legroom – perfect for long road trips, tall passengers, and children who somehow always need more space than the driver.
The Tasman also features a few quirky yet genuinely convenient touches that could make everyday life easier. The centre console flips over to become a table, perfect for a quick lunch between trips, or for those who work on the road and need to open a laptop for a Zoom call or send a quick email. There are also secret compartments found in the wheel arches, adding another layer of practicality to the Tasman’s thoughtful design.
The interior of the Tasman is expected to deliver an SUV-like feel, with premium materials throughout. The top-of-the-range model will likely feature a sunroof, reinforcing the lifestyle-oriented personality this bakkie is shaping up to have. The bakkie is also expected to include a variety of features we’ve come to expect in modern premium or lifestyle vehicles – wireless connectivity, wireless charging ports, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), and a suite of convenience features designed to make life on the road easier.
Bloemfonteiners can expect a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine, a range of derivatives, and, as mentioned previously, the 4×4 option that makes the Tasman ready for weekend adventures.
Set to arrive at the end of March, the Tasman might just be the bakkie that lets you tackle the “grondpad” by day and turn heads in Bloem by night.
Text by Dale Neethling
