The new Kia Tasman ute has earned a five-star safety rating from ANCAP, making a strong first impression in a very competitive market.
The ute was put through tough crash and safety tests under ANCAP’s 2023–2025 standards. It did well across all key areas including Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Vulnerable Road User Protection, and Safety Assist.
“Fleet buyers and potential Tasman customers across the country have been eagerly awaiting the Tasman’s safety rating, and this five-star result will be welcome news,” said ANCAP Chief Executive Officer, Carla Hoorweg.
This top rating comes at a time when utes are more popular than ever. In June 2025, four of the five top-selling cars in Australia were utes, according to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries. These included the Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, Isuzu D-Max, and BYD Shark 6, all of which also have five-star safety ratings. In New Zealand, four of the eight top sellers were utes too.
“The popularity of utes among consumers continues to rise. Given their time spent on the road both as commercial workhorses and family transport, it is important that models in this high-volume segment offer robust levels of safety,” Ms Hoorweg said.
Strong Test Results with Minor Concern
In the crash tests, the Tasman showed a low risk of injury for both adult and child dummies in a frontal offset crash. It also performed well in tests that measure how dangerous it might be to other cars in a crash which is a big win for a large, heavy vehicle like this.
However, there was one small issue. In a full-width frontal crash, the test dummy’s pelvis slipped under the seatbelt, so ANCAP applied a penalty to the score.
Still, Ms Hoorweg said the result shows a positive trend: “With such strong market presence and consumer demand, it’s pleasing to see manufacturers continuing to prioritise safety in this segment.”
Not All Variants Rated
The five-star ANCAP rating applies to the 4×4 dual cab Tasman models, except the X-Line and X-Pro versions. Other types, including the 4×2, single-cab, and cab-chassis models, haven’t been tested yet.
Standard safety features on all rated variants include dual front, side chest, and side head airbags, plus a centre airbag for side impacts. The Tasman also comes with autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and speed limit alerts.
However, installing a child seat in the middle seat of the back row isn’t recommended, as it lacks a top tether anchor point.
Safety Scores
The Kia Tasman scored 85 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection and 85% for Child Occupant Protection, showing strong performance in crash tests. It also earned 74 per cent for Vulnerable Road User Protection, which covers how well the vehicle protects pedestrians and cyclists. In the Safety Assist category, which looks at the car’s ability to avoid crashes, the Tasman received a solid score of 80 per cent.
Ms Hoorweg encouraged both fleet managers and everyday buyers to check the ANCAP website before purchasing: “Consumers and fleets should check the ANCAP website regularly to ensure they have all the information they need to make an informed, and safe, purchasing decision.”
The Kia Tasman went on sale in Australia in June 2025 and in New Zealand in July 2025. Its five-star rating is valid until December 2031.
The full safety report can be found here.
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