'You have to be kidding?': Forums blow up after 2025 Kia Tasman price confirmed

Kia’s recent pricing announcement for its Tasman ute has caused the internet to explode, with many enthusiasts and prospective buyers weighing in on the debate about whether or not the newcomer costs too much.

The release of the 2025 Kia Tasman’s pricing last week ended months of speculation from the media and public alike, but not all on social media and forums are happy about the dollars being asked.

Kia’s official list pricing sees the entry grade Tasman S in two-wheel drive form start at $42,990 before on-road costs, before stepping up to $49,990 for the same grade with four-wheel drive.

The rest of the range above this is four-wheel drive and includes the SX at $54,490, SX+ for $62,390, then the X-line for $67,990 followed by the top-of-the-range X-Pro for a list price of $74,990.

Toyota’s HiLux range starts at $40,965 for the entry level 4x4 single-cab chassis body style and tops out at $74,310 for the GR-Sport Double-cab ute.

Ford’s Ranger 4x4 ute line-up starts $50,880 for the double cab XL and heads north to the Wildtrak X at $77,640 and Platinum V6 for a list price of $80,640.

 So, comparatively speaking, the Kia Tasman doesn’t appear overpriced alongside the equivalent HiLux or Ranger. But many disagree.

“I was interested until I saw the prices,” said one Kia Tasman Club Australia Facebook member.

“They will be lucky to move any stock at the price point, crazy, there’s no way you would take one of these over a next gen Ranger,” wrote another member.

Even Kia Australia’s official Facebook page was copping a barrage of opinions: “80k for top spec? You have to be kidding?”

Oothers took umbrage with more than just the price: “UGLY, overpriced, needs a bigger engine."

The design of the Tasman has polarised opinion with its unique front end that steps away from the traditional ute look worn by almost all rivals on the market, save for the BYD Shark 6.

Many of the frustrated commentators also suggested the ute hasn’t earned its stripes to justify being priced matched to its more established rivals, and that the powerplant under the Tasman’s bonnet wouldn't cut it against the V6-powered Ranger.

“Kia had a real opportunity to give Toyota and Ford a run for their money, but the engine is severely under-done,” a 4x4 Australia Reddit commenter wrote.

“2.2-litre… how cute,” said another.

All Tasmans have the same 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine making 154kW and 540Nm. Ford’s Ranger engine line-up includes a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder making 154kW and 500Nm and a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 producing 184kW and 600Nm.

Meanwhile the most powerful engine in Toyota’s HiLux range is the 2.8-litre turbo-diesel making 165kW and 550Nm.

Not all commenters on social media were put off by the Tasman’s pricing, looks or specs, with one user on TikTok providing another point of view.

“The people in the comments section are always scared of something new. Give it 12 months and it’ll be accepted just like all the other reliable, innovative and value-for-money Kias.”

Kia Australia said even as early as January this year it already had more than 20,000 expressions of interest in the Tasman, and expects to sell around 10,000 to 11,000 in the second half of 2025 after its launch.

“What you've seen at the reveal is what you're going to get,” Kia Australia’s General Manager of Product Planning Roland Rivero told us at the launch of the Kia K4 early this year.

Kia expected a strong reaction to the styling, but Rivero says it was part of the plan.

“We probably weren't surprised by it, but we set out as a brand to be different, to be distinctive in what is a fairly heritage type of conservative segment.

"Our designers set out to deliver a product that's designed for 2025 to 2035, as opposed to a product that's really pretty much designed for the era that's gone by. So it remains to be seen obviously, the proof will be in the pudding when the time comes.”