Korando packed with can-do attitude

If you’re looking for something inexpensive and a little different to the norm, the SsangYong Korando might be just what you are looking for. SsangYong has clearly decided that the mud-spattered utilitarian approach isn’t going to propel it into the mass-market big league and has instead come up with an SUV that is a whole lot more like what customers of these vehicles are looking for.

So will it drive to the moon?

The most interesting thing about the latest Korando is its choice of engine. Where as Ssangyongs of yore were powered by some rather superannuated Mercedes-Benz diesel powerplants, the Korean company has been more ambitious this time round and developed its own diesel engine.

That it has done this against a financial background best described as chaotic is a miracle in itself. The engine is a 173bhp 2.0-litre turbo diesel unit and is the only engine offered with the Korando. The most popular option will doubtless be the entry-level front-wheel drive model but there’s also a four-wheel drive variant and a six-speed auto gearbox option as well. At idle it’s agreeably refined and when extended, the engine’s best work is experienced between 2,000 and 3,000rpm. This means you’ll need to work the gearbox, which is a pretty slick affair.

Soft springs and bushings contribute to provide a decent ride quality and cornering is better than would be expected given the softness of the suspension. The steering is also relatively sharp giving the driver a confidence around corners. With 266lb/ft of torque to call upon, the front-wheel drive Korando can step off the mark quite smartly and gets to 60mph in 9.7s on the way to a 111mph maximum speed. It will also tow a two-tonne braked trailer, which should make it popular with caravanners and gymkhana-goers. The whole package is backed by a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty, so you could rack up a mileage to rival a moon mission and back and still be covered.

I remember the first Korando – this one’s much prettier

The latest Giugiaro-styled Korando ushers in a more mainstream look and feel. It’s actually quite a handsome thing, with an artfully sculpted front end and a sharply rising belt line. For those interested in the technicalities, this is SsangYong’s first vehicle built on a modern monocoque chassis instead of an old-school separate body-on-frame. This offers a number of benefits in terms of suspension refinement which in turn contributes to a more upmarket feel on the road.

Hmmm, bit short of toys inside

The interior is cleanly styled, if a little lean on toys for those who expect Korean cars to come with more buttons and gadgets than a branch of PC World.

Hide the badge on the steering wheel and few would be able to identify quite what car they were sitting in. Come to think of it, few would be able to identify the vehicle even with the help of the SsangYong badge on the wheel, but the build quality feels very good, even if some of the materials have clearly – and justifiably – been built down to match the car’s price.

Seems to pass the hill test

The Korando gets hill-start control as standard (the brakes hold the car momentarily as you move off, without the need for the handbrake) though there is no hill-descent control function. This is a little odd for a car that proclaims its off-road ability with SsangYong quoting approach, departure and break-over angles to underscore its all-terrain versatility. Otherwise, the standard equipment list seems pretty comprehensive.

The 2.0-litre diesel might offer a prodigious peak power output but SsangYong has made a reasonable fist at keeping emissions and economy figures reasonable. Emissions are pegged at 157g/km which isn’t at all bad. To put that figure into perspective, a 148bhp Toyota Rav4 2.2D-CAT is less powerful yet emits 186g/km. Fuel economy is also a very creditable 47mpg which again trounces the Toyota’s 39.8mpg figure.

It’s come a long way and we don’t mean because it’s from Korea

It’s hard to think of a car company that has come so far so quickly as SsangYong. The latest Korando feels a million miles and 20 years better than its predecessor. That said, the Korando does feel like a work in progress.

In certain regards such as styling, fuel economy, emissions, overtaking punch and rear passenger accommodation, the Korando is right up there with the best in class, but its mechanical refinement, its small boot and the rather anonymous fascia deduct crucial points. The new SsangYong Korando is likely to make a big difference to sales for the company as it now competes head on in the SUV sector. We predict a bright future for it.