Sponsored

Kia has new pickup coming in 2030

babytruk

2.5L Hybrid
Well-known member
First Name
john
Joined
Nov 2, 2025
Threads
2
Messages
628
Reaction score
1,120
Location
Curacao
Vehicle(s)
2024 maverick Hybrid XLT
Engine
2.5L Hybrid
Will a Tasman meet US crash standards?
Not sure, but I think so. I first thought Kia had made a deal with the Chinese, but I looked it up and it’s made in South Korea. Since I was “pissed” that they stuck me with this, it wouldn’t be fair to give a personal review. Let’s just say there are a “lot” of plastics that make the Maverick plastic appear like Kevlar. But I assume even a Maverick rental would look pretty beat up.
 

Carlitos_92

2.0L EcoBoost
Well-known member
Joined
Mar 24, 2024
Threads
4
Messages
2,293
Reaction score
4,662
Location
Texas
Vehicle(s)
2023 Area 51 XLT EB AWD Lux FX4
Engine
2.0L EcoBoost
Clubs
 
Will a Tasman meet US crash standards?
Does a Maverick meet US crash standards???

If you change lanes too abruptly in one of our trucks it might total it, so I’m willing to give ANZ standards a try if I’m being honest. 😀
 

commadorebob

2.0L EcoBoost
Well-known member
First Name
Bob
Joined
Sep 17, 2022
Threads
62
Messages
4,961
Reaction score
10,584
Location
Alabama
Vehicle(s)
2025 Expedition Max Platinum; 2023 Maverick Lariat
Engine
2.0L EcoBoost
Kia: 868,715 total US vehicles sold in 2025.
Ford: 828,832 F-Series sold in 2025 for a total 2,204,124 total US vehicles sold. Their best performance since 2019.

I don't think Ford is losing sleep. Especially with it looking like that.
 

tiktokbrainrot

2.0L EcoBoost
Well-known member
Joined
Mar 31, 2026
Threads
0
Messages
191
Reaction score
381
Location
around
Vehicle(s)
91 F250, 20 GLI, 25 Mav XLT
Engine
2.0L EcoBoost
Will a Tasman meet US crash standards?
I dont see why not. Australia is likely on par with the EU on requirements, so not too different then the USA.

It is frustratingly hard to find actual comparisons of requirements. Only one off the top of my head is the chevy SS, which was highly rated in both the US and Australia.
Kia: 868,715 total US vehicles sold in 2025.
Ford: 828,832 F-Series sold in 2025 for a total 2,204,124 total US vehicles sold. Their best performance since 2019.

I don't think Ford is losing sleep. Especially with it looking like that.
Resting on your laurels is a great way to lose markets.

Ford should be concerned that nearly half their sales rely on a big half ton truck or larger that has little market outside the US.

That 2.2 million sounds great...until you consider that Ford was regularly hitting 2.6 million pre Red Lung. And globally, Ford is averaging about 4.4 million vehicles sold, compared to 6.65 billion pre 2020.

Those are not good trends.
 

Sponsored

icegradner

2.5L Hybrid
Well-known member
Joined
Nov 5, 2021
Threads
20
Messages
3,870
Reaction score
6,056
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Vehicle(s)
2022 XLT Maverick Hybrid
Engine
2.5L Hybrid
Clubs
 
I just saw over on CNBC that Kia announced a new line of pickups for the U.S. market. The lineup includes a hybrid model.

They already have a pickup called the Tasman available in other markets. It's a new pickup platform optimized for rough terrain.
Given that KIA is owned by the same company as Hyundai, maybe they are talking about a redesigned version of the Santa Cruz with a new name and KIA branding.
 

commadorebob

2.0L EcoBoost
Well-known member
First Name
Bob
Joined
Sep 17, 2022
Threads
62
Messages
4,961
Reaction score
10,584
Location
Alabama
Vehicle(s)
2025 Expedition Max Platinum; 2023 Maverick Lariat
Engine
2.0L EcoBoost
Resting on your laurels is a great way to lose markets.

Ford should be concerned that nearly half their sales rely on a big half ton truck or larger that has little market outside the US.

That 2.2 million sounds great...until you consider that Ford was regularly hitting 2.6 million pre Red Lung. And globally, Ford is averaging about 4.4 million vehicles sold, compared to 6.65 billion pre 2020.

Those are not good trends.
I never said they would rest on their laurels. I said they are not losing sleep. This thing isn't even coming out until 2030 and the internet is full of vehicle vaporware that never came to fruition. Still waiting on that Toyota "Maverick killer" that was promised three years ago.

In addition, last year Ford had more US-only revenue than Kia had globally. Ford is down 400,000 from their pre-covid peak. So what? They also had to deal with higher interest rates, tariffs, and unwinding some of the EV mandate garbage. They are also offering a leaner product line. They likely would have exceeded their peak without those headwinds.

It is also silly to discount the fact Ford makes most of its money on pickup trucks when three of the top five selling models in the US are pickup trucks with Ford selling almost as many as the other two combined.
 

scott1070

2.5L Hybrid
Well-known member
First Name
Scott
Joined
Mar 5, 2025
Threads
0
Messages
143
Reaction score
295
Location
calgary
Vehicle(s)
25 lariat
Engine
2.5L Hybrid
That poor Tasman looks like a Tacoma that got its ass beaten and left for dead.

I'm sure there will be some takers when the US model comes out here, but even in the more caricature-friendly truck market, Kia's design language is... pretty "niche."
It looks like a cross between a Nissan and a Jeep.
 
Sponsored

Finnster

2.5L Hybrid
Well-known member
Joined
Jul 8, 2022
Threads
58
Messages
734
Reaction score
696
Location
N. E. Wisconsin
Vehicle(s)
Chevy, Kia, and a 2025 Maverick Hybrid 4K Tow
Engine
2.5L Hybrid
I love the grill on my 25!
That said, the pre-25's have a classically handsome grill that will stand the test of time, IMO.
 

Tbone289

2.0L EcoBoost
Well-known member
First Name
Terry
Joined
Jul 18, 2024
Threads
0
Messages
2,107
Reaction score
3,600
Location
MO
Vehicle(s)
'24 Mav FX4, '12 Focus SE Sport, '01 Focus ZX3, '00 Jeep XJ, '67 Bronco
Engine
2.0L EcoBoost
I love the grill on my 25!
That said, the pre-25's have a classically handsome grill that will stand the test of time, IMO.
I agree. I've learned to like the new grille & fascia much more than I did initially, but I think it might look more "dated" in 5-10 years. Hard to say though...
 

tiktokbrainrot

2.0L EcoBoost
Well-known member
Joined
Mar 31, 2026
Threads
0
Messages
191
Reaction score
381
Location
around
Vehicle(s)
91 F250, 20 GLI, 25 Mav XLT
Engine
2.0L EcoBoost
I never said they would rest on their laurels. I said they are not losing sleep. This thing isn't even coming out until 2030 and the internet is full of vehicle vaporware that never came to fruition. Still waiting on that Toyota "Maverick killer" that was promised three years ago.
Assuming that new competitors will never match what you currently sell is resting on your laurels

In addition, last year Ford had more US-only revenue than Kia had globally. Ford is down 400,000 from their pre-covid peak. So what? They also had to deal with higher interest rates, tariffs, and unwinding some of the EV mandate garbage. They are also offering a leaner product line. They likely would have exceeded their peak without those headwinds.
Ford does not provide US only revenue figures in any of their financial reports, so I'm going to press "X" to doubt unless you can provide a source proving this. None of the other stuff you listed is special to Ford, Every other brand had to deal with the same things, including Kia.

Slimming your offerings is one of those things beancounter MBA dudebros tout as a great achievement, but in reality all you do is alienate customers. The buyers of the Fiestas, Focus, Fusion, and Taurus didnt start buying Escapes and F-150s, they went and bought Camrys, and Civics, and Rios and Konas instead. When the Ranger got canned, buyers bought Tacomas and Frontiers instead.

It is also silly to discount the fact Ford makes most of its money on pickup trucks when three of the top five selling models in the US are pickup trucks with Ford selling almost as many as the other two combined.
It is not silly. The US is but one country on this globe. Ford is not a US only company. It is a global automaker. Becoming too dependent on one specialized model is a major issue, as that half ton truck has no market expansion available. It can only be successful in north America.

Meanwhile a smaller truck, like the Tazman, can be sold globally. Dismissing competition because "muh F-150" is to be ignorant of global auto sales, and last time the auto industry did that....they required multi billion dollar bailouts.

Almost like the USA isnt the center of the universe.
Given that KIA is owned by the same company as Hyundai, maybe they are talking about a redesigned version of the Santa Cruz with a new name and KIA branding.
Santa cruz is dead and buried. The new truck they're working on is related to Hyundai's new BoF truck offering.

Which IMO is not the right angle. Had they fixed the Santa Cruz's issues, included a hybrid option (seriously they have it, Where TF was it?), and offer proper accessory support (bed caps? Hello?) it would have done much better. The midsize BoF segment is much more crowded.
 

Fcnrwy

2.0L EcoBoost
Well-known member
First Name
Jerry
Joined
Dec 17, 2022
Threads
10
Messages
2,871
Reaction score
4,986
Location
Wisconsin
Vehicle(s)
Maverick XL Area 51
Engine
2.0L EcoBoost
Clubs
 

HeyBales

2.5L Hybrid
Well-known member
First Name
Mike
Joined
May 3, 2024
Threads
4
Messages
4,999
Reaction score
4,635
Location
KC Metro area
Vehicle(s)
2005 Toyota RAV4, 2024 XLT Hybrid
Engine
2.5L Hybrid
And people on here complained about the new grill of the 2025 Ford Maverick. :sadface::sadface::LOL:
Those headlights appear setback enough the front grill area would wipe out some frontal shine on the road.
I'm sure it's an interesting effect if it indeed covers the whole road.
Sponsored

 
 







Top