Kia Australia Emphasizes Fleet Requirements for Five-star Safety Rating of Upcoming Ute

Why is a five-star safety rating important for Kia Australia’s new ute?

Kia Australia’s upcoming TK/Tasman ute is expected to receive a five-star safety rating, mainly due to fleet purchasing requirements. Several corporations, governments, and not-for-profits demand vehicles with five-star ANCAP ratings for their fleets. Although a five-star rating is crucial for the new ute, Kia Australia clarifies that it can still sell vehicles without this rating.

Kia Australia’s product planning manager, Roland Rivero, emphasizes that achieving a five-star ANCAP rating was non-negotiable for the upcoming TK/Tasman ute. Fleet purchasing requirements played a significant role in this decision. Many corporations, governments, and not-for-profits have a strict policy of only purchasing vehicles with five-star safety ratings. Hence, Kia had to ensure that their new ute met this requirement to appeal to the fleet market.

In the ute segment, a five-star ANCAP rating has become the norm. It is expected by customers and considered a benchmark for safety. Vehicles like the Ford Ranger, GWM Ute, Isuzu D-Max, LDV T60, Mazda BT-50, Toyota HiLux, and Volkswagen Amarok all offer a five-star rating, underscoring its importance in this segment. However, ANCAP has not rated certain vehicles like the Mahindra Pik-Up and Nissan Navara due to expired ratings.

While a five-star rating was a pre-requisite for Kia’s new ute, it does not mean that vehicles without this rating will not be sold by the company. Kia Australia’s product planning manager, Roland Rivero, clarifies that models like the Picanto and Stonic will still be available in the market. Although the Picanto has an expired four-star rating and the Stonic’s five-star rating is set to expire soon, Kia Australia is committed to selling them.

The upcoming TK/Tasman ute from Kia has been designed to meet several requirements. It has been benchmarked against popular models like the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux to ensure competitive performance. With a braked towing capacity of 3500kg, it aims to match the towing capabilities of these best-selling utes in Australia. Additionally, the ute is expected to have a payload of approximately 1000kg, depending on the variant. It will feature body-on-frame construction, similar to most other utes in the market.

In terms of powertrain options, the TK/Tasman ute will initially be offered exclusively with a turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine. There are no confirmed plans for a V6, hybrid, or plug-in hybrid variant at this time. Kia Australia is focusing on providing a powerful and efficient diesel engine to cater to the ute segment’s demands.

Overall, Kia Australia’s upcoming TK/Tasman ute is expected to meet fleet requirements with its anticipated five-star ANCAP rating. By benchmarking it against popular competitors, Kia aims to deliver a powerful and capable ute with impressive towing capacity, payload, and overall performance. While the lack of a five-star rating doesn’t prevent Kia from selling certain vehicles, it remains a crucial factor for the fleet market. With its commitment to safety and compliance, Kia Australia is poised to make a strong entry into the highly competitive Australian ute market.

• Kia Australia prioritizes a five-star ANCAP rating for its upcoming ute due to fleet purchasing requirements.
• Many corporations, governments, and not-for-profits require vehicles with five-star ANCAP ratings for their fleets.
• Despite the lack of a five-star rating, Kia Australia can still sell certain vehicles.
• The Tasman ute is benchmarked against the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux, aiming to match their towing capacity and payload.
• The ute will feature body-on-frame construction and initially be available with turbo-diesel four-cylinder power.

Kia Australia’s emphasis on meeting fleet purchasing requirements has led to the anticipation of a five-star safety rating for its upcoming TK/Tasman ute. While this rating is crucial, Kia clarifies that vehicles without it can still be sold. The TK/Tasman ute is designed to meet the demands of the market with its benchmarked performance, towing capacity, payload, and body-on-frame construction. Kia aims to provide a powerful and efficient turbo-diesel engine, catering to the preferences of the ute segment. With its commitment to safety and compliance, Kia Australia is ready to make a strong impact in the Australian ute market.