So far, the Kia Tasman has been posting promising reservation figures. At the rate it's going, the South Korean automaker can breathe a little bit easier after such a huge gamble. After all, it's the brand's first true midsize pickup.
The arrival of a new pickup in the segment has begged a different question, though. ‘Will there be an SUV version of the Tasman?’ Of course, it’s inevitable to ask that, given that its rivals all have SUV counterparts. Some prime examples include the Ford Everest, Mitsubishi Montero Sport, and Toyota Fortuner.
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Now, there’s finally a straight answer from Kia. The company has confirmed that plans for such a model are under study. It’s a step in the right direction and has the potential to shake up the market. Mind you, ‘under study’ doesn’t mean the project has been greenlit, but it’s a good sign, nonetheless.
Speaking to Australian motoring publication Drive, a Kia executive from South Korea has commented on the matter. “Now we are starting to consider about that [an SUV]”, said Dong Hoon Kang, Kia’s vice president of mid-large sized vehicle chassis engineering design center.
While there’s additional development and cost involved, the plan to add a Tasman-based SUV might be relatively cost-effective to build. The additional body style can spread out the initial money spent building the Tasman from the ground up.
There are still a couple of hurdles the Tasman SUV has to overcome before it receives approval from Kia’s higher-ups. For starters, those involved in the study must prove that there is indeed demand for such a vehicle. The product also has to be sellable, not just in select markets, but on a much wider and global scale. Justifying it isn’t as easy as saying people will buy it, and it could be years before it even gets approved.
