This Is How Kia Could Take On the Bronco Raptor originally appeared on Autoblog.
From Polarizing Pickup to Off-Road SUV Prospect
Kia’s first mid-size truck, the Tasman, isn’t the prettiest out there. Its upright, blocky proportions and unconventional detailing have split opinions since its reveal. But beneath the polarizing sheet metal is a ladder-frame platform that’s more versatile than it looks.
Kia’s engineering team has confirmed it could be adapted into an SUV “very quickly,” using the same underpinnings and powertrains. That opens the door to possibilities beyond the worksite, including a proper off-road family wagon.
Independent designers have already started imagining what such a vehicle could look like. Inspired by the recently revealed Tasman Weekender (WKNDR) concept, a set of renders reimagines the pickup as a short-wheelbase, truck-based SUV.
The result blends the WKNDR’s more cohesive styling cues with proportions better suited for trail work. It’s not an official product – yet – but the bones to make it real are already there.
View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article
What the Tasman WKNDR SUV Could Be
The renderings, by NYMammoth on Instagram, suggest that while the SUV still inherits the Tasman’s divisive face, the format works better here. It looks more like rugged hardware than a family hauler, with shades of Wrangler Rubicon in its stance.
More importantly, this SUV could be a proper rival to the Ford Bronco Raptor, though as a rock-crawling behemoth rather than a speedster on dunes.
The imagined spec is promising. Think 32- or 33-inch off-road tires wrapped around beadlock-style wheels, generous ground clearance, and wide, body-colored arches. Heavy-duty bumpers improve approach and departure angles, complemented by a reinforced skid plate.
One iteration swaps the front bar for a hoopless bullbar fitted with spotlights and an integrated winch – practical touches that give it purpose.
View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article
The US Will Have Something Different
If Kia were to green-light such an SUV, a diesel engine would be the safe bet for key markets like Australia and the Middle East, where the Tasman will be sold. However, the platform can support multiple configurations, including full-electric, plug-in hybrid, and conventional hybrid systems.
A rear-wheel-drive-based hybrid is already in development for the Genesis GV80 and could eventually filter down to ladder-frame Kia models. That flexibility means a Tasman-derived SUV could offer everything from long-range diesel touring to emissions-conscious hybrid motoring.
The catch is that this kind of SUV may never reach US shores. Kia has confirmed a separate ladder-frame truck for America, unique to that market and likely with its own design direction.
If the US model channels the same brutish capability shown in these Tasman WKNDR SUV renders, it could still be a win. But for now, the truck-based off-road family bruiser is one more adventure vehicle that might remain out of reach.
This Is How Kia Could Take On the Bronco Raptor first appeared on Autoblog on Aug 11, 2025
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Aug 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Comments