The Kia Tasman has launched in South Africa. Ahead of its local debut, we had an exclusive SA-first look at the South Korean automaker’s first-ever double-cab bakkie. Watch the video below…

Among the bakkies confirmed for SA in 2026, the highly anticipated Kia Tasman has officially (and finally) touched down on local shores. Ahead of the Kia double-cab’s local launch, we were handed an exclusive SA-first look of the South Korean automaker’s first-ever bakkie. Watch the video below…
Locally, the Tasman is available with the choice of three trim grades: LX, SX and X-Pro (featured here). A single engine option – Hyundai-Kia’s 2.2-litre Smartstream unit – is employed across the range. The four-cylinder turbodiesel motor produces 154 kW and 440 N.m of torque – the latter available from 1 750 r/min. In the LX variant, power is delivered to the road via a 4×2 drivetrain, while the SX and X-Pro are 4×4. Both drivetrains are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. An 80-litre fuel tank is fitted across the board; allowing for a driving range of over 1 000 km when matching the firm’s claimed consumption figures – 7.5 L/100 km for the LX, and 7.8 L/100 km for the SX and X-Pro.
- Also read: Kia Tasman review
In LX and SX specification, Kia’s Tasman offers approach and departure angles of 28.9 and 25 degrees, respectively, while the more off-road-focused X-Pro boasts 32.2-degree approach and 26.2-degree departure angles. All models have a water-wading depth of 800 mm. The unbraked and braked towing capacities are rated at 750 and 3 500 kg, respectively. The Tasman offers a payload capacity of over 1 000 kg (1 123 kg in the LX, and 1 008 kg in the LX and X-Pro).
Kia Tasman pricing kicks off at R679 995 for the LX derivative. The flagship, X-Pro model is priced from R999 995. Bookended by the former and latter, the SX variant is priced from R879 995. Included with the pricing as standard are a six-year/90 000 km service plan and a five-year/unlimited km warranty.
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