We've been following the Kia Tasman's development from the start. Developed largely in Australia, the project showed a lot of promise. However, the midsize pickup has been, for the most part, a big disappointment for the brand Down Under. The truck's first full sales year hasn't finished yet, but as of December 2025, Kia had sold just 3,700 Tasmans in Australia since the July 2025 launch.Shortly after reports of the discontinuation of the Hyundai Santa Cruz, Kia cited tariffs as the main reason for not bringing the Tasman to the United States. Still, we'd bet that the brand also wants to use its promised midsize truck as an opportunity to start fresh, rather than try to salvage the struggling Tasman for another market. After the recent reveal of the Hyundai Boulder SUV, we think the automaker could be heading in the right direction. Here's why. The Boulder Just Looks Cooler Than The Tasman (And So Do Our Own Concept Renders) Hyundai Looks aren't everything, but there's something to be said for the first impression they make on buyers. The Kia Tasman isn't without its charms. We dig the chunky shoulders and boxy corners on this thing. It reminds us of those Millennium-era SUVs and hatchbacks like the first-gen Kia Soul. But the funky body cladding (see below) has a kind of slapdash appearance.2025 Kia Tasman front 3/4The design is just a little too busy. What are those bits of plastic doing over the rear wheels? The Tasman is like the automotive equivalent of the busted, third-party controller you gave your little brother so he could pretend to play Tekken Tag Tournament with you. Hot Cars Gave Us These Handsome Concept Renders 2030-hyundai-boulder-pickup-rendering-side-profileOur expectation for a Boulder-based pickup, as seen in these renders from our sister site, Hot Cars, would be a truck that cuts a similar silhouette to the Tasman but with a less cluttered exterior appearance.Using the Boulder concept as a guide, these renders show a pickup with cleaner lines and body cladding only where it's necessary. Compared to the Tasman, there's also a simplified grille, rounded fenders, and less angular windows, so it looks more like a modern truck, and less like something from a low-polygon rally racing game.To our eyes, Hyundai's Boulder concept has a more tasteful, simple appearance than the Tasman. If Hyundai retains that design philosophy going forward, we expect the new pickup to be a far more handsome truck than the Kia. Heavy-Duty Suspension Is A Priority For The New Midsize Brett Evans / CarBuzz / ValnetThe Kia Tasman can haul 2,200 pounds in its bed, which isn't bad at all. However, the double-wishbone front and leaf-spring rear are clearly built more for comfortable daily driving than for heavy loads and off-road fun. Hyundai is looking to take the Boulder-based truck in a different direction.Based on photos from underneath the concept, Hyundai would use an independent front suspension with a double-wishbone or a MacPherson strut layout. The pictures also show a solid rear axle and remote reservoirs for the shocks. A set of 37-inch Nitto Trail Grappler mud-terrain tires makes the rig look off-road capable, too.Hyundai may be playing its cards close to the chest at the moment, but that solid rear axle tells us the brand intends to compete directly with the Ford Bronco and the Jeep Wrangler. Our rendered pickup version would go against midsize off-roaders, such as the Tacoma TRD Off Road.Whether the pickup launches with the same suspension as the SUV (and remember, the SUV's suspension setup is subject to change, as well), we can't say. However, it's evidence that Hyundai wants to build a far more rugged midsize for the American market. We Expect A Significant Powertrain Upgrade, Too KiaThe Kia Tasman's performance specs are adequate for a daily driver but leave a lot of room for improvement. It's unclear exactly what the Boulder is going to be packing under the hood. We've seen early speculation for an electric powertrain, supported by a patent filing for a drainage system for an electric pickup.This electrified pickup is more likely to be an Americanized Kia Tasman, based on a recent Kia press release announcing intentions to "expand its pickup lineup by adding a Body-on-Frame pickup truck with HEV and EREV variants by 2030, targeting core markets in North America." If that's the case, it's still anyone's guess what will power the Boulder (and we're happy to learn that Kia isn't abandoning the pickup segment after a rough first year in Australia).If Hyundai isn't going fully electric, we think that an upgraded turbocharged four-cylinder seems most likely. The Boulder is slated for release sometime in the 2028 model year, with the pickup targeted for 2030, and Hyundai may well be producing an advanced version of the Smartstream straight-four, making 300+ horsepower by then. It's A Whole Different Design Philosophy HotCars/Valnet Ultimately, the new midsize pickup could succeed simply because Hyundai is starting this project with a whole different design philosophy. First of all, it is taking its time to let this one simmer, like a good stew.The Kia Tasman was developed over the course of four years, with the wheels getting into motion in 2020 for a 2024 model year launch. Designed totally in-house, the Boulder was already in development for four years before the 2026 International New York Auto Show reveal, according to Head of Hyundai Design North America, Brad Arnold, as reported by Cool Hunting.This means that, by the time we have the pickup version, we're looking at an eight-year development cycle from concept to production, twice the time Kia put into the Tasman.Secondly, Hyundai is not looking to botch its first step into the American midsize pickup market. The Santa Cruz is compact, and we think it's one of the most underrated trucks on the market. However, a midsize pickup is uncharted territory for the brand, requiring a completely different approach than anything it's done before. To that end, the rugged, all-terrain suspension and Americanized styling should help to secure the truck a place alongside American midsize offerings, such as the Chevrolet Colorado. The New Pickup Will Be Up Against Some Stiff Competition Toyota The Tasman was designed specifically for Australians, who largely said "thanks, but no thanks" in response. The truck ultimately failed to take a serious bite out of the segment dominated by the Ford Ranger and the Toyota Hilux. Here in the US, our favorite midsize pickups are, guess what? The Ford Ranger and the Toyota Tacoma.There is definitely a chance that we could see history repeating itself in 2030, when this truck finally hits the market. It's not just the Tacoma and the Ranger that the Boulder-based truck needs to worry about, either. Ford is working on a new electric truck, you've got the 2027 Ram Dakota on the way, and the Colorado and GMC Canyon are due for a round of updates. The midsize segment is becoming increasingly crowded, and Hyundai's new pickup needs to be something very special to stand out.The new pickup is said to be designed for America first, before going global. The US accounts for around 44% of global pickup demand, according to Statista, leading the world in the purchase of work trucks and lifestyle pickups alike, so this approach is definitely the way to go.We think that Hyundai stands a good chance of knocking this one out of the park. The new Boulder-based pickup doesn't have to unseat the Tacoma and the Ranger from their thrones to secure itself as a player on and off the American highway, it only has to stand apart from the crowd and offer something that we're not getting from any other truckmaker, and, if this rugged new pickup hits the market with a price tag that makes sense, that could be exactly what Hyundai is delivering.
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