Kia Tasman bakkie launches in SA to go up against Hilux, Ranger

Kia has entered South Africa's competitive bakkie market with the long-awaited local launch of its first pickup, the Tasman.

It goes head to head with top sellers like the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger.

The South Korean carmaker claims the Tasman redefines the segment with "purposeful exterior and interior design, cutting-edge technology and class-leading space and convenience".

Melinda Ferguson attests to all of these after driving the top-of-the range X-Pro up the West Coast and through the Cederberg.

The midsize double-cab also comes in two other variants, the LX and the SX, with huge pricing differences.

There's been a lot of discussion about the design of the Tasman, and it seems it's one of those vehicles consumers either love or hate.

It does have the feel of a kiddies Tonka truck, Ferguson concedes, but ultimately the Tasman is a head-turner.

"It's like Lego, it's like Anime, it's like a big fat panda bear... I was quite thrown when I first came face-to-face with it, but as I got up close-and-personal with my Tasman I ended up wanting to hug its bonnet!"

Whatever the reaction to its looks though, everyone would agree that it's a bakkie that performs, she says.

The 2.2-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel engine delivers 154 kW and 440 N.m of torque, through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Two drivetrains are available: 4×2 and 4×4.

It provides a payload of up to 1,000kg and a braked towing capacity of 3,500kg, Kia says.

Ferguson lauds the tech-savvy cabin and its generous storage space, along with the Tasman's ladder-frame chassis and advanced suspension technology. Her only bugbear was the default to the lane keep assist function, which involved a long process to turn off, she says.

The Tasman's pricing is in line with its top competitors, ranging from R679 995 for the entry-level LX to R999 995 for the top-of-the-range X-Pro.

Ferguson rates it at an impressive nine out of ten.

To listen to Melinda Ferguson in conversation with Sara-Jayne Makwala King on CapeTalk's Weekend Breakfast, click on the audio link below: