Best Kia for Towing: Why the Kia Tasman X-Line Earns its Keep

The Kia Tasman is rated to tow up to 3,500kg braked and 750kg unbraked across the entire range, with a Gross Combined Mass of 6,200kg.

For South Gippsland farmers and tradies working out of Leongatha, Korumburra, Foster or Mirboo North, that puts a loaded stock trailer, a float or a decent-sized machinery trailer well within reach...or in my case, a trailer full of cow poop. The X-Line variant adds the ground clearance and payload balance that farm work actually demands, and it's available now at Leongatha Kia, your local Kia dealer for South Gippsland.

Every Tasman variant, from the base S through to the X-Pro, shares the same 2.2 litre SmartStream diesel and 8-speed automatic, and the same towing numbers.

Braked towing capacity sits at 3,500kg, unbraked at 750kg, with a maximum tow ball download of 350kg. The 6,200kg Gross Combined Mass gives you enough wiggle room to run a full load and a full trailer at the same time, and our team at Leongatha Kia can help you work through your actual setup, fuel, tools, dogs and crew included, so you get the most out of both numbers safely.

The 2.2 litre turbo diesel makes 154kW at 3,800rpm and 440Nm from 1,750 to 2,750rpm, which is where you want the torque sitting when you're pulling a loaded float or trailer. Kia's official fuel consumption for the X-Line is rated at 7.8L/100km combined, with an 80 litre tank, with real-world consumption (no trailer), returning between 7.7L/100km and 8.5L/100km during our testing.

This is where the Tasman does more than most utes in its class. Every variant, including X-Line, comes standard with an Integrated Trailer Brake Controller and Trailer Stability Assist, so you're not paying extra or fitting an aftermarket controller to tow safely. Downhill Brake Control and Hill-Start Assist Control both help on the steeper South Gippsland farm tracks, and there's a dedicated Trailer Page built into the 12.3 inch touchscreen that shows trailer light status and reverse camera guidelines when you're backing up to a trailer.

The X-Line also carries a mechanical rear differential lock, which comes in handy when you're trying to get a loaded trailer out of soft paddock ground rather than just bitumen.

X-Line sits between the road-focused SX+ and the off-road-biased X-Pro, and for most working properties around South Gippsland it's the sweet spot. Ground clearance is 224mm, up from 206mm on the S, SX and SX+, with an approach angle of 28.9 degrees and a departure angle of 25 degrees. Wading depth is 800mm across the range. None of that turns the Tasman into a rock crawler, but it's enough clearance to handle rutted farm tracks, creek crossings and paddock gates without dragging the front bumper.

The tray on X-Line measures 1,512mm long and 1,572mm wide, with a load volume of 1,173 litres (VDA) or 1,292 litres (SAE). It'll swallow a decent load of fencing gear, feed or tools without needing the trailer for everything.

Plus the power outlet in the tub will come in handy when power is needed in more remote areas.

The Kia Tasman is built to carry and tow at the same time, which is exactly what farm work demands.

Across the Tasman range, maximum payload runs from 1,124kg on the base S 4x2 down to 1,013kg on the X-Pro, depending on how much extra equipment is fitted. The X-Line is rated at 1,027kg payload, with a kerb weight of 2,223kg and Gross Vehicle Mass of 3,250kg, giving it plenty of scope for gear in the tray as well as a trailer on the back.

That 1,027kg payload covers everything in the tray and cabin, tools, water, feed, a dog box and passengers, and it works alongside the 6,200kg GCM to deliver a combined carrying and towing package.

Our team at Leongatha Kia can talk you through the exact combination for your ute, so you get a Tasman set up for exactly how you work.

Kia Tasman X-Line dimensions

Kia Tasman warranty

Every Kia Tasman, X-Line included, comes with Kia Australia's seven-year, unlimited kilometre warranty, which covers the whole vehicle and extends to genuine accessories fitted at purchase. That's great coverage for a working ute that's out on farm tracks and towing loads week in, week out.

Servicing follows Kia's standard 12 month or 15,000km interval, whichever comes first, with a complimentary first service at three months or 3,000km to make sure everything's settled in properly.

Capped price servicing runs for the full seven years when the Tasman is serviced through an authorised Kia dealer such as Leongatha Kia, so there are no surprises on cost down the track.

Exact capped price servicing costs vary by service interval and change from time to time, so ask our team at Leongatha Kia for the current schedule when you're weighing up running costs.

Leongatha Kia stocks the Tasman range and can walk you through which variant suits your actual towing and payload needs, not just the brochure numbers. If you're coming from Korumburra, Foster, Wonthaggi, Mirboo North or further afield, it's worth booking a test drive and bringing your trailer along if you can, there's no substitute for hitching up the gear you actually use as part of your test drive.

Leongatha Kia is part of the Booran Motor Group, which backs the dealership with wider parts and servicing support across Victoria.

Get in touch with our team at Leongatha Kia to book a test drive or ask about current Tasman availability.

Written by Daniel Romero from Road Trip Reviews, in partnership with Booran Motor Group.