Kia Tasman X-Pro judged in long-term test: comfortable family dual-cab with class-leading cabin, but ADAS frustrations and soft sales persist

CarExpert's long-term verdict after months with the X-Pro

The Kia Tasman X-Pro has completed a multi-month long-term test with CarExpert, which adopted the range-topping dual-cab 4x4 pickup after the model landed in Australian showrooms in mid-2025. The publication's conclusion lists a smooth and well-tuned powertrain, surprisingly capable off-road performance and one of the best interiors in the segment among its pros, with impeding C-pillars for rear passengers, annoying advanced driver assistance and what the reviewer described as the burden of explaining the purchase among the cons. ¹

CarExpert's road test editor noted that daily exposure changed how the Tasman reads: the initial shock of its controversial square, quasi-military-inspired design fades, and the vehicle reveals itself as something Kia created deliberately to avoid blending into a sea of HiLuxes, Rangers and Chinese utes. The publication said the clear takeaway was that the vehicle would suit many Australian families, with most testing time spent commuting through suburbia, freeways and city traffic, plus some trail work before the keys were handed back. ¹

Pricing and competitive context

According to CarExpert, the 2026 Tasman range starts at $38,010 before on-road costs for the S 4x2 single-cab/chassis and tops out with the X-Pro 4x4 dual-cab pickup at $74,990 before on-roads. Between those bookends sit the S 4x2 dual-cab pickup ($42,990), S 4x4 single-cab/chassis ($45,010), S 4x4 dual-cab/chassis ($48,240), SX 4x4 single-cab/chassis ($49,510), S 4x4 dual-cab pickup ($49,990), SX 4x4 dual-cab/chassis ($52,740), SX 4x4 dual-cab pickup ($54,490), SX+ 4x4 dual-cab pickup ($62,390) and X-Line 4x4 dual-cab pickup ($67,990). OnlineAuto's independent review lists the same span for the MY26 range, though it quotes the SX 4x4 single-cab/chassis at $49,520 plus on-roads. ¹²

CarExpert noted these list prices appear more of a guide, with plenty of deals available at dealer level. At list price, it observed tough competition: the Ford Ranger Wildtrak from $75,090 plus on-roads with a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6, the Mitsubishi Triton GSR at $65,590 plus on-roads and the Toyota HiLux Rugged X at $71,990 plus on-roads. It also flagged GWM's Cannon Alpha Vanta flagship at $63,990 drive-away with 170kW/620Nm. GoAuto, in its own X-Pro review, shopped the flagship against the Ranger Tremor V6 ($75,090), GWM Cannon Alpha Hybrid ($64,990), Nissan Navara Pro-4X ($68,418) and HiLux Rugged ($71,990), all plus on-road costs. ¹⁴

Cabin, equipment and practicality

The cabin emerged as the Tasman's strongest suit across reviewers. CarExpert found the X-Pro interior premium in feel, with soft-touch materials, artificial leather-stitched upholstery and knurled aluminium highlights, comparing its character to Kia's US-market Telluride SUV, and calling the box-quilted seats very good with what it described as possibly the best head restraints it has experienced. It highlighted a conscious decision to prioritise physical controls, including knurled aluminium climate buttons, alongside the 12.3-inch infotainment and instrument displays and a small climate panel. ¹

Rear-seat amenity on the X-Pro includes tiltable second-row seats, air vents, USB-C ports, ISOFIX anchors and a 240-volt outlet, with zip-up seatback storage. The tub gets a liner, adjustable tie-down points on a rail system, a tailgate with lift assistance and a second 240V outlet, plus a large rear step and two corner steps. CarExpert's key criticism was the thick C-pillars, with the rear-door windows set ahead of where passengers sit, limiting rear visibility. X-Pro dimensions include a 5410mm length, 1930mm width, 3270mm wheelbase and a 1173-litre tub. ¹

The X-Pro's specific equipment spans 17-inch black alloy wheels on all-terrain tyres, fuel tank underbody protection, an electronic rear locking differential, X-Trek off-road cruise mode with Snow, Sand, Mud and Rock terrain modes, a ground view monitor, off-road dash information, heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, Harman Kardon sound and a sunroof, per CarExpert's equipment rundown. OnlineAuto, testing the same variant, judged the infotainment setup among the best in the segment and noted all grades carry wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with X-Line and X-Pro adding dual wireless phone chargers and a seven-year Kia Connect subscription. ¹²

Powertrain, economy and on-road behaviour

The Tasman runs a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder with 154kW and 440Nm, an eight-speed automatic as standard, and two- or four-wheel drive. CarExpert's X-Pro carries a claimed 8.1L/100km combined figure and 214g/km CO2, an 80-litre tank, 1013kg payload, 3500kg braked towing, 2237kg weight, 3250kg GVM and 6200kg GCM. During its extended test, CarExpert managed around 8.8L/100km. GoAuto returned 9.2L/100km in its own test, shy of the claim though capable of mid-7s cruising on the highway. ¹⁴

CarExpert described the powertrain as eager and willing with enough power for most tasks, with low gearing in the eight-speed counteracting turbo lag, and noted the engine's numbers sit roughly on par with the retired 4.5-litre turbo-diesel V8 from the LandCruiser 70 Series and the newer 2.8-litre four-cylinder that replaced it. GoAuto's reviewer said performance felt sufficient for touring and urban use but sensed it would slide away near the payload ceiling or when towing close to the 3500kg rating, wishing for a larger engine, and praised the eight-speed automatic as a gem that suits the diesel's torque band without hunting. ¹⁴

On the road, CarExpert found ride comfort among the best in the class, soaking up bumps and potholes even unladen, with only a minor shudder through the ladder frame on larger shunts, and cornering confidence helped by the Hankook all-terrain tyres. It particularly liked the 4A part-time all-wheel-drive mode for rain or gravel. OnlineAuto credited the Australian suspension tune with sensitive damper control and hydraulic rebound hardware for a polished ride on rutted tarmac, noting the X-Pro's 12.5-metre turning circle is slightly larger than the rest of the range. Reviewer Henry Man, in a seven-day press car evaluation supplied by Kia Australia, found the unladen ride still unsettled over minor bumps. ¹²⁵

Off-road capability, ADAS and the ANCAP asterisk

CarExpert concluded the Tasman's soft suspension is deliberately tuned for the bush, providing greater wheel articulation and traction that let it clear challenging tracks straight out of the box, supported by terrain modes, a locking rear differential, downhill speed control and the X-Trek off-road cruise system. X-Pro off-road dimensions include 252mm ground clearance, 32.2-degree approach, 26.2-degree departure and 25.8-degree breakover angles, and 800mm wading depth. GoAuto called the X-Pro practically unstoppable on sand and limestone tracks, while noting the 3270mm wheelbase can cause chassis contact on high ground. ¹⁴

The driver assistance suite drew consistent criticism. CarExpert found the ADAS acceptable until it was not: the ute objects to moving over for filtering motorcycles, dislikes eyes off the windscreen for more than a second, and its overspeed warning is overzealous, with some settings requiring a steering-wheel button press-and-hold on every start. GoAuto noted the speed-warning system beeps four times at just 1km/h over the posted limit and must be switched off each restart, while Henry Man found the driver attention camera sensitive and the parking sensors and rear AEB reactivating with every shift into reverse, calling Highway Driving Assist 2 smooth and dependable by contrast. ¹⁴⁵

On safety ratings, CarExpert reported ANCAP awarded the Tasman a five-star result – 87 per cent adult occupant protection, 85 per cent child occupant, 74 per cent vulnerable road user and 80 per cent safety assist – but that the rating specifically excludes the X-Line and X-Pro, whose off-road bumpers ANCAP says affect vulnerable road users. OnlineAuto and GoAuto independently reported the same exclusion for the two flagship variants. ¹²⁴

Ownership costs and the sales picture

Ownership terms per CarExpert include a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty for private buyers (seven years and 150,000km for businesses), up to eight years of roadside assistance conditional on Kia dealer servicing, 12-month/15,000km service intervals, and seven years or 105,000km of capped-price servicing totalling $4093 on the X-Pro. GoAuto separately detailed pay-as-you-go and prepaid service packages up to seven years, and observed X-Pro servicing costs more than the Ford Ranger's but less than the twice-yearly HiLux regime. ¹⁴

The commercial backdrop remains challenging. Carscoops reported the Tasman was built for 20,000 Australian buyers a year, but sold fewer than 400 in March; the launch-year target was trimmed to 10,000 units after a July 2025 launch, and just 4196 were sold by year's end, with 472 in February and 399 in March. Speaking to Drive, Kia Australia chief executive Damien Meredith acknowledged the gap, said price cuts were off the table in favour of finance offers and value-add considerations, and admitted the brand has done well with lifestyle buyers but not with fleet or rural provincial markets. He told Carsales the design is a little bit divisive while dismissing suggestions a facelift is being rushed into development. CarExpert's sales data page records 3924 Tasman sales in 2025 and 2674 year-to-date in 2026. ⁶³