The Kia Tasman is expected to debut with a 2.2-liter turbocharged diesel engine capable of producing 200 horsepower. The turbodiesel can currently be found in several cars that Kia produces for overseas markets, like the Kia Sorento, Kia Carnival, and Kia Sedona, as well as under the hood of vehicles produced by Kia’s sister company, Hyundai. While the 2.2-liter diesel motor is most experts’ top guess for what we’ll find in the new Tasman, it’s not yet confirmed. Other speculators and industry insiders have different opinions. Some predict that the 2.5-liter diesel found in the Sonata N-Line will power the Tasman, while others maintain entire lists of potential motors.
As for us, we’re hoping that Kia goes in a slightly different direction. While small, fuel-efficient diesel motors are undoubtedly cool, we’d like to see a green energy option under the Tasman’s hood. An electric Kia pickup truck is rumored to be in development, but this article is about the Tasman, and we hope Kia chooses to include a clean energy option for the Tasman line. We’d love to see a solid hybrid like the modern Ford Maverick — or, even better, a fully electric pickup like the Ford F-150 Lightning, with its wealth of advanced features.
It’s 2024, after all, and the thought of companies exclusively producing brand-new fossil fuel-powered vehicles doesn’t sit right. Nonetheless, it would be nice to see Kia release the Tasman with at least a couple of engine options. The turbodiesel is fine. However, a robust hybrid or fully electric motor would really make the truck stand out and potentially carve a niche for itself as both an imposing Ford competitor and a strong option for drivers who crave pickup utility without the negative environmental impact.
