The all-new SsangYong Korando boasts a segment-busting £19,995 price tag and a comprehensive seven-year/150,000-mile warranty. Still want that Nissan Qashqai?
Admittedly, the range-topping Korando Ultimate edition costs £31,995, but few SUVs offer so much for such a low price.
The fourth-generation Korando is available in four trim levels: ELX, Ventura, Pioneer and Ultimate. Two- and four-wheel-drive variants are available, along with a choice of a 1.6-litre diesel engine or a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol.
A ‘spirited deluxe crossover’
In the headline-grabbing £19,995 ELX trim, the Korando is powered exclusively with the 1.5-litre petrol engine, which will be available in December 2019. It delivers 163hp and 207lb ft of torque, but SsangYong hasn’t confirmed the full performance and economy figures.
Available in two-wheel-drive only, the ELX boasts 17-inch alloy wheels, all-weather tyres, cruise control, DAB, Bluetooth, six airbags, plus automatic lights and wipers.
Moving up to the Ventura adds £3,000 to the price tag, along with faux leather with deluxe fabric seat upholstery, 18-inch diamond-cut alloys with standard tyres, heated front seats, front and rear parking sensors, electronic parking brake, 10.25-inch LCD instrument cluster, plus an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Once again, the Korando Ventura is available exclusively with two-wheel-drive and a petrol engine.
The £26,495 to £28,495 Korando Pioneer is aimed at the caravan and towing market, hence the availability of four-wheel-drive and the standard 1.6-litre diesel engine. It produces 136hp and 239lb ft of torque to deliver a 0-62mph time of 12.01 seconds.
It emits 144g/km of CO2 using the old NEDC test regime and a claimed 48.7mpg using the WLTP combined cycle.
Pioneer trim offers a two-tonne towing capacity plus a similar spec to the Ventura. Changes include 17-inch alloys with all-weather tyres, a heated steering wheel and full-size spare wheel.
Ultimate prices start from £26,495, with the range-topping Korando available with a choice of transmissions, engines and drivetrains. The lavish spec includes leather seats, dual-zone climate control, advanced safety kit, premium in-car infotainment, 19-inch diamond-cut alloys, keyless start, LED headlights and an electric tailgate.
SsangYong says it “makes a spirited deluxe crossover vehicle at an affordable price”.
A six-speed automatic gearbox will be the only transmission available at launch. Manual versions will be available in the UK early 2020.
The SsangYong Korando is expected to achieve a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating thanks to a wide range of safety features. Given the specifications, it’s likely that the higher trim level or safety pack will be required to achieve the maximum five stars.
SsangYong Korando: the right choice?
Nick Laird, managing director at SsangYong Motors, expects the new Korando to punch above its weight in a crowded segment. “Our ‘badge’ may be less well known, but what SsangYong lacks in current recognition, we more than make up for with cars that offer huge value without ever feeling compromised.
“We also have so much faith in our build quality, that we offer a full 7-year/150,000-mile warranty so customers can be quietly confident that they’ve made the right choice when it comes to the things that really matter.
“We are sure that, with the new Korando, we have a vehicle that has the potential to upstage some much bigger names in the marketplace.”
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