The Kia Tasman was always going to be judged harshly in Australia, but the early conversation wasn’t centred on towing figures, low-range performance or payload. Instead, it was the front end – and whether Kia got it wrong – that dominated the noise.

In a dual-cab market where buyers are conservative and brand loyalty runs deep, slow early sales can apply real pressure. When a new ute struggles to gain traction, manufacturers start looking for answers. And the Tasman’s face has quickly become the most questioned part of the package – rightly or wrongly.

Bold or blunder?

From the moment it was revealed, the Tasman’s front end split opinion. Slim, wide-set headlights, squared panels and heavy plastic cladding pushed it well away from the established ute playbook. Just look at our social media pages whenever we post about it! 

Some see it as refreshing. Plenty more see it as awkward – especially parked next to fan favourites like the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux. In a segment where looks matter because they signal strength, durability and aftermarket potential, the Tasman doesn’t immediately pass the pub-carpark test – at face value, at least.

The reaction hasn’t just been online noise either. Styling criticism has featured heavily in early reviews, often overshadowing what’s otherwise a highly capable ladder-frame ute. It’s third-place finish at our recent 4X4 Ute of the Year test highlighting this very point. 

Kia’s brief was never to build a Ranger clone. The Tasman was designed to look functional and honest – flat panels, squared guards and materials chosen to cope with scratches rather than avoid them.

From a 4×4 perspective, some of that makes sense. Plastic cladding is cheaper to replace. Squared arches allow tyre clearance. Simple forms work better with bars, winches and recovery gear. The issue is that ute buyers still expect a certain visual appeal. The Tasman’s narrow lighting signature and unusual proportions don’t scream “touring rig” in a traditional sense – and perception matters when you’re asking buyers to switch brands.

Signs Kia is listening

Kia hasn’t publicly backtracked on the design, but subtle changes suggest it’s paying attention.

Colour-matched fenders have already been floated as a way to soften the look, and concept-style previews have shown the Tasman with a wider stance and more conventional front treatments. Even imagery tied to fleet or military-style applications shows alternative headlight and grille designs that look far closer to what ute buyers expect. None of that confirms a redesign – but it does suggest Kia isn’t married to the original look forever.

In the 4×4 world, redesigns are expensive and slow. Crash testing, ADR compliance and accessory integration all limit how quickly a front end can be changed. That said, slow sales change priorities. If the Tasman continues to underperform in a market as critical as Australia, Kia has every reason to bring forward visual updates – even if the mechanical package remains untouched.

Recent reports indicate a “major redesign is coming” but a mid-cycle facelift is unlikely to land until at least 2027 – even 2028. This would be the natural point for a more noticeable front-end revision, but smaller changes could appear earlier to improve showroom appeal.

  • Very likely (within the model cycle): A facelift that tones down the divisive elements – lighting, grille proportions, guard treatments – feels inevitable. Kia won’t abandon the Tasman’s identity, but it may sand off the sharp edges.
  • Unlikely to be immediate: There’s little chance of a rushed redesign. Kia will give the Tasman time to find its feet, supported by accessories and trim variations. Expect factory bars, skid plates, colour-matched panels and special editions to do much of the visual heavy lifting before any official facelift lands.

The Tasman’s fundamentals are sound, but in Australia’s dual-cab market, looks still matter – especially up front. If slow sales persist, styling will most likely be one of the first levers Kia pulls.

A redesigned front end won’t happen overnight, but the signs suggest Kia is already thinking about how to make the Tasman more palatable to a 4×4 audience that values toughness, familiarity and mod potential over design experimentation.

MORE Tasman news and reviews!