2024 SsangYong Torres set for July release

SsangYong Australia has locked in a July arrival for its all-new Torres SUV and targeted a fourth-quarter release for the battery-electric version.

The internal combustion SsangYong Torres debuted in June 2022 as a rugged-themed rival to the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5, armed with blocky styling, generous ground clearance and a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine good for 126kW/280Nm.

An Aisin-sourced six-speed automatic transmission takes care of gear-shifting duties and sends power to either the front or all four wheels.

The battery-electric SsangYong Torres EVX by contrast was first shown in March 2023, presenting a much softer and more urban-focused aesthetic plus a circa-500km cruising range courtesy of a 73.4kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

Drive is provided by a 150kW electric motor mounted to the front axle, meaning the EVX packs more of a punch but lacks versatility compared to its petrol (AWD) stablemate.

Local pricing and specification details for either model are yet to be announced, however, their dimensions and resulting storage space will position the Korean duo at the bigger end of the mid-size SUV market – the petrol offers 709 litres of space behind the second row and 1662L with it stowed, while the EVX ups the ante with 839L and 1662L respectively.

Expect the Torres to be priced above the established Korando (from $30,990 drive-away) with which it will share its sales segment without giving anything away to its big-name rivals like the RAV4 (from $39,760 plus ORCs), Mazda CX-5 (from $36,590) and Kia Sportage (automatic from $34,995).

The EVX will in turn be pitched against the BYD Atto 3 (from $48,011) as the segment’s sole EV, as well as the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (from $57,290) and Nissan X-TRAIL e-POWER (from $49,990), given the Japanese cousins put such an emphasis on electrification – so expect a starting price somewhere around the $55,000-$60,000 mark.

SsangYong Australia said such details will be announced closer to the release dates and said there were no updates regarding the brand’s renaming to KG Mobility, a transition recently completed in New Zealand and marked by the showroom arrival of the Torres there.

For everything you auto know about EVs, listen to carsales' Watts Under the Bonnet: the electric car podcast

Join the conversation at our Facebook page
Or email us at editor@carsales.com.au