The Toyota 4Runner Could Get a New Off-Road Companion Soon
Toyota's off-road SUV is hard to beat. That probably won't stop an unexpected brand from trying.
Rugged, reliable and downright cool — it's easy to see why the Toyota 4Runner remains one of the most lust-worthy off-road SUVs in the US.
But it may have some competition on the way, and not from a manufacturer drivers typically associate with dirt trails and rocky paths.
After unveiling the Tacoma-like Tasman in 2024, Kia has all but confirmed it's working on a truck-based SUV. And it could arrive in just a few years.
At a recent media event in Australia, Kia engineer Graeme Gambold unexpectedly told CarSales that the company was targeting a Tasman-like SUV 'three years down the track.'
According to the report from that event, Dean Norbiato, one of Kia's marketing chiefs, then quickly interjected, clarifying that Kia would be focused on the Tasman before expanding upon the premise of an off-road lifestyle vehicle ready to take it to Toyota.
As we know, the Tasman features a body-on-frame chassis, paired with a double wishbone suspension and rigid rear axle with leaf springs.
It can also handle up to 32 inches of water, thanks to the position of its air intake inside the truck's front fender. It also boasts an impressive towing capacity of 7,716 pounds (more than the Jeep Gladiator).
Should it come to pass, it's reasonable to expect similar specs on the SUV variant. However, one key point may prevent it from knocking the 4Runner off its perch.
The Tasman isn't available in the US, and Kia's CEO recently confirmed it won't be coming for the foreseeable future.
Let's hope the brand changes its position by the end of the decade. After all, if the roads aren't wide enough to share, there should be plenty of room off of them.
Jack Seemer is the executive editor at Gear Patrol, with over a decade of experience in product journalism. He currently reports on a wide range of topics, including footwear, watches, EDC, cookware and more.
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