Kia’s first-ever pickup truck, the Kia Tasman, has finally arrived in Brunei shores and The Bruneian team had the opportunity to experience its performance, handling and comfort first-hand.
The Kia Tasman is rugged yet refined, combining bold design, a spacious and practical interior, advanced technology, and impressive driving performance.
When you sit behind the wheel, you immediately feel the pickup’s strength, stability, and confident handling on the road.
Grand Motors Sdn Bhd, the authorised distributor of Kia vehicles in Brunei, recently treated media representatives to a first-hand drive of the all-new Tasman, allowing them to experience its capabilities across city streets and industrial roads around Beribi.
Our drive began at the Kia Showroom in Beribi and took us through the Beribi Industrial Area and surrounding roads, giving a real-world impression of what it’s like to be behind the wheel of this all-new pickup.
Sitting in the Tasman, the first thing you notice is its commanding presence and sense of solidity. The cabin is spacious, the seats supportive, and the elevated driving position gives a clear view of the road ahead.
The 207PS 2.2-litre diesel engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission delivers smooth and responsive acceleration, allowing the pickup to feel agile and confident even in the tighter city streets of Beribi.
Navigating the busy industrial roads, the Tasman handled traffic effortlessly, maintaining composure and stability. Steering is precise with good feedback, and the vehicle exhibits minimal body roll when cornering, a notable achievement for a vehicle of its size. Visibility is excellent from the driver’s seat, with upright windshield and large side windows offering a clear view of surrounding vehicles and pedestrians.
Tough on the outside, comfortable on the inside
Inside, the Tasman impresses with a combination of practicality, comfort, and modern design.
The 12.3-inch panoramic infotainment screen is intuitive and easy to use, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto seamlessly integrated. In the X-Line variant, the eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system elevates the in-cabin experience, producing crisp and immersive audio.
Rear-seat passengers enjoy class-leading headroom, shoulder space, and legroom, with reclining functionality for added comfort. Hidden storage bins beneath the rear seats, dual wireless charging pads, and a folding console table add versatility, making the Tasman not just a vehicle for work but also a mobile office or leisure space.
Moreover, materials throughout the cabin are of high quality, with eco-conscious touches such as recycled fabrics and bio-PU leather enhancing sustainability without compromising luxury.
The cabin is exceptionally quiet, with well-insulated panels and advanced sound-deadening features keeping road, wind, and engine noise to a minimum. Whether driving through busy streets or on longer stretches of road, the interior feels serene and comfortable.
Engineered to offer driving pleasure and safety
Once out of the industrial area and onto wider roads, the Tasman’s capabilities become even more evident. The 2.2-litre diesel engine provides abundant torque, up to 440 Nm, which makes overtaking and highway cruising effortless. The pickup feels stable and planted, with suspension effectively absorbing potholes, speed bumps, and uneven surfaces, delivering a comfortable ride even on rougher sections of road.
The X-Line’s four-wheel-drive system provides additional confidence when navigating slippery surfaces or uneven terrain. While we stayed primarily on paved roads during this first drive, the Tasman’s wading capability up to 800mm and reinforced load bed demonstrate its readiness for off-road and work-related challenges.
The pickup features multiple driving modes, allowing the driver to adjust Eco, Smart, or Sport settings depending on the road conditions or driving style. Each mode subtly changes throttle response, steering weight, and transmission behavior, making the Tasman versatile and adaptable for a variety of scenarios.
When it comes to safety, the Korean automaker is ahead of the game. The five-seater comes equipped with innovative and safety functions which offer the ultimate confidence and maximum comfort in all journeys.
Kia has equipped the Tasman with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that make daily driving safer and less stressful. Lane keeping assist, blind spot collision avoidance, and trailer profile functionality all worked seamlessly during our drive. These features provide extra confidence when maneuvering through industrial areas, tight corners, and highway traffic.
Additionally, the pickup’s solid chassis, reinforced body-on-frame construction, and optimized suspension contribute to overall safety, stability, and control. Even when accelerating, braking, or cornering, the Tasman feels composed and secure, a key trait for both work and leisure use.
Practicality and versatility
The Tasman’s practicality is evident in its load bed and storage solutions. Measuring 1,512mm long, 1,572mm wide (1,186mm between the wheel arches), and 540mm deep, the bed offers best-in-class cargo capacity of 1,173 liters and can carry up to 1,145kg in 2WD mode, with a towing capacity of 3,500kg. Features such as corner steps, sliding cargo floors, and optional mini tables make loading, unloading, and organizing equipment effortless.
Inside, the Tasman’s folding console table, wireless charging, and ample storage spaces make it equally suited for work, travel, or weekend adventures. The combination of rugged capability and thoughtfully designed interior sets it apart from other pickups in the segment.
Overall, after spending several hours behind the wheel, the Kia Tasman impresses as a well-rounded, capable, and versatile pickup. Its combination of robust performance, confident handling, quiet and spacious cabin, and thoughtful safety and convenience features make it ideal for both professional and personal use.
Whether navigating city streets, tackling industrial roads, or preparing for light off-road excursions, the Tasman proves that Kia’s first pickup is built to meet the demands of modern drivers in Brunei. It is a perfect balance between practicality, comfort, and adventure, showing that Kia has delivered a pickup that can do it all.
For more information, visit the Kia Brunei website at www.kia.com/bn or follow @KiaBrunei on social media for updates and event coverage.
THE BRUNEIAN | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
