Kia Rules Out Tasman-Based 4WD SUV and Tiny EV for Now

If you've been quietly hoping Kia would drop a ute-based 4WD SUV to rival the Ford Everest or Toyota Prado, or a bite-sized electric runabout for Perth city driving, you can stop waiting. Kia's global product boss has officially cooled both ideas.

What Kia Actually Said

Spencer Cho, Kia's Senior Vice President and Head of Global Business Planning, put both rumours to rest when speaking to journalists recently. Asked about a Tasman-based SUV — think something built on the same ladder-frame platform as the Kia Tasman ute — Cho was direct: the focus right now is on improving what's already in the showroom, not adding new nameplates.

"Our model line-up itself is big enough," Cho said. "Instead of adding other model lines, we try to focus on product improvement and also improve our competitiveness with what we have in our hands right now."

For WA buyers who do serious kilometres on unsealed roads between Perth and regional centres like Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, or Broome, a Tasman-based 4WD SUV would have been a compelling proposition. The Tasman ute is already generating strong interest in the work and lifestyle segment here — an SUV sibling could have filled a genuine gap. For now, that's not happening.

The Small EV Dream Is Also on Ice

There's been plenty of chatter — particularly out of Europe — about a Kia EV1, a micro electric vehicle that would sit below the EV2 and potentially rival the Hyundai Inster. For Perth commuters dealing with the daily grind on the Mitchell or Kwinana freeways, a compact, affordable EV makes a lot of sense on paper.

But Cho shut that down too. Kia's EV range currently runs from EV2 through EV3, EV4, EV5, EV6, and EV9 — and the company's energy is going into making those models as competitive as possible, not stretching the range further in either direction.

"We will keep an eye on any opportunities in the marketplace, smaller than EV2, but probably the chances are quite less," Cho said. "The EV1 or whatever, smaller than the EV2 target market is not that much bigger than the global market."

It's also worth flagging that the EV2 itself isn't confirmed for Australia at this stage, so WA buyers looking at entry-level Kia EVs still have limited options locally.

What This Means If You're Shopping Now

Kia is clearly playing a consolidation game — polish what you've got rather than chase every market segment. That's not a bad strategy, but it does mean WA buyers who wanted a rugged Tasman-derived 4WD or a cheap city EV need to look elsewhere for now.

If you're in the market for a capable Kia that handles WA conditions, the Tasman ute itself remains the brand's most practical option for regional and outback use. For electric, the EV6 and EV9 are the headline acts locally — both solid vehicles, though neither is what you'd call budget-friendly once you factor in WA's registration and on-road costs.

Keep an eye on how Kia's existing EV line-up develops over the next 12 to 24 months. Cho's comments suggest refinements and competitive pricing updates are more likely than surprise new models — and for current Kia owners, that's probably good news.