Daily Drive: Kia Doubles Down, Pickups Pivot to Pavement, and China Tightens the Screws

I started the morning with a long black and a longer inbox. By lunchtime, one theme emerged like a kangaroo in high beams: the ute and EV worlds are being yanked in opposite directions, and China’s the gravitational force in the middle. Kia’s digging in on a slow-selling new ute and a cautious EV strategy, Volkswagen wants a pickup that carves corners, Europe’s auto bosses are playing geopolitical Twister, and regulators (and police fleets) are rewriting the script. Strap in.

Kia’s Crossroads: Tasman Stays, Wagons Don’t, EV4 Treads Lightly

From CarExpert’s trio of dispatches, Kia’s week reads like a boardroom diary:

• The Tasman ute may be slow out of the blocks, but Kia’s not flinching: “We’ve got to make it work.” That’s the right posture for Australia, where Rangers and HiLuxes eat for breakfast and ask for seconds. If Kia tunes the Tasman’s ride to deal with corrugations and keeps the cabin durable (hose-down easy would be nice), there’s a path.
• Wagons? Don’t hold your breath. Kia won’t be the savior of long-roof lovers in Australia. As much as I adore a good wagon for surfboards and dogs, the market wants high seats and chunky arches. The numbers don’t lie.
• EV4 gets a modest sales target. Sensible. The compact “Tesla rival” space is brutal right now, incentives swing like a metronome, and shoppers are picky. Conservative targets mean less discounting down the line and happier dealers. I’m okay with that.

When I’ve run Kia test cars down rough regional highways, what stands out is how quickly the brand iterates. Steering feel gets nudged. Noise insulation gets a tick better. If that same restless polish lands on the Tasman and EV4, both nameplates can grow into their segments rather than arrive overpromised and underbaked.

Quick hits: What to watch from Kia

• Tasman: Payload/ride balance and service network support for tradies and fleets.
• EV4: Charging curve and energy efficiency in real traffic, not just on spec sheets.
• Wagons: RIP (for now). Crossovers keep winning the school run.

Utes Evolve: VW’s Corner-Carver vs. The Old-School Crawl

Carscoops flags a new Volkswagen pickup “that corners better than it crawls.” Translation: less rock-hopping bravado, more hot-hatch attitude in a tray-backed body. Honestly? It’s where a lot of buyers live—wet roundabouts, tight city ramps, weekend getaways, not the Canning Stock Route.

This is where Kia’s Tasman might find daylight: lean into on-road civility, keep the bones tough, and avoid turning every variant into a cosplay Dakar truck. I’ve daily-driven “off-road” special editions that tramline like shopping trolleys. Fun for a photo op, tiresome by Friday.

Quality & Regulation: Mazda’s Steering Woes and China’s Crackdown

Also from Carscoops: the Mazda “sticky steering” saga isn’t over, with drivers saying a prior fix on models like the CX-90 didn’t stick. If you’re affected, book the dealer visit, then test the car somewhere safe—gradual lane changes at suburban speeds—to confirm steering feel is back where it should be. Mazda usually sweats the dynamics; it’ll want this nailed.

Meanwhile, CarExpert reports China is tightening durability requirements to weed out half-baked product. Good. The industry needed it. If you’ve ever driven a brand-new car that squeaks like it’s five years old, you know why. Tougher tests tend to benefit everyone: domestic buyers first, export markets next.

China’s Expanding Footprint: Police Cars, Boardrooms, and a Shower in the Boot

• CarExpert notes Chinese cars have entered NSW Police duty. Fleet adoption is the adult table of validation: whole-of-life cost, uptime, and safety trump brand politics. Expect more local councils and utilities to follow.
• Autocar points out Europe’s industry is torn between protecting jobs at home and profits in China. I’ve sat in those earnings calls—the subtext is always the same: “Don’t poke the dragon, but also, please buy our European-built EVs.” It’s a tightrope with a crosswind.
• On the “only-in-2026” front, Carscoops highlights an Alibaba-assisted IM Motors LS9 hyper-SUV with wild rear steering—“turns like a forklift”—and even a shower. Laugh if you want; rear steer is transformative in tight cities. The shower? If you mountain bike or surf, it’s not as silly as it sounds. I’ve rinsed off with worse.

Where this leaves shoppers

• Chinese brands: Expect improving build and durability as regulations bite, and watch fleet deals as a barometer.
• European brands: Potential price and content adjustments as tariffs, sourcing, and margins wrestle in the background.
• Tech toys: Rear steering and clever packaging will trickle down. The shower probably won’t—pity.

Reality Check: Marketplace Sales and Staying Safe

A grim note from Carscoops: a Facebook Marketplace pickup sale turned deadly. I’ve bought and sold more cars than I can count. Rules I live by:

• Meet at a police station or secure public location in daylight.
• Bring a friend; share your live location.
• No cash-heavy deals—use traceable payments.
• Keep keys and paperwork separate until funds clear.

Closing Thoughts

Kia’s patience with Tasman and caution with EV4 feel grown-up, if unsexy. Volkswagen’s road-biased pickup is a sign of the times: most utes live on tarmac. China’s regulators and buyers are maturing fast—so are the cars—and fleets from Sydney to Stuttgart are taking notice. In all of it, the through line is trust. Build it slowly, lose it quickly. Today’s headlines suggest the industry remembers.

FAQ

• Is Kia cancelling the Tasman? No. Despite slow early sales, Kia says it’s committed to making the Tasman work.
• Are wagons coming back to Kia’s Australian lineup? Unlikely. Kia has signaled it won’t “save” wagons in Australia as buyers prefer SUVs and crossovers.
• What is the Kia EV4? A compact EV positioned as a Tesla rival, but with modest sales targets to start—Kia’s being cautious in a volatile market.
• What’s going on with Mazda’s “sticky steering” issue? Reports say some owners still experience problems after an initial fix. If you’re affected, consult your dealer and verify the feel post-service.
• Are Chinese cars getting stricter quality oversight? Yes. China is reportedly imposing tougher durability requirements, which should improve long-term quality, especially for exports.