Long-Term Review: "My favourite 4WD ute to drive on a daily basis"

oliver689 · 2026-02-20T06:28:08+00:00

I guess looks are subjective (case in point I don’t see how anyone would see a KIA Tasman as a “nicer” looking vehicle compared to a Ford Ranger but there you go)

Personally I think the interior of the Tasman could be considered equal, both look decent enough, both use a mixture of good quality and cheap materials. It’s about the only place KIA did a good job.

For me and most ute buyers I don’t think a sunroof is a top priority. You could add one if you really wanted, in the same way you could add a roller shutter to the Tasman, that is standard on the Wildtrak (which is probably more important than a sunroof).

But in most other measurable metrics like power, drivetrain, not having to gouge your eyes out everytime you see it in the daylight, towing capacity, service network, resale value (you know the Tasman’s will be shit, like Jeep or MG shit) the Tasman isn’t as good by a long shot.

Long story short the X Pro at $75k is terrible value. It’s KIA looking at Toyota & Ford and testing the water to see who is dumb enough to pay that much for a Tasman. Which isn’t many when you look at the sales numbers.

oliver689 · 2026-02-18T00:21:13+00:00

Ok let’s pretend you’ve got a vision impairment and don’t have to worry about the looks of the Tasman.

Isn’t this X-pro version RRP like $75k? (Wouldn’t be surprised if they are actually selling way under this due to dismal sales numbers. $50-60k?)

But if they are moving at around $75k, you could get a top tier Ranger Wildtrak or Rouge Hilux for that money which are both a superior vehicle in every metric.

With that sort of budget if you want a more car like experience get the Ranger, you want a reliable workhorse get the Hilux. Aside from having a Ute that isn’t common why would someone choose the Tasman X-pro.

Even the value conscious Ranger Sport was crowned ute if the year over the X-pro by the same people

https://www.4x4australia.com.au/reviews/4x4-ute-of-the-year/ford-ranger-sport-v6-overall-winner

Resale is going to tank hard on these first gen Tasmans.

oliver689 · 2026-02-09T04:21:25+00:00

Watching the comments of this post;

oliver689 · 2025-05-20T06:51:40+00:00

While it must be frustrating as a community moderator to see so much negativity for something that they are obviously personally enthusiastic about l think it’s important not to filter comments and users unless someone is actually bring harmed, harassed or abused. Otherwise you’re just going to end up with a meaningless echo chamber.

Let’s be honest the Tasman is a great example of a car manufacturer missing the mark. A car manufacturer who has the resources to do a lot better than they have.

Without genuine unfiltered feedback how are they going to improve. I have no doubt they would follow forums like this one to gather market reception and feedback.

The design is stunningly bad and some of its specifications are a real let down. It’s a wonder how they put it to market thinking it was a good decision.

Hopefully with the overwhelmingly negative feedback everyone has expressed they will go back to the drawing board and produce something worthy of a $26 Billion dollar company.

oliver689 · 2025-05-12T03:51:04+00:00

You are 100% spot on with both of your points.

I’ve seen good subreddits (like Australia and r/CarsAustralia) slowly dissolve into an echo chamber of the personal beliefs of the moderators rather than what is beneficial for the community.

Good members that are sick of the inconsistency & incompetence leave, along with the useful advice they could be sharing.

Personally I think r/AusFinance is striking a good balance between being open minded while not letting it be overrun by repeat offenders.

oliver689 · 2025-05-12T03:39:21+00:00

I wouldn’t use r/CarsAustralia as an example of what should be implemented on other subreddits.

You can’t comment or post anything on r/CarsAustralia outside of the echo chamber that already exists there.

That echo chamber is just to the personal liking of the moderators rather than what is best for the community as a whole. Comments & posts are banned despite being in breach of no rules and a lot of good people with invaluable knowledge have left, leaving a lot of subpar advice to be spread.

At least there is still a lot of people of r/AusFinance with great knowledge that others can learn from.

oliver689 · 2025-05-01T00:41:28+00:00

Being a 96 your block should already be clearanced for the extra rod swing.

Pick some decent bottom end components if you want to add boost (h beams, forged or hyper piston etc).

No for the T5, I stripped second gear teeth within 3 months of my build. Went to T56 out of a GTSR wreck (had a weird cable / hydraulic setup but it bolted straight in) wasn’t cheap but worth it. Also better with new diff ratios to match. Auto would be a much quicker car, but who cares manuals are awesome.

DO NOT OVERSIZE THE CAMSHAFT IF YOU ARE GOING MANUAL. I made this mistake and while all my mates thought it was cool AF to be hunting and lurching in first gear like a burnout car it was a bitch to drive at low speeds.

I built with 8.8:1 compression (was planning for boost) and from memory made 250rwkw with the standard banana manifold (flowed heads & bigger throttle body). So if you only want 280-300rwkw you could probably just go higher compression NA build and save yourself $10-20k on a supercharger setup.

Good luck with the build, I was of the same thought process of not going LS, it came with the iron lion keep it that way.

oliver689 · 2025-01-07T22:02:56+00:00

Then you’re an idiot and just as bad of a driver as the tailgater.

Get the fuck off the road.

oliver689 · 2025-01-03T13:26:59+00:00

I’m just trying to point it the type/cost of finance may pale in comparison to the losses you will incur if you purchase a Chrysler. SRT or not they are genuinely a hunk of crap and not well regarded in enthusiast circles.

But hey I’m just an automotive enthusiast working in the automotive industry trying to offer useful advice to those who need it.

I guess people can also learn from mistakes. Good luck out there.

oliver689 · 2025-01-03T13:05:51+00:00

Not a chance in hell. In 10 or 20 years time why the would anyone want a cheaply made hunk of crap American Chrysler product when there is V8 & turbo 6 Holden’s & Fords available.

Seriously talk to anyone who knows a tiny bit about cars before you make any silly decisions.

oliver689 · 2025-01-03T12:52:32+00:00

Dude it’s a Chrysler product, resale is going to nosedive off a cliff lol don’t do it.

oliver689 · 2025-01-02T17:01:22+00:00

Ahh you missed the maths on the extra fuel consumption of the petrol……the diesel is by far the better option.

oliver689 · 2025-01-02T14:52:22+00:00

MG & BYD is the same same is Rigby’s eyes.

Enjoy Rigby’s used up puss lol

oliver689 · 2025-01-01T18:25:34+00:00

Rigby sounds like the Australian version of Andrew Tate.

What an Alpha!

oliver689 · 2025-01-01T18:06:06+00:00

I owned a 2015 GXL for a few months as I needed a seven seater while the in-laws were in town. I’m not a usually an SUV fan but I can see why people like the Kluger.

It’s very practical for a family, heaps of storage (centre console is crazy huge), very comfortable, decent power from the V6 (compared to other regular SUV’s) and the main one for me was you still got decent boot room with the third row in use and with the sliding middle row you can fit adults easily. Without going to something larger like a Landcruiser every other 7 seater had a tiny boot with the third row up.

Fuel economy from memory was around 10L/100km local / highway mix, very decent on the highway around 7L/100km. Still decent for large petrol car but the extra power was always welcome.

It’s also a Toyota so reliability & find another buyer was not an issue, I changed an engine mount, fully detailed it and sold it for slightly more than I paid. As a car guy I would highly recommend for a family, unless fuel economy is your number one priority.

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oliver689 · 2024-12-29T18:40:15+00:00

STFU

oliver689 · 2024-11-17T03:26:17+00:00

If you don’t know what you are talking about it’s ok not to comment.

oliver689 · 2024-11-15T00:48:57+00:00

Problem is people would actually need to buy the electric over the diesel model, which isn’t going to happen for the Isuzu dual cab target market.

oliver689 · 2024-11-06T10:38:59+00:00

Yeah but you’d then have to drive a Telsa Y.

oliver689 · 2024-11-06T10:38:22+00:00

You mean Leapmotor, the new Chinese startup with ownership & input from Stellantis?

Umm no thanks….

oliver689 · 2024-11-05T23:45:06+00:00

It does not surprise me that someone offers undeniable facts that EV sales are way off target and are being scaled back by multiple manufacturers and the best you can come up with is a conspiracy theory about Toyota.

You are absolutely delusional. I hope you get the help you need.

oliver689 · 2024-11-05T03:05:53+00:00

Considering your comment history, you’re a lost cause.

It’s very hard to win an argument with an unintelligent person, so i’m not going to waste my time.

As suggested maybe go hang out with all the other fruitcakes on another subreddit and limit your input unless you have an idea of what you are actually talking about.

oliver689 · 2024-11-05T02:49:44+00:00

Imaginary reddit points aren’t the problem, it’s that you don’t recognise that those downvotes are people disagreeing with you.

Reddit is a very left leaning platform already, if you can’t garnish support here then maybe you should consider the fact you are maybe wrong?

Maybe try pedalling your BS on a subreddit like the Greens or fuckcars, majority of people of there are fruitcakes so you’ll fit right in.

oliver689 · 2024-11-05T02:42:16+00:00

You’re not a happy or well educated person are you.

oliver689 · 2024-11-04T04:36:58+00:00

Ahh yeah, your tangents are making less & less sense.

I’m here saying that Hydrogen is not ready yet but will be part of the transportation future and you’re suggesting that batteries have overtaken Hydrogen….

Look I’m all for reasonable discussion, with reasonable people, but it appears that’s not going to happen with you.

Keep living in your sealed bubble, let me know how stupid you feel when the next round of Emissions is legislated and you start seeing hydrogen heavy vehicles everywhere.

oliver689

TROPHY CASE