One of the major global launches this year is the new Kia Tasman, the Korean brand’s first true pickup. At first glance, you can see that it’s aimed directly at the midsize pickup segment, a popular segment around the globe. For this size comparo, we’ll be pitting the Tasman in its standard higher-spec form and the Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4x4. According to the publication Drive, Kia benchmarked the Tasman against the popular Ranger. This makes our Kia vs Ford pickup comparison a little more interesting.
Kia Tasman vs. Ford Ranger Wildtrak
The Kia Tasman measures 5,410mm long, 1,930mm wide, and 1,870mm tall, making it 40mm longer, 12mm wider, and just 14mm lower than the Ranger Wildtrak. We must point out that Kia measures the Tasman’s height from the roof rails, while Ford measures the Ranger’s overall height from its antenna base, which is a bit taller than its roof rails. The new Kia pickup rides on a 3,270mm wheelbase—the same as Ford’s midsize truck.
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The Tasman has a ground clearance of 224mm, or 11mm less than the Ranger. The new Kia pickup can wade through 800mm of water, the same as the Ranger. Interesting. The Tasman is shod with 30.52-inch-diameter 265/60 R18 tires, which are 0.53 inches smaller than the 31.05-inch-diameter 255/65 R18 rubber of the Ranger Wildtrak.
Kia Tasman vs. Mitsubishi Triton Athlete
For those curious about the Tasman versus the new Mitsubishi Triton, the Kia pickup is 50mm longer, as wide, and 55mm taller than Mitsubishi’s latest pickup. The Tasman’s wheelbase is 140mm greater between the axles than the Triton. Both Kia and Mitsubishi pickups are equipped with 265/60 R18 tires.
Here’s a little overview of the featured pickups in this comparo. The Kia Tasman is the Korean automaker’s first true pickup. It will initially be sold in South Korea, Australia, Africa, and the Middle East. Depending on the market, it can be had with either a diesel or a gasoline engine; our focus here will be the 2.2-liter diesel engine that puts out 207hp and 441Nm of torque. It is coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The Ford Ranger has been climbing up the ladder since it was first launched locally in 2000. The latest-generation Ranger made its Philippine debut in mid-2022. The Wildtrak 4x4 featured here is powered by a 2.0-liter bi-turbo diesel powerplant that pumps out 207hp and 500Nm of torque. It is paired with a 10-speed automatic gearbox.
The all-new Mitsubishi Triton landed here in early 2024. The Athlete 4WD variant seen here is powered by a 2.4-liter two-stage turbo 4N16 diesel unit that produces 201hp and 470Nm of torque. It is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.
All three pickups feature a traditional body-on-frame construction with independent double-wishbones front and a live-axle leaf-spring setup at the rear. Unlike the Thai-built Ranger and Triton, the Tasman will be built in South Korea.
Would you consider the new Kia Tasman over the Ranger or Triton? Let us know in the comments.
