Kia’s first attempt at a pickup truck for a global market has been bold. Called the Tasman, it’s a traditional body-on-frame pickup truck with a real two-speed four-wheel-drive transfer case aimed right at globally trusted midsize pickup trucks such as the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger. It’s also wrapped in, well, distinct bodywork. What’s Kia’s reward for its effort? Weak sales. The truck is underperforming by a large margin compared to the brand’s expectations. Something needs to change, and that thing could be the truck’s powertrain options, according to Australian publication CarExpert.
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