Some variants of Kia's new ute will be fitted with this plastic lip on the bottom of their front bumper. Here's why it's there – and how you can buy a Tasman without it.
Most – but not all – variants of the Kia Tasman ute are set to be fitted with an extended front bumper to help achieve a five-star safety rating in Australia.
And the models without it – top-of-the-range Tasman X-Line and X-Pro grades, to give them a greater off-road approach angle for climbing steeper slopes – will go without an ANCAP rating.
While not seen in the launch images published by Kia last year, the latest real-world photos of the Tasman in Australia have shown a plastic bar extending from the bottom edge of the front bumper.
Similar designs are seen on pick-ups sold in the US to hit strict fuel economy targets, but the Tasman's bumper extension is for a different reason.
"It is an ANCAP thing. It's for pedestrian safety," Kia Australia head of product Roland Rivero told Drive.
"The vulnerable road user test done at CASA in Adelaide is important. If you don't score highly on the pedestrian protection side of things, it's going to be difficult to get to five stars.
"On discussions we've had with numerous fleets, to them what matters is the five-star rating up front, but it doesn't stop, for example, the Department of Agriculture or Department of Primary Industries from putting a bullbar [on the car].
"And as long as in the interim on the spec sheet it's a five-star rating, after the fact you can put a bullbar and get your respective off-road capability thrown in and greater approach angle, et cetera."
Kia has already previewed a hooped bullbar it will offer through its genuine accessories range, though it may be joined by a hoopless design, once the full list of optional extras is revealed.
Rivero said the two flagship models in the range will skip the bumper extension to maintain their off-road capability, and will not carry an ANCAP score as a result.
"It won't be on all models. The plan with X-Line and X-Pro, the two top trims, is they're very much an off-road-focused and lifestyle-focused product. And they will be unrated."
For customers who purchase a Tasman with a bumper extension, it remains to be seen if the component will be removable, or if it is moulded into another part of the bumper.
The first shipments of the Kia Tasman ute are due in Australian showrooms in July, initially in dual-cab pick-up form, ahead of a dual-cab chassis in August, and single-cab chassis grades between October and December.
Pricing is due to be announced in the coming days, but it is expected there will be five equipment levels, including the X-Line and X-Pro.
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
