Kia Releases Promotional Video of Tasman Ute Offroading - Thoughts?

Lbesttechadvisor on 22/07/2024 - 15:17
Last edited 07/08/2024 - 08:25 by 1 other user

EDIT: Kia has now released a video of the Tasman off-roading in Australia.

Kia has released a promotional video of the Tasman offroading in the US - any thoughts?

Some of mine:

  • Are they hinting at the V6 Stinger engine being greenlit for a Raptor competitor, or is that just sound engineering for the video? That's definitely not the sound of a 4 cylinder diesel.
  • Those wheel arches have gotta go… and what are they thinking with the lights?
  • Still, it'll be the only warranty (7yr, unlimited km) comparable to the Triton's (10yr, 200k km) afaik.

Will you consider a Kia ute? Do you think it will be successful?

Poll Options

  • 17
    Hot
  • 42
    Not
Automotive Kia Ute

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Comments

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 22/07/2024 - 15:24
    +2

    I do like the add, i thought it was clever

    going to be hard to over take established players in the Ute market the Ranger and Hilux dominate

    im not a tradesmen so i wouldnt buy a UTE but the 7 year warrenty 'might' be a selling point for some small businesses/sole traders the bigger companies probably rotate their fleet every 2-4 years and will prob stick to Rangers and/or Hilux

    It will need to be 'well priced' for at least the 1st 5 years in which Kia is probably making a loss or selling them to get brand awareness amoungst tradesmen

    • besttechadvisor on 22/07/2024 - 15:34
      +1

      im not a tradesmen so i wouldnt buy a UTE

      If you're not up for a ute, I saw something about a potential wagon (as the Everest is to the Ranger). Not sure if it's just a rumour. Would make sense as a replacement for the Mohave in the US.

      It will need to be 'well priced' for at least the 1st 5 years in which Kia is probably making a loss or selling them to get brand awareness amoungst tradesmen

      This is what I'm hoping as I'll need something that can tow soon, and these might be a bargain (especially if they are as ugly as I'm imagining under that vinyl wrap).

  • Euphemistic on 22/07/2024 - 15:35
    +6

    Plenty of LDVs and GWM out there. I think Kia will do OK as long as pricing is competetive.

    If I was looking for a new ute, I'd be considering it just as I briefly considered the chinese options before buying my current ute.

    • besttechadvisor on 22/07/2024 - 15:40

      Plenty of LDVs and GWM out there.

      Yeah, I'm wondering how much the wider public will think the same, especially with the BYD Shark coming.

      I was considering an LDV a while ago because their performance-to-price looked great, but I hung around the T60 Facebook group and there were lots of complaints about quality (especially rust). I think the Koreans have built up a reputation these days (Stinger, i30N, EV6, Genesis G80, Ioniq, ect), but the Chinese are still working on theirs.

      Speaking of Korean utes, I wonder how close the Tasman will come to the Musso in price.

      I think Kia will do OK as long as pricing is competetive.

      Agreed, pricing is everything!

  • pharkurnell on 22/07/2024 - 15:38
    +5

    Will you consider a Kia ute?
    Do you think it will be succesful?

    how do I vote No and Yes?

  • greencomet on 22/07/2024 - 15:48
    +2

    Kia want to target the Ford Ranger, but from all reports there's going to be no V6 diesel engine option at launch. That alone will mean the Tasman will have average sales numbers and won't be seen as a serious competitor to the Ranger. Their goal from the start should have been to release with a V6 diesel to compete with the Ford, that way potential buyers would have taken them seriously.

    • besttechadvisor on 22/07/2024 - 16:15

      I don't think that Kia wants to target the Ford Ranger because, as you said, no V6 diesel. I think that's just hype / clickbait from car news sites.

      Unless they offer the Stinger engine. In that case, they're specifically targetting the Ranger Raptor.

      I suspect NVES and PHEVs will do away with V6 Diesels in mid-size utes anyway. Looking at you, BYD Shark.

    • Euphemistic on 22/07/2024 - 19:29
      +2

      Lack of a v6 doesnt seem to be hurting sales for hilux, dmax, navara etc.

  • geekcohen on 22/07/2024 - 15:55

    Obstacles are meant to be overcome.

    Ford Ranger is one big obstacle.

  • apsilon on 22/07/2024 - 15:57

    Don't think that sound is from the Stinger either so I'm going to go with sound engineering.

    I think it'll be somewhat successful but it's not going to knock the Ranger/Hilux off the 1 and 2 spots. The warranty is a bonus but it's an ugly thing which will limit it's appeal. Might do well against the Triton and Dmax depending on price.

    • besttechadvisor on 22/07/2024 - 16:18
      +1

      Yeah, I was reading 20k annual sales is Kia's goal. Ranger's over 60k. Kia has no illusions about usurping Ford.

  • mapax on 22/07/2024 - 16:03

    I’m not rich enough to buy one, but they should probably give me one as free advertising…

  • ihfree on 22/07/2024 - 16:23
    +3

    Canyonero!

    • JIMB0 on 22/07/2024 - 16:56
      +3

      unexplained fires are a matter for the courts

    • Gunnar on 23/07/2024 - 07:39
      +1

      the Kentucky fried truck that’s endorsed by a clown

  • picant on 22/07/2024 - 16:27

    Mykia

  • Drakesy on 22/07/2024 - 17:41

    Those fenders need to go.

    • GordonD on 22/07/2024 - 18:03
      +1

      Then you'll be pleased to hear the Australian model won't have fenders. It'll have mudguards.

  • AustriaBargain on 22/07/2024 - 17:53
    +2

    It's too big :(

    • GordonD on 22/07/2024 - 18:02
      +3

      Its an SUV. With them there's no such thing as too big. Apparently.

      • Drakesy on 22/07/2024 - 18:04
        +4

        Americans be like, whats this piddly little pickup.
        Pfft fuel use below 15L/100k's, what a joke,

        • besttechadvisor on 22/07/2024 - 18:21

          "What's 15L/100km? Ohhh you mean, MPG." /s

      • Euphemistic on 22/07/2024 - 19:30
        +1

        Its not an SUV.

    • ihfree on 22/07/2024 - 18:23

      Yep. These things shouldn't be on the road. America is seeing more pedestrian deaths.

      Here's a video on grille design trends.

      • besttechadvisor on 22/07/2024 - 20:44

        These things shouldn't be in cities. They're necessary for safe towing on the highways.

        That's the idiocy of banning Kei cars for being unsafe… They're not unsafe if you're driving them <60km/hr - at least, not as unsafe as the alternatives for personal transport in a city (bicycles and motorcyles). Just don't let them on the highway.

        Conversely, large vehicles like this should only be allowed in city centres if it's for valid commercial reasons. What we need is satellite carparks around the city and cheap, frequent, public transport to and from those carparks to the CBD's.

        80% of public transport in Brisbane is within a few km of the CBD, in the wealthiest suburbs. Leave the cities, and public transport is non-existent.

  • Kiro on 22/07/2024 - 21:39
    -1

    looks good, like the design although my issue i have is that i need a 4wd with 7 seats. if i could dump the wife i would but im left with the kids alone.

    oh and it must towe a 3tonne caravan as well which im sure it could.

    currently i have a holden trailblazer and its been a diamond in the rough, 7 seats, 4wd, towes up to 3T, can haul if needed.

    • Ozbar Gain on 23/07/2024 - 13:30

      Dump the wife and kids, drive a bike and camp in a swag. Easy.

      Not marital advice.

  • pegaxs on 22/07/2024 - 22:15

    Nah, I’m waiting on the BYD Shark and seeing if the boss will let me have a new workshop truck.

    • besttechadvisor on 05/08/2024 - 13:54

      There will be a Tasman PHEV that should run rings around the BYD Shark.

  • Wiadro on 22/07/2024 - 22:31

    nahhhhhhh

  • ForkSnorter on 23/07/2024 - 08:14
    +1

    Yeah, with current and future fuel prices and global trends, I wouldn't buy a new ICE vehicle if someone held a gun to my head.

  • Showmethebargains on 23/07/2024 - 09:25

    Wonder when they are going to show any actual off-roading? Most of that looked better than the average Aussie farm driveway…

    • Rob-4x4 on 23/07/2024 - 09:47
      +1

      Being someone who is in a couple of 4x4 clubs etc I can assure you than just about all 4x4s sold in Australia are not really suitable for "off road usage" without modifications such decent tyres, suspension lift , underbody guards, rated recovery points etc. The vehicles are optimized for urban and maybe highway usage.

      They are really only suitable for well-formed dirt road and tracks with the 4x4 helping when things get a little slippery.

      It is actually a PITA for people that do use vehicles "off Road" as it would be nice to have a better selection of capable offroad vehicles available off the show room floor .. at the moment there is only a very few like 70 series Landcruiser's, Ineos grenadiers, jeep wrangler rubicons and some ute models like Nissan Navara Warriors, Ranger Raptor etc

    • besttechadvisor on 05/08/2024 - 13:57

      Kia just released a video of some similar offroading at Mount Black in Victoria. Still a yanky vocie-over for some reason:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOTD_W4134s

  • Rob-4x4 on 23/07/2024 - 09:39
    +1

    I wonder what the real towing capacity of it will be. That is the towing capacity when the vehicle is fully loaded.

    Most ute manufactures and many dealers are very deceptive when quoting towing capacities..

    Usually, they quote a very deceptive towing figure calculated when there is only a couple of hundred kilos of payload in the vehicles, including fuel , passengers etc .

    For example, none of the mid sized utes sold in Australia can actually lawfully tow a 3500KG caravan if there is anything more than a driver and maybe a light weight passenger in the vehicle yet you will see plenty of people towing massive offroad vans with these vehicles…

    These days if you have an accident when towing a van one of the first thing insurance companies will do is weigh your rig.. if the rig (Van and tow vehicle) is overweight then your insurance is void and the insurance company will not pay out.. And of course, potential legal penalties for driving an overweight rig .

  • brad1-8tsi on 23/07/2024 - 17:19

    Triton's (10yr, 200k km)

    The Mitsubishi Diamond Advantage warranty is a 5+5 "warranty" that requires ALL scheduled services to be performed at a Mitsubishi Dealer to qualify for second 5 year period so it's actually 5 years warranty and 5 years "insurance".

    The 200k cap is also a major shortcoming.

    Why anyone would want to be locked into the variable quality of Mitsubishi Service and the dealership habit of claiming "we have never seen that before" or "No Fault Found" is beyond me.

    I think my Pajero Sport (AKA Triton station wagon) is a capable vehicle despite the lack of power and undersized fuel tank (among other minor deficiencies) but MMA can go suck big ones in regard to after sales service and warranty support.

    • besttechadvisor on 05/08/2024 - 14:00

      I agree, though it will depend how you use your vehicle. If you do 20k km/yr, then 7 years, unlimited kilometres, service-anywhere, Kia's clearly the go.

      If you live in the city near a Mitsi dealership and only do 10k km/yr, then you'd be better off with that 10yr, 200k km.

  • besttechadvisor on 31/10/2024 - 15:31
    +1

    So, it's finally been revealed and looks just like I thought it would.

    What were Kia thinking? I can't see this outselling the ~$60k BYD Shark. The interior looks great but that's about it.

    • mapax on 31/10/2024 - 15:57

      That is kinda ugly, maybe with a 50mm suspension lift and 50mm bigger tyres it will look better?
      They should definitely give me one to try and advertise for them like I mentioned months ago. I’m barely even joking, I drive in some pretty high profile places and they need all the help they can get.

      • Euphemistic on 31/10/2024 - 18:43

        That is kinda ugly

        Using typical aussie understatement i see! Its hideous.

        I dont get why they think utes have to look like a brick. The new ranger has a flat front. This and the BYD shark massive oversize flat front. New triton stupid boxy front. Why cant the at least attempt to look a bit aero. IMO the BT50 and Dmax look a lot more sleek as the front end is not newly as big looking (but it probably is)

        • mapax on 31/10/2024 - 19:37

          I used to drive a 1980s hj75 and like boxy vehicles but there’s just something not right about this, maybe it looks better IRL but there’s still those flares…

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