KOR SUV VIRTUES (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 76

By the end of this century's second decade, SsangYong's Korando had been something of a fringe player in the value reaches of the mid-sized SUV class, but this MK4 model aimed to edge into the mainstream. It was well equipped, rather smart and could tow up to 2.0-tonnes. Plus it was still better off road than its rivals and came with a very complete warranty. How do all these attributes stack up on the used market?

Modelsword count: 17

5dr compact SUV (1.5 petrol 2WD / 1.6 diesel [2WD & 4WD] / E-MOTION EV - 2WD])

Historyword count: 519

Think of an affordable mid-sized Qashqai-class SUV from the 2019-2023 period and it's a reasonable bet that you won't be thinking about this one. Maybe you should be. SsangYong's Korando has always offered tough capability and value - the kind of thing active families might need. This smarter fourth generation version though, continued that tradition while also adding quite a bit they might want too. A Korando you could aspire to? If that's what's on offer here, then it would represent quite a transformation from this model line's utilitarian roots. The first generation version of 1983 was basically a Korean version of the crude old Jeep CJ-7, while the curious-looking MK2 model of 1996 had more modern panelwork but wasn't much more sophisticated underneath. So SsangYong took some time out, looked at what modern families wanted and reimagined what this model line could be. The resulting third generation 'C200'-series design launched in 2011 was a very different kind of Korando, complete with slick Italian Giugiaro styling. This was the first SsangYong design to swap a heavy duty ladder-framed chassis for more car-like monocoque underpinnings in pursuit of a sensible school run ride and more acceptable handling. All along with a high specification and pricing that made opposition models look needlessly expensive. It was a big step forward. By 2019, though, the market had moved on. Buyers wanted more responsive dynamics and higher levels of efficiency from SUVs of this kind, plus greater quality, more technology and higher levels of safety. SsangYong's dilemma lay in how to provide all this while still creating a product that was tougher and better value than the competition. What they came up with was the 'C300'-series MK4 model we're going to look at here. It was smarter to look at than a contender from an affordable brand might be expected to be. SsangYong promised that buyers would be equally impressed by the quality of the re-designed cabin, which could include the brand's 'Blaze Cockpit' digital screen technology. And by the amount of camera-driven safety kit that wasa included in the price. More of a surprise for loyal buyers not familiar with this MK4 model might be the brand's decision to downsize this model's diesel engine. The previous lusty 2.2-litre unit that caravaners and towers liked so much was replaced in this 'C300' design by a smaller 1.6 that the company promised would still lug along a couple of tonnes and could initially be mated to the kind of optional 4WD system that by the end of this century's second decade was often either missing or unaffordable in family SUVs of this kind. Plus it was all matched with a strong value proposition, though one that was certainly more eye-catching when this car was chosen with its alternative 1.5-litre petrol engine. By 2022, SsangYong had sadly deleted the 4WD option from the range. But introduced an all-electric Korando E-Motion model. SsangYong was taken over by the KGM conglomerate at the end of 2023 and this car was renamed the KGM Korando. It's the earlier SsangYong-badged 'C300' models from the 2019-2023 that we look at here.

What You Getword count: 394

This 'C300' MK4 Korando design was easily the best looking SsangYong model we'd seen - which is important in a class where the majority of buyers cite style as the No.1 reason for purchase. Remove the bodywork here and most would guess at an established volume brand - which is exactly what the Korean maker was aiming at. As with other modern SsangYong designs, the key brand identifier is the so-called 'birds wing'-themed styling of the front end, which sees a silver upper grille bar arching down beneath angular headlamps that feature LED Multi-Reflector beams on top models. Chiselled bonnet character lines, three horizontal chrome slats across the lower intake and vertically-stacked LED front fog lamps complete the effect. At the wheel, the cabin is of much higher quality than you might expect. It's dominated by gloss black trimming which on top models is embellished by classy multi-coloured 'Infinity Mood Lighting'. Continuing the sophisticated theme is the 'Blaze Cockpit' screen package that's offered at the top of the range and on selected lower-spec models. This links an 8 or 9-inch centre-dash infotainment display with a fully digital customisable 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster which can be configured to show full-screen mapping. The centre-monitor includes 'Apple CarPlay'/'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring and the usual DAB audio and Bluetooth functions, plus there's navigation and a reversing camera at the top of the range. Finding a comfortable driving position is reasonably straightforward thanks to a decent amount of seat and wheel adjustment. And there's plenty of storage space around the cabin. Right; let's consider a part of this car that we think might really sell it to you - the rear cabin. This is the only car in this class (premium brand models included) able to comfortably transport three fully-sized adults on the back seat for any distance. Long journeys are helped by the fact that the seat backs recline by up to 32.5-degrees, which will further aid head space for really tall folk. It's this rear seat space that could well tempt buyers of SsangYong's smaller Tivoli Crossover model into this larger Korando - and the same applies when it comes to luggage room. Once the tailgate is raised, a very decently-sized 551-litre space is revealed - that's a floor-to-ceiling measurement. With both parts of the seat back folded, there's an almost-flat cargo area rated at 1,248-litres in size.

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