Kia Tasman Tackles Jordan’s Most Demanding Terrains in Landmark Desert Drive Experience

Kia Middle East and Africa hosted an exclusive desert driving experience in Jordan to showcase the Kia Tasman, the brand’s first-ever pickup truck. The driving experience demonstrates the Tasman’s strength, durability, and lifestyle appeal through a desert test drive experience spanning diverse landscapes from Amman to Petra.

The experience builds on the Kia Tasman’s world premiere at the Jeddah International Motor Show in October 2024, followed by the strong customer response during the pre-booking phase across the region, and now culminates in this exclusive desert driving showcase in Jordan. The event highlights Kia’s bold entry into the pickup segment and its commitment to redefining what a pickup can be.

This event immerses participants in a desert test drive journey across Jordan’s most spectacular landscapes. Drivers navigated from the depths of the Dead Sea basin to the historic rose-red city of Petra, tackling shifting dunes in Wadi Araba, rocky climbs in Al Bayda, and winding mountain roads along the way. Each terrain has been carefully chosen to emphasise the Tasman’s rugged off-road capability, versatile performance, and SUV-like interior comfort.

The driving experience is designed around a series of obstacles and terrains that push the Tasman to its limits, reinforcing the results of more than 18,000 tests conducted during its development. Participants will tackle a bumpy mogul descent to demonstrate the effectiveness of the X-Trek system, a challenging 30-degree side hill to test lateral stability, and steep uphill and downhill gradients that showcase the vehicle’s traction, torque distribution, and suspension performance.

Ahmed Soudodi, Vice President, Product and Marketing at Kia Middle East & Africa, commented: “With the Tasman, Kia is breaking new ground in the pickup segment. As our first-ever truck, it is a bold statement of strength, innovation, and individuality. The test drive experience in Jordan demonstrates its ability to conquer the region’s toughest terrains while delivering the comfort and technology that define Kia. The Tasman empowers its owners to stand apart, transforming every drive into a statement of capability and confidence. It further reflects Kia’s commitment to shaping the future of mobility in the Middle East as we bring vehicles that meet the region’s unique demands while expanding customer choice.”

The Kia Tasman: Never one-dimensional

Backed by more than 20 years of research and 50+ years of military vehicle expertise, the Kia Tasman has been engineered to excel across diverse landscapes. With 252mm of ground clearance and a 32-degree approach angle on the X-Pro, it is purpose-built for demanding off-road conditions. Advanced off-road drive modes, including a dedicated Desert Mode designed specifically for Middle Eastern terrains, reinforced underbody protection, and optimised proportions further ensure capability across dunes, rocky trails, and steep gradients.

At the same time, the Tasman balances rugged strength with SUV-like comfort. Its spacious, ergonomic cabin is designed for long journeys, ensuring drivers and passengers remain comfortable throughout extended drives across mountain passes and desert expanses.

The Jordan desert driving experience also brings Kia’s design philosophy, Opposites United, to life, blending the Tasman’s bold exterior styling with refined interiors that offer best-in-class rear legroom, smart storage solutions, and advanced in-cabin technology.

As a disruptor in the pickup space, the Kia Tasman appeals to a new generation of buyers seeking individuality, practicality, and performance in equal measure. With its combination of strength, versatility, and customisation, the Tasman reinforces Kia’s long-standing commitment to innovation and sustainable mobility.