Kia is keeping an eye on the rise of plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) utes in Australia, but it has no immediate plans to introduce an electrified version of the new Tasman.
The Tasman launched last month with a turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine – a popular configuration among utes dating back decades.
However, a new wave of electrified utes is sweeping through the market, including plug-in hybrids such as the BYD Shark 6, Ford Ranger PHEV, and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV.
In particular, the Shark 6 made a splash when it arrived Down Under early this year, attracting thousands of buyers despite its newcomer status.
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Clickhereto get a great deal.
The success of BYD’s breakthrough ute has other manufacturers taking notes, but Kia is keen to give its debut ute time to settle into the market before introducing an alternative powertrain, according to senior product manager Roland Rivero.
“It would be unreasonable to say next year (for a new powertrain) because we’ve only just launched, we’ve got to give what we’ve put together an opportunity to bed itself in the marketplace,” Mr Rivero told CarExpert.
“There’s still heavy demand, 80 per cent plus for four-cylinder ICE utes. For the most part, we think that the Tasman ticks the right boxes in terms of the powertrain offering, but taking into account the future with NVES and customers looking at greener options, we are exploring what we can do down the track.
“It won’t happen in the next 12 months – that I can assure you – [but] it might be a little bit further down the track if we are to bring in electrification.”
Kia already offers a wide range of hybrids, PHEVs, and electric vehicles (EVs) in Australia, although none of the brand’s hybrid or PHEV models feature a diesel combustion engine.
If the Korea manufacturer was to go down the plug-in hybrid route for the Tasman, it could utilise the powertrain from the Sorento PHEV – a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine teamed with an electric motor integrated into its six-speed automatic transmission, and on-demand all-wheel drive.
However, Kia seems unworried by the threat of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), and therefore not in any particular hurry to reduce the emissions of its new ute.
“Current modelling has us in credit this year and in credit next year,” said Mr Rivero.
“The mix is changing as well in terms of the hybrid volume for us moving forward, so… we’re probably one of the few brands that can accommodate the introduction of a diesel ute at this point.”
While NVES appears unlikely to force Kia’s hand on a battery-assisted ute, the new emissions regulations influenced the brand’s decision to opt for a turbo-diesel instead of the more powerful 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol available in Korean models.
“It was a balancing act between the diesel and the turbo-petrol, and whilst you do get a bit more power in the turbo-petrol, it’s down on the torque side of it as well. CO2 is also a key consideration, so NVES played a part in determining whether the gasoline turbo would make it,” said Mr Rivero.
Ultimately, Kia is happy with the Tasman in its current form, and how it compares to direct rivals in key areas such as towing capacity and payload.
The Tasman has a braked towing capacity of 3500kg, in line with segment benchmarks, while all variants boast a payload in excess of 1000kg. However, it can’t match the PHEV trio or V6 Ranger for power and torque.
Nevertheless, consumer sentiment will dictate what Kia does with the Tasman going forward.
“There’s still a definitive need out there in the marketplace for towing, for payload, for live axles and a rear diff lock to go off-roading, and for the most part, the current guise of the Tasman – its current powertrain, transfer case and diff lock – is hitting the mark,” concluded Mr Rivero.
“So we’ll continue to explore other permutations combinations as we go along. But right now, I think we’ve got the package for the current market.”
“The chassis that’s been developed can underpin multiple powertrains into the future, and we’ll respond accordingly with NVES and with market demand as we go along,” added Kia Australia CEO Damien Meredith.
“But we’ve got a 10-year product life cycle, we’ve got every opportunity to further enhance it based on market feedback.”