Car news, 24 June ’24: Kia Tasman could be in Australia ahead of schedule, Zeekr aiming to have seven models by 2026, and more

It’s well known that dual-cab utes have become a popular lifestyle-vehicle choice for Australian families, regardless of whether there’s a tradie in the Living with the dual-cab ute that has the plaudits but not the popularity it deserves

The ute market is changing faster than ever, and although on the surface the Kia Tasman seems conventional with body-on-frame construction and a Tasman’s up-spec, on-road focused trim impresses with its lush cabin, surprising value and off-road prowess.

The Kia Tasman has landed in the Australian market on the strength of celebrity endorsements, Kia’s reputation for local chassis tuning and, well, very You’ve seen the reviews of the top-end Tasman X-Pro, but how does Kia’s first ute stack up as a more affordable workhorse?

After lengthy deliberations, Kia hit the ‘go’ button on a project to develop and sell a midsize pick-up in 2019. The result of that plan, internally Protracted and costly development targeted at Australian driving tastes sees the Kia Tasman debut near the top of the class, but it isn’t a perfect ute.

Chasing Cars has previously had a good look at it inside and out at its global launch event in Tasmania, but this is the first time we’ve been able to We get behind the wheel of one of the most anticipated all-new utes to launch in the current era and hit the off-road trails. Is Kia Tasman worth the hype?

Kia’s petrol-powered K4 hatch appears to be fighting a losing battle against the wave of sharply priced small Chinese EVs. But for the purists, there’s still plenty to like

With pure-ICE variants dropped, the cheapest Sportage is now a pricier hybrid option. Is it an enticingly thrifty family choice?

If you’re pining for a 30-grand new car crammed with gadgets, best look away now – the facelifted 2026 Kia Stonic S base model is an engineering-led, Neatly sized, impressively packaged and with turbo performance bolstering admirable dynamic talent, the base Stonic proves there’s joy in simple pleasures.

Since its Australian debut in October 2024, the electric Kia EV5 has forged a respectable degree of popularity for itself. Riding on the back of Kia’s Among a plethora of impressive new mid-sized electric SUVs, how is Kia’s EV5 faring in terms of driving flair, interior quality, charging speed and value?

Following the demise of the rattly diesel Pregio in 2006, Kia has been out of the van game in Australia for 20 years. But the Korean brand is coming back Kia returns to van segment after over 20 years to produce oddball, yet enticing, electric effort.

When the first-generation Seltos launched in late 2019 it neatly filled a gap in Kia’s Australian line-up. Smaller than the Sportage and above Kia’s small Second-generation small SUV grows in size and goes all hybrid, though the all-new model doesn't fall far from the familiar Seltos tree.

Korean Tesla Model 3 challenger offers conventional EV credentials packed inside totally unconventional styling

Ageing yet impressive electric figurehead’s facelift improves the breed even if it mightn’t boost modest popularity

Non-SUV passenger car sales were down again in 2025, now accounting for barely more than one in ten vehicles sold in Australia. But where some importers The electric age has sparked a revival in popularity of sedans but challenging the Tesla Model 3 will be tough. Can Kia’s EV4 pull it off?

The EV3 is the latest entrant into Kia’s straightforwardly-named range of all-electric vehicles. Smaller than the EV5 and EV6 medium SUVs, it’s also the One of our favourite electric SUVs joins the fleet, but is Kia’s EV3 really the darling we thought on launch?

It’s been a big 2025 for Kia and its Australian arm for new and revised metal, including (in chronological order) EV6 update, K4 sedan, EV4 (global Korean mid-size SUV facelift brings key changes but does it improve the popular front-drive hybrid enough?

A senior Kia executive has confirmed that the South Korean brand is working on new products that will share the body-on-frame platform of the Tasman ute. Wagon-body sibling to the Kia Tasman ute is progressing in development as key executive compares situation to Ford Ranger and Everest models

The CEO of Hyundai Motor Company Australia (HMCA) Don Romano has confirmed the company is currently working on developing two different-sized utes – a Previously mentioned GM joint-venture still not confirmed; will be a large US-focused ute not for Oz

It’s official: Hyundai is producing a ute, but don’t expect a Kia Tasman clone, because the Korean brand is going in with American company General Motors

Kia is planning a Tasman SUV model to target Toyota Prado and Ford Everest buyers in Australia, with negotiations occurring across the Kia business to With Telluride having slid from Kia Australia’s grap, the effort is on to convince other markets to accept a Tasman SUV to take on Prado

The Kia Tasman was one of the worst kept secrets in the automotive world, and Kia is finally on the cusp of officially launching its first ever ute. With its first ever ute to launch imminently, Kia will be looking at how to amortise costs over a broader range

Sportage (facelift) Vehicle type: Mid-size SUVLaunched: July The Kia Sportage has just launched its mid-life facelift, featuring revised styling inside Your guide to all the new Kia vehicles heading to Australian showrooms in 2025

Kia has confirmed pricing for its first ever challenger to the likes of the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux, while also releasing the first official images Pricing starts from $42,990 for Korea’s newest rival for Ranger and co, while body-colour fender flares revealed as first step to address Tasman ute’s polarising design

In the wake of at-times intense criticism of the exterior design of the Kia Tasman ute, the brand has today revealed a drivable prototype of a widebody Kia has built the most extreme version yet of its Tasman ute and hit back the ute's haters.

While the exterior design of the Kia Tasman has dominated much of the online reaction since the highly anticipated ute was unveiled last week, the Kia’s first-ever ute will launch with four-cylinder turbo-diesel power, but what types of powertrains can we expect to join the lineup down the track?

Kia Australia’s highly-anticipated Tasman ute has just been unveiled and it’s treading in the toes of some of the most iconic and popular utility vehicles The Kia Tasman is the new kid on the block in ute town, but how does it compare to some of the biggest dual-cab rivals in Australia?

The Kia Tasman has been revealed officially at last, with a bold design and various class-leading claims heralding the South Korean car maker’s first-ever A deep dive rundown of the three-variant, all diesel-powered ute lineup from its global unveiling

Thanks for joining us this Wednesday 7 August 2024. Notably in car news today: Kia has lobbed its next teaser trailer for its upcoming Tasman ute, this Every important car news story breaking today, in one convenient read

Thanks for joining us this Thursday April 11th 2024. Notably in car news today: Alfa Romeo has pulled the covers off its first electric car, the Milano Every important car news story breaking today, one convenient read

Years after rumours first came to light, the Kia has begun rolling out its official ad campaign for the Tasman ute and doing so, slowly. In a one minute We still don’t know what it really looks like – or even its name – but Kia is gearing up to announce it’s Aussie-focused ute

With Australian ute sales booming, Kia is preparing to introduce its own contender in just over a year’s time with the soon-to-be-announced Tasman – a It's the ute that's expected to shake up the segment with new details revealing just how much of a threat Kia's ute could be to its established rivals.

Australia’s highly competitive ute market is soon to receive a brand new entrant in the form of the Kia Tasman, the first vehicle of its kind from the This is Chasing Cars’ rolling coverage of everything you need to know about the automaker’s first ever pickup destined to shake up the ute market.