Kia has recently introduced its first-ever pickup truck in the UAE, the Tasman. It competes with the Toyota Hilux head-on.
Read our detailed comparison of both pickup trucks to understand which one is better and which one suits you best.
Moreover, you can check the used Kia cars in the UAE and used Toyota SUV cars in the UAE here.
CARS24 second-hand cars offer the best quality and peace-of-mind ownership experience.
Also read: 2025 Nissan Patrol vs Toyota Land Cruiser 300 comparison
Kia Tasman vs Toyota Hilux - Design, dimensions, and features
Design and dimensions
Kia Tasman
The Kia Tasman features a radical design language that has a boxy appearance along with modern design cues like the corner LED lights, big wheel arch claddings, and a huge size.
The overall appearance of the Kia Tasman is fairly simple yet attractive as it follows the new design philosophy of the Korean carmaker.
Dimension-wise, it is 5.4 meters long, 1.93 meters wide, 1.92 meters high, and gets a ground clearance of 252 mm.
The loading bed of the Kia Tasman is 1.5 m long, 1.5 m wide, and 540 mm high. It can also tow a certified weight load of up to 3.5 tons and has an 800 mm water wading capacity.
Kia Tamsan is being offered in nine colour options: Clear White, Snow White Pearl, Aurora Black Pearl, Interstellar Grey, Cityspace Green, Runaway Red, Steel Gray, Tan Beige, and Denim Blue.
Toyota Hilux
The Toyota Hilux, on the other hand, has been a popular choice in the Middle-East car market of customers with pickup truck needs.
It is based on the latest-gen Fortuner, and it looks a bit conventional with its long-nose design and smiling fascia in front of the Kia Tasman’s radical outlook.
Dimension-wise, the Toyota Hilux is 5.3 m long, 1.9 m wide, and 1.81 m high. It has a ground clearance of 220 mm.
The loading bed of the Hilux is 1.55 m long, 1.54 m wide, and 480 mm deep. Moreover, it has a towing capacity of 1.8 tons and 700 mm water wading capacity.
Features and comfort
Kia Tasman
The cabin design of the Tasman truck is very premium and upmarket. It is loaded with comfortable seats, along with practical storage spaces for five adults.
The 2025 Kia Tasman is equipped with a unique dashboard design that has a vertical face and features a triple connected display for the infotainment, speedometer, and AC controls.
Other key features include the leather upholstery, steering-mounted controls, voice command, electric sunroof, ambient lights, folding console table, Harman-Kardon music system, level 2 ADAS safety, 360-degree camera, and four driving modes with traction control (Desert, Mud, Snow, and Rock).
Toyota Hilux
The interior of the Toyota Hilux is inspired by the Fortuner, as it shares major design cues with it. The overall appeal of its interiors is more bent towards utility and practicality rather than luxury as on the Kia Tasman.
The Hilux features a semi-digital console with touchscreen infotainment, an integrated compass, and comfortable seats.
The top features on the Hilux include LED projector headlights, wireless smartphone connectivity, leather upholstery, ambient lights, wireless phone charging, electrically adjustable seats, ADAS safety features, off-road modes, ventilated front seats, and more.
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Engine, specs, performance comparison
Kia Tasman
Kia has equipped the Tasman truck with two engine options, which are a 2.2-litre, four-cylinder turbo-diesel and a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine. The exact specifications of both engine options are mentioned below:
| Specifications | 2.5-litre turbo-petrol | 2.2-litre turbo-diesel |
| Max power | 281 bhp | 210 bhp |
| Peak torque | 421 Nm | 441 Nm |
| 0-100 km/h | 8.5 seconds | 10.4 seconds |
| Top speed | 185 km/h | 185 km/h |
| Transmission | 8-speed AT/6-speed MT | 8-speed AT/6-speed MT |
| Drivetrain | RWD/AWD | AWD |
For the suspension duties, Kia has equipped the Tasman with an independent double wishbone at the front and leaf spring suspension with vertical shockers at the rear to provide utility and durability.
Additionally, to enhance cabin refinement and increase passenger comfort, it gets Sensitive Damper Control and Hydraulic Rebound Control, which combined reduce vibrations and noise.
The AWD system is standard on the X-Line and X-Pro variants, while it is optional on the standard LX variant.
Toyota Hilux
The Toyota Hilux is also equipped with two engine and powertrain options. These include a 2.7-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and a 4.0-litre, six-cylinder turbo-petrol engine.
The engine specifications of the Toyota Hilux are as follows:
| Specifications | 4.0-litre turbo-petrol | 2.7-litre turbo-petrol |
| Max power | 235 bhp | 164 bhp |
| Peak torque | 336 Nm | 245 Nm |
| 0-100 km/h | 9.6 seconds | 12.8 seconds |
| Top speed | 180 km/h | 180 km/h |
| Transmission | 6-speed automatic | 6-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | 4WD | 4WD |
For select global markets, Toyota also offers a 2.7-litre turbo-diesel engine option on the Hilux with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
The suspension duties on Hilux are done by independent double wishbone at the front and leaf-type spring setup at the rear.
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Price comparison
Kia Tasman price
The 2025 Kia Tasman is available in five variants in the UAE. The prices for each variant are as follows:
| Varaints | Price (without VAT) |
| LX | AED 118,290 |
| EX | T.B.A* |
| EX-Top | T.B.A* |
| X-Line | T.B.A* |
| X-Pro | AED 178,000 |
*TBA - to be announced
Toyota Hilux price
The Toyota Hilux is available in two variants in the UAE. The prices of these are as follows:
| Varaints | Price (without VAT) |
| 2.7L DC Commercial | AED 115,900 |
| 4.0L Adventure | AED 155,900 |
Our conclusion
The Kia Tasman is a feature-packed and more modern pickup truck which shall suit buyers who occasionally do off-roading but require a flat bed and towing capacity along with the modern creature comforts.
On the other hand, the Toyota Hilux is a rock-solid brand name in the pickup truck industry. It features a bigger engine, which is known for its extreme durability and reliability.
On paper, it is the Kia Tasman that wins the overall battle. However, what Toyota Hilux offers is the rugged ability to be used without getting it repaired or rebuilt over decades.