3 Minutes
Kia Tasman dons an SUV body — but only in renders
Almost a year after production began at Kia's Hwaseong plant in South Korea, the Tasman remains a regional mid-size pickup aimed at markets in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Australia. Kia has no plans to sell the Tasman in Western markets, and a production SUV variant looks even less likely. Still, digital artists continue to explore what a Tasman-based SUV might look like.
From workhorse pickup to imagined family hauler
A recent CGI by Instagram artist @kelsonik reimagines the Tasman with an extended roofline and redesigned rear three-quarter panels to create a more family-friendly cabin. Shown in silver with new alloys, the render highlights practical changes that would make the truck feel more like a traditional SUV: larger rear windows, an upright tailgate treatment, and added interior cargo space. The digital concept also swaps contrasting wheel-arch trim for body-colored surrounds, tightens the lower plastic cladding and fits larger wheels wrapped in chunky tires. Those tires suggest the imagined SUV would still be capable off-road despite the more refined look.
What stands out in the render
- Extended roof and reworked rear quarter panels for extra cargo and rear-seat space
- New rear three-quarter windows and a redesigned tailgate for improved usability
- Body-colored wheel arches and refreshed lower cladding for a cleaner, more cohesive look
- Larger wheels with robust tires to preserve off-road traction
From certain angles the rendered Tasman SUV hints at Toyota 4Runner styling, largely because of its boxy silhouette rather than direct design cues.
Design cues and comparisons
The concept's boxy proportions evoke rugged SUVs like the Toyota 4Runner, especially in silhouette. That comparison is less about brand influence and more about the hard-edged, utility-first shape a pickup-to-SUV conversion naturally produces. For buyers who prefer a traditional SUV profile over an open-bed pickup, this CGI provides a plausible vision of what Kia could offer — though it remains purely speculative.
Why an SUV Tasman is unlikely for Western markets
Kia's strategy for the Tasman focuses on regions where mid-size pickups are in demand for both commercial and private use. Introducing a Tasman SUV in Europe or North America would bring it into direct competition with many established SUVs and crossovers, and it could overlap with Kia's own global lineup. Market positioning, existing product range, and differing consumer preferences make a Western launch improbable.
Market insight
Automakers often test public appetite with CGIs and concept art. These creative exercises can influence future product thinking, but they do not equal greenlights for production. For now, the Tasman will remain a pickup in the markets Kia has targeted — while fans and digital artists continue to imagine alternative body styles. Do you think Kia should greenlight a Tasman-based SUV for Western buyers?
Source: autoevolution
Leave a Comment