HOW TO BUY A KIA TASMAN — CHEAP
Getting a bargain on the Kia Tasman dual-cab ute wasn’t meant to be so easy. Here’s what Kia dealers don’t want you to know about buying a Tasman in 2025…
The Kia Tasman is off to a poor sales start to the detriment of dealers and the company locally, and it’s entirely justified in many ways. But there is an upside.
Like every good news/bad news story, the failure of Kia Tasman to rocket up the sales charts in its Australian debut might leave dealers wretching, but it has massive potential benfits for you as a consumer — if you’re keen to buy one.
Kia Australia had hoped to launch the Tasman into the dual-cab ute market (the 4x2 isn’t anywhere nearly as popular) to the tune of close to or more than 20,000 units per year, which would equate to about 10 per cent of the market here in Australia.
But more conservative and potentially more realistic predictions would hope for more like 8000-10,000 units would be more achieveable in the current climate with so many new models arriving to compete against the four or five already big-name utes: Ranger, Hilux, Triton, D-Max/BT-50.
Unfortunately for Kia Australia, and happily for you, those sales predictions have no come to fruition - not even close.
SALES FAILURE
With only three months of sales data to draw on having only been on sale since July, the Kia Tasman currently stands at 2365 units (according to VFACTS data supplied by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries). Those sales are actually representative of registrations, byt the way, so that’ll become more relevant shortly.
What’s interesting and positive about this number is that it’s already beating established utes like the LDV T60, Jeep Gladiator, the much-hyped GWM Cannon Alpha (that’s the hybrid one) and the KGM (nee SsangYong) Musso. But these are hardly the big-name players Kia had hoped to threaten.
What’s negative (for dealers and the brand) about just over 2300 sales in three months is that it means their predictions and plans for 5 times more sales than that would mean there is an absolute glut of Tasman stock in dealer holding yards begging to be sold.
Moving only 750 units per month was not in Kia’s gamplan, but it might mean a the opportune moment for you toward the end of 2025 or even early 2026 - if you’re ready to take this gift-wrapped saving.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU
Are you red-hot in the market for a new dual-cab ute? If you want one with the best interior in the segment, class-competitive towing, sublime off-road chops and practicality in abundance - the Kia Tasman, at the right price, might be the one for you.
But you’re going to have to work a little bit for it. All you need to do is walk into the dealer with your research done and your final low-ball offer ready. Not some ridiculous figure that’ll get you laughed out of the building, but a reasonable $10K off would not be a bad idea.
Present to the showroom, ask for your test drive of the model grade you want (X-Pro and X-Line are the ones with most of the toys and fruit) and with your confidence high and offer firm, hit the salesperson with your price.
This can go either of two ways: they take it after some showmanship and pretend discussions with the sales manager where, upon their return, they reluctantly agree to your figure; or you get a polite decline, in which case you leave them with your number and politely suggest they take the rest of the week to reconsider your offer while you have a look at a Triton, Hilux or Ranger down the road.
Dealerships hate when people do this. They squirm and writhe at the idea of your money walking out the door. Especially when sales are 5 times below their expected level. This is also a very powerful motivator for the sales team to meet their quotas and clear that gutt of stock something like five rows of 10 cars deep, just sitting in that vacant lot two blocks away.
If you’re not the kind of person who deals with polite, civil confrontation in this manner, then there is a very good solution here for you to still jump on the opportunity to save thousands on a Kia Tasman. Just fill in the form below and we’ll go into battle for you - it’s a win-win for everyone, except the dealer of course.
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MORE ON KIA TASMAN
The Tasman has had a hard first year thanks to an absurdly drawn-out pre-launch marketing campaign that probably did more harm than good because they hyped it up so hard people probably got tired of waiting.
They started with months of endless prickteasing about the name - like anyone buying a ute has the time or incilnation to give a damn - and when it was finally revealed it was underwhelming and wholly unnecessary to even bother paying sporting celebrities en masse to star in some wanky ad.
Then there was the big reveal in Tasmania where motoring journalists threw Kia a lifeline by using words like “controversial” and “polarising” to decribe what was actually an unequivocally ugly and universally bizarre front-end styling job. There was no polarisation or controversy about it.
But here’s the thing to consider: does the front end design really matter? If you can ignore it and focus on the pure function of this vehicle, the value proposition makes Kia Tasman extremely desirable.
The fact you’re getting 90 per cent of what a Ford Ranger can offer, minus the additional power reserves and more generic styling, should make it a compelling option - especially when you consider where you spent most of your time in a Tasman.
STILL NOT SURE?
FORD RANGER (Wildtrak)
ENGINE: 3L bi-turbo-diesel V6 | POWER: 184kW @ 3250 RPM | TORQUE: 600Nm @ 1750-2250 RPM
Kerb wt: 2388kg (Wildtrak) | Power-weight ratio: 79kw/t
Max. potential payload: 962kg (Wildtrak)
GVM: 3350kg | GCM: 6400kg
Click here for Ford Ranger review >>
Driveline: 10-spd epicyclic auto trans, electromechanical clutch pack (acts as front diff), rear differential, row-range transfer case, 4-high on-road use
Brakes: ventilated front discs, ventilated rear discs
Front / rear axle limit: 1490kg / 1959kg
Approach / breakover / departure angle: 30 / 21 / 23 degrees
Ground clearance / wading depth: 234mm / 800mm
Tray length: 1464mm | width (b/w w/arches) 1217mm | height: 525mm
Front / rear overhang: 865 mm | 1215 mm || Turning circle: 12.9m
Wheelbase: 3270mm | Total length: 5370mm | Width: 1918mm (excl. mirrors) | Height: 1886mm
PRO: V6 towing grunt (600Nm), all-wheel driveline system, heavy kerb weight makes heavy towing safer at speed
CON: Below-average customer support from Ford Australia, expensive range, 2L bi-turbo is a bit highly strung
Comment:
Ranger is undeniably the most masculine ute on the market, and it certainly gets an all-access pass to every building site, every High Country campground and has the towing cajones for mass market appeal.
The reliability isn’t as good as it should be, and Ford Australia needs to up its game in terms of customer service, but at least you can drive it in 4H on high-traction surfaces such as in heavy rain or good-quality gravel backroads. Range is also very expensive, making the Triton look like a bargain.
Click here for more on Ford Ranger >>
MITSUBISHI TRITON (GSR)
ENGINE: 2.4L bi-turbo-diesel 4-cyl | POWER: 150kW @ 3500 RPM | TORQUE: 470Nm @ 1500-2750 RPM
Kerb wt: 2170kg | Power-weight ratio: 70kW/t
Max. potential payload: 910kg (GSR)
GVM: 3080kg | GCM: 6250kg
Driveline: 6-spd epicyclic auto trans., centre and rear differentials, row-range transfer case, 4-high on-road use
Click here for Mitsubishi Triton review >>
Brakes: ventilated front discs, rear drums
Front / rear axle limit: 1580kg / 2040kg
Approach / breakover / departure angle: 30/ 23 / 22 degrees
Ground clearance / wading depth: 228 mm / 800mm
Tray length: 1555mm | width (b/w w/arches) 1135mm | height: 525mm
Front / rear overhang: TBC | TBC || Turning circle: 12.7m
Wheelbase: 3130mm | Total length: 5320mm | Width: 1930mm (excl. mirrors) | Height: 1795mm
PRO: Clever centre diff and all-wheel driveline allows high-traction surface use, excellent value, competitor rivalling towing capacity, more frugal than most equivalent utes
CON: new bi-turbo engine design remains to be proven reliable in-service, rear drum brakes
Comment:
If you want the best fuel economy, equal towing capability, all-wheel drive 4H use on sealed roads (but in poor driving conditions) but you also want good brand support while also being a whopping $15,000 cheaper than the equivalent Ranger - Triton is unrivalled.
Triton is also the only ute to be tested against the latest, more stringent crash testing protocols, and yet can also offer a comfortable, practical interior that caters to both long-distance touring and daily-driver tradie commuter practicality.
Click here for more on Mitsubishi Triton >>
ISUZU D-MAX (X-Terrain) / MAZDA BT-50 (SP)
ENGINE: 3L turbo-diesel 4-cyl | POWER: 140kW @ 3600 RPM | TORQUE: 450Nm @ 1600-2600 RPM
Kerb wt: 2170kg | Power-weight ratio: 66kW/t
Max. potential payload: 910kg (GSR)
GVM: 3080kg | GCM: 6250kg
Click here for Mazda BT-50 review >>
Click here for Isuzu D-Max review >>
Driveline: 6-spd epicyclic auto trans., centre and rear differentials, row-range transfer case, 4-high on-road use
Brakes: ventilated front discs, rear drums
Front / rear axle limit: 1450kg / 1910kg
Approach / breakover / departure angle: 27 / 22 / 19 degrees
Ground clearance / wading depth: 240 mm / 800mm
Tray length: 1570mm | width (b/w w/arches) 1122mm | height: 490mm
Front / rear overhang: 905 mm | 1255mm || Turning circle: 12.5m
Wheelbase: 3125mm | Total length: 5310mm | Width: 1880mm (excl. mirrors) | Height: 1810mm
PRO: Simple, no frills interior, robust driveline, under-stressed engine
CON: Primitive 4WD system doesn’t allow 4-High on-road use, unrefined driveline compared to modern rivals, drum rear brakes
Comment:
D-Max has loads of rusted on fans and that’s quite okay, because it does get plenty of aggressive styling. But that’s about where it stops being unique or compelling.
Sure, that Isuzu diesel engine is reliable, and they have tidied up the driveline compared with the old model, but it’s still a very rattly, vibrating powertrain that Mazda BT-50 also shares. Not being able to use that 4WD system in ways that more modern and future-proofed dual-cab utes have been enabled, such as on-road in heavy rain while towing, is a big drawback when a top-spec D-Max Blade wants $78,000.
Click here for more on Mazda BT-50 >>
Click here for more on Isuzu D-Max >>
CONCLUSION
It’s worth remembering Kia hasn’t made a bad product in a long time. Their vehicles are reliable, frugal, and generally do a very good job in their respective categories - Carnival (excellent), Sorento (superb) and Sportage (very popular). And you would be hard-pressed to negotiate $10K off one of them these days.
And forgetting the looks, Tasman does have so many positives it should be considered by any smart-buying, savvy ute shopper who isn’t necessarily after the most powerful dual-cab ute, but certainly a good-value one with plenty of trimmings and a wonderfully comfortable interior that is a well-built as the rest of it.
Tasman can absolutely follow any Hilux, Ranger or D-Max into any off-road course, it’ll tow the same tool trailer or caravan, and it’s going to take even more gear in its class-leading tub.
All you have to do is park close to the bushes so everybody looks at the back end instead. Oh and click the button below if you want AutoExpert’s team of dealer vanquishers to do the negotiating for you on a Kia Tasman…
