Car Reviews > SsangYong > Korando > SsangYong Korando 2.0 Diesel AWD EX Auto Car Review
Prices: £22,995
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel
Gearbox: 6-speed automatic, 4-wheel drive Power: 173 bhp
0-62 mph: 9.9 seconds
Top Speed: 116 miles per hour
Economy: 37.7 miles per gallon
Emissions: 199g per kilometre
Equipment: Bluetooth connectivity, parking sensors, climate control, alloy wheels, cruise control, leather seats
On Sale: Now
SsangYong arrives back in the United Kingdom with the brand new Giugiaro-styled Korando SUV
After an absence of four years, SsangYong has returned to the United Kingdom, intending to start over with the brand new Korando SUV.
This vehicle is something of a revolution for the firm for a number of reasons. For one thing, its appearance is the creation of Italian design house Giugiaro, and should certainly appeal to European tastes, and while it is not particularly exciting, there is also no denying that it is very clean and stylish in appearance.
For another thing, this is the very first SsangYong to have a monocoque chassis, giving a real step up in terms of dynamics. When the vehicle is actually on the move, it is able to soak up bumps and lumps with the minimum of fuss, but the downside is that it has a very poor level of body control, rolling through corners far more than it really ought to. The vague and slow to respond steering really does not help matters any either.
The 2.0-litre SsangYong turbo diesel comes with its own set of problems as well, having a tendency to clatter on ignition, and sounding both noisy and very rough while under acceleration. The test car came with an automatic gearbox that juddered when between first and second gears but otherwise was smooth.
On the up side, the engine, capable of a bhp rating of 173, allows the vehicle to accelerate from 0-62 miles per hour in just 9.9 seconds, and the fuel economy is not too bad either, especially when taking into account the 4-wheel drive setup and the automatic gearbox, coming in at 37.7 miles per gallon.
The price starts from £16,995, and any further doubt that the Korando is not really what you would call a premium product is dispelled by the pretty drab nature of the interior of the vehicle. Even the Hyundai ix35, which comes with the same starting price, does not have as many hard plastics. The new car also has a few fairly irritating little idiosyncrasies as well, with one key for the ignition but another for the purposes of locking and unlocking.
Practicality is one area that is not an issue, with ample space on the inside. The boot is also one of the very biggest in its class at 486 litres, 70 litres more than that found in the Nissan Qashqai.
The test car, valued at £22,995, is the most expensive in the range and comes with heated electric seats, climate control, parking sensors, a sunroof, cruise control, alloys, and plenty more besides. An ix35 equipped to the same level and that offered similar performance would certainly have a further £1400 added to the price, so value is certainly one thing that the Korando has in its favour. Unfortunately, it is also about the only thing.
There are very few all-new SUVs that are as cheap as the SsangYong Korando, with even entry-level vehicles from its rivals unable to match that incredibly low price tag. Unfortunately, the Korando just cannot match those others in terms of either interior quality or driving dynamics, often feeling cheap as well, meaning that it is very difficult to recommend.
by Autoweb