Kia Tasman X-Line Review: The Premium Ute For Dandenong Tradies, Campers and Melbourne Commuters

Written by Daniel Romero

If you've been shopping for a new ute in Melbourne's south-east, you've likely spotted the Kia Tasman turning heads on the Princes Highway or parked up at construction sites across the CBD. The X-Line variant sits in the sweet spot of the range and offers premium appointments without the X-Pro's hardcore off-road price premium. Having spent a week behind the wheel covering everything from the daily Dandenong to CBD commute, towing a fully loaded trailer, and even a weekend camping trip down the Mornington Peninsula, here's our verdict.

Let's address the elephant in the room straight away: the Tasman's styling divides opinion. Some will love the bold front grille and muscular stance; others will find it polarising. But drive it for a few days and you soon realise there's substance behind the style. This is a solid, premium offering that feels more SUV-like in its refinement than many traditional workhorses, while doing what utes need to do, very well.

Power comes from a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel producing 154kW and 440Nm, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Two-Speed Active Transfer Case with 4A mode means you've got proper four-wheel drive capability when you need it, whether that's tackling muddy work sites in Pakenham or rutted tracks on your way to a remote camping spot.

For the daily grind between Dandenong and the Melbourne CBD, the Tasman X-Line delivers more than enough grunt. Merging onto the Monash Freeway is effortless, and the engine's broad torque band means you're rarely left wanting for mid-range punch.

With an 80-litre fuel tank, that gives you a theoretical range north of 1,000 kilometres on the open road (perfect for those trips up to the Murray or across to the Grampians).

In our real-world testing, which mixed peak-hour commuting, suburban running, and motorway miles, we saw figures ranging between 8L/100km and 8.8L/100km (a strong result for a ute of this size).

Here's where the Tasman took us by surprise. Kia's local ride and handling tuning programme has paid dividends.

The suspension is one of the nicest-riding set-ups in the ute class, absorbing even the harshest of bumps on the South Gippsland Highway and the rougher back roads around Officer far better than most of its competitors. It doesn't crash or jostle over rough surfaces, and even with an empty tray the rear end remains composed.

I've got a history of lower back issues from my rugby days, so I'm particularly sensitive to seat comfort on longer journeys. The 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat with two-way lumbar support and memory function really impressed me. After several 2-3 hour long drives, I stepped out without the usual discomfort and old man noises that I have begun making as I enter and exit cars now days.

The Tasman X-Line is rated to tow 3,500kg braked, and we put that to the test by hitching up a trailer loaded with manure from the dairy farm next door for a mate's veggie garden at their farm. The integrated trailer brake controller and trailer stability assist meant the whole exercise was effortless. The engine pulled strongly, the transmission held gears intelligently, and at no point did we feel the vehicle was working beyond its comfort zone.

For tradies and workers, there are plenty of thoughtful touches:

• Factory-fitted tub liner as standard
• Tub side rails with cleats for securing loads
• Tub lights for those early starts or late finishes
• Rear bumper corner steps for easy tray access
• 240V/400W AC inverter in the tub for powering tools on site

The same features that make it great for work, make it perfect for a cheeky weekend getaway. The tub's generous dimensions accommodate swags, eskies, and camping gear with room to spare. The 240V outlet means you can run a portable fridge, plug a laptop in or charge camera batteries without needing a separate inverter.

One feature that is easily overlooked but is actually a stroke of genius, is the storage box integrated into the rear right wheel arch. It's the perfect spot for a first aid kit, and during a summer's day trip to Brighton Beach, owners will find it ideal for hiding wallets and phones out of sight while in the water.

The second-row seats slide and recline, so your passengers won't complain on longer trips, and there's a further 45 litres of under-seat storage for stowing gear you want kept secure and out of the weather.

The Harman Kardon premium sound system (eight speakers in total) works a treat. Whether you're streaming Triple M through wireless Apple CarPlay or listening to your own playlist via Bluetooth, the audio quality is crisp and punchy. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto both paired quickly and reliably during our test, which is more than can be said for some rival systems.

The driver assistance suite is comprehensive and, for the most part, well-calibrated, but not without flaws. The lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring all intervene smoothly rather than snatching at the wheel or beeping incessantly. The alerts feel better judged than many similar utes and a step above most of its Chinese brand competitors.

The 360-degree around-view monitor also makes parking this sizeable vehicle in tight CBD carparks far less stressful.

Some drivers however, may find the speed limit alert sounds annoying (especially when the pick up the wrong one), fortunately, Kia has provided a shortcut to mute this by pressing the volume button down on the steering wheel for approx 5 seconds. Unfortunately, for drivers who do not like the driver assistance monitoring, you will need to manually adjust your preferred settings in the infotainment screen at the start of each drive.

Kia's seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty remains one of the best in the business and is a major selling point for anyone planning to rack up serious kilometres or hold onto their vehicle long-term.

Service intervals are 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, whichever comes first. Kia's capped price servicing programme means you always know the maximum you'll pay before you book.

Individual Service Costs

Pre-paid Service Packages

Pre-paid packages can be purchased at the time of vehicle delivery or within the first 11 months of ownership.

One of the biggest advantages of buying a Kia is the extensive dealer network across Australia. Whether you're road-tripping up to Brisbane, across to Adelaide, or exploring the Pilbara, there's a Kia dealer nearby with trained technicians and ready access to genuine parts.

Parts availability is dependable thanks to this well-established network. You won't be waiting weeks for a replacement filter or sensor in a city, let alone a regional town.

Kia has developed an extensive range of genuine accessories specifically for the Tasman, and several are designed and manufactured right here in Victoria.

Australian company HSP also supplies Kia genuine accessories including the roller shutter cover and load rack systems. All are designed, tested, and manufactured locally.

These are engineered for practical Australian conditions, whether you're carrying ladders to a building site or mounting a rooftop tent for a trip to the High Country.

The Kia Tasman X-Line is a premium ute offering that delivers on its promises. Yes, the styling may polarise some onlookers, but there's no arguing with the capability, both on the road and off. It's comfortable enough for the daily Dandenong to CBD commute, refined enough for family trips away, and tough enough for proper work duties.

The driver assistance systems are better calibrated than many competitors at both similar and higher price points. The suspension tuning is easily among the best in the class. And the backing of Kia's seven-year warranty, capped price servicing, and extensive national dealer network gives buyers real peace of mind, especially if you're someone who likes to explore this vast country.

Add to that the local manufacturing story with several genuine accessories designed and built right here in Victoria, and you've got a ute that doesn't just pitch the Australian lifestyle in its advertising. It's been engineered for it.

We have Kia Tasman X-Line demonstrators available for test drive right now at Dandenong Kia, located at 41 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong.

We're part of Booran Motor Group (Victoria's largest family-owned dealer group), serving the south-east since 1965.

Our team knows these vehicles inside out and can walk you through the full accessory range, servicing packages, and finance options to suit your needs. Whether you're a tradie from Keysborough, a small business owner in Noble Park, or a family from Berwick looking for a proper dual-purpose vehicle, come and experience the Tasman for yourself.

Book your test drive online or call us on (03) 9771 9400.

Prices and specifications correct at time of publication.