SsangYong Korando 2020 Review

SsangYong is on a new-model onslaught in Australia, recently introducing new Musso utes plus a range of fresh-faced SUVs including the compact Tivoli and the car tested here, the mid-size, five seat Korando.

While the Tivoli and Musso utes are a step up from previous SsangYong offerings, in both drivability and presentation, it’s the fresh-faced new SsangYong Korando that could make real inroads in Australia for the reborn brand, competing in one of the most popular market segments with a pricing and packaging equation that’s hard to beat.

Competing head on with segment heavyweights like the Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson, the fifth-generation SsangYong Korando is currently available Down Under in front drive configuration only. An Indian-owned Korean brand, SsangYong offers the Korando with choice of diesel or petrol powerplant and six-speed manual or automatic transmission, across three equipment grades.

Even the entry-level manual petrol $26,990 SsangYong Korando EX comes well equipped. It includes high levels of standard safety that would cost thousands more in popular rivals and has helped the Korando achieve a five-star Euro NCAP rating.

The base model gets 17-inch alloy wheels, 8.0-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, starter button, auto wipers and headlights, high-beam headlight assist, heated/folding mirrors, a reverse camera and seven airbags plus an electronic safety suite that includes autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, forward collision alert and driver attention alert.

Stepping up to our test vehicle, the petrol mid-spec, $30,990 drive-away Ssangyong Korando ELX, you can add 18in alloys, front and rear parking sensors, daytime running lamps, auto up/down front windows, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with multi-function controls, and more driver aids including Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Exit Assist Function.

Top-spec range-topping $39,990 drive-away Korando Ultimate LE petrol gets 19-inch diamond cut alloys, leather upholstery, power-adjust front seats and heated/cooled front (and heated rear) seats, 10.25in full digital instrument cluster, electric park brake with auto-hold, powered tailgate, sunroof and radar cruise control.

All SsangYong Korando variants get a tyre inflator kit in lieu of a spare wheel, and towing capacity is 1500kg for petrol and 2000kg for diesel models.

Our mid-spec SsangYong Korando ELX test vehicle arrived with a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and six-speed auto, priced at $31,500 drive-away with optional metallic paint.

The good news for potential buyers is that the Korando is more pleasing to the eye than some SsangYongs of old, with more mainstream exterior design elements less likely to polarize punters. Styling wise, the ELX Korando isn’t a lot different to the top-spec Ultimate either, apart from slightly smaller 18in diamond cut alloys, a little less chrome and fewer tinted windows.

Apart from a van-like upright dash, SsangYong has erred on the side of the caution with interior design too, lifting the hard plastic, ‘budget buy’ status of the ELX Korando with some trendy grey cloth upholstery and piano black highlights on the dash and side doors – although the big reflective strip on the passenger side is bordering on overkill.

A grippy leather-clad steering wheel and some quality switchgear are other upmarket touches.

Sitting lower to the ground than some of its rivals, the Korando is an easy SUV to get into and drive. The broad front seats are well cushioned and offer good under-thigh support, so should suit a range of body types.

At 190cm tall, I managed to find a comfortable driving position after manually adjusting the seat and steering wheel. Shorter drivers might need to raise the seat to its highest setting, though, to get a decent view over the high-set dash and window line.

The mid-spec ELX Korando misses out on a couple of features now expected at this price pont, including an electric park brake and climate control, but the traditional hand brake lever and manual adjust air conditioning were effective and easy to use.

We can’t complain about the SsangYong Korando ELX’s storage options up front, with side door pockets big enough to swallow larger drink bottles, a decent-size glovebox and centre console bin with sliding arm rest. There’s also a grippy pad ahead of the gear shifter and close to 12V/USB sockets for holding a smartphone.

Rear seat room is reasonably generous too, with plenty of headroom and just enough leg room to fit too tall adults back to back in the front and second rows. The second row should be just wide enough to squeeze three children across comfortably.

Two ISOFIX points and three top tethers take care of baby capsules, although SsangYong has cut costs by fitting just one 12V socket and no air-conditioning vents for second row passengers.

The rear seats split-fold 60:40 to open up the cargo space. Unlike most of its rivals, however, Australian-spec Korando models miss a spare wheel of any type (there’s space for one but an air inflation kit is supplied instead).

The upside of this is some extra storage space where the wheel would normally go, although boot space still isn’t overly generous for its class, despite an official (VDA rating) of 551 litres.

There’s also a sharp drop over the rear lip which can cause issues when loading things like dogs. Another issue is the two-level cargo space with the seats folded flat, which could cause issues when carrying long or fragile items.

Also missing on the Korando ELX test vehicle was a retractable cargo blind for hiding your valuables (once again, there was a slot on either side for one). However, there are a few handy tie-down hooks and another 12V socket in the boot.

One of the highlights of the SsangYong Korando ELX is the zippy and refined performance from the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine. Mated to the six-speed auto it makes light work of propelling the 1435kg Korando along in busy traffic.

You only need a light touch of the throttle to get it into its sweet spot, with maximum 120kW power delivered at 5500rpm but 280Nm of torque from just 1500rpm all the way to 4000rpm.

It’s a different driving experience to many of its free spinning petrol rivals, with the Korando delivering almost diesel-like pulling power from low down in the rev range, but without the diesel clatter. With the 1.6-litre turbo-diesel option delivering just 44Nm more torque (324Nm), also from 1500rpm, it’s another reason to opt for the cheaper petrol version.

While it doesn’t like to be rushed, the six-speed auto works well around town, and using the paddle shifters or switching to Sport mode doesn’t quicken things up much. In fact, flooring the pedal in auto mode is a waste of time with the auto shifting up well before the 6500rpm redline, even from the traffic lights.

The gears are spread out by around 500rpm between changes, with sixth gear hitting peak torque of 1500rpm at 80km/h and the engine revving quite high around 2000rpm at freeway speeds. To improve fuel economy when travelling at 100-110km/h, the petrol Korando really needs a seven or eight speed ‘box or a taller final gear ratio.

SsangYong recommends filling the 47 litre fuel tank with 95RON, and a stint of highway and suburban driving saw a combined fuel figure of 9.3L/100km – more than the 7.7L/100km official figure. D

Driving it solely around town will see fuel consumption rise as high as 11-12L/100km.

The petrol Korando isn’t overly sporty to drive, but body roll is nicely contained in corners, the brakes work well and the electric steering is reasonably light and direct.

A tight turning circle makes the 4.45m long Korando easy to manoeuvre and park in busy roads and carparks.

The European suspension tune on Aussie-spec vehicles delivers a firm but compliant ride on smoother bitumen, but it can quickly turn harsh and choppy over potholes and patchier sections.

If you live out of town and travel a lot on dirt and gravel roads, the ELX Korando may not be the most comfortable choice.

In some ways, the front-drive Korando delivers more of a big city hatch feel than some of its more rough-road ready rivals. The ELX’s modest 182mm ground clearance is another limiting factor when heading off the smooth stuff.

Advanced safety tech fitted to budget models can often be hit and miss, but the electronic safety suite supplied with the SsangYong Korando ELX worked effectively overall in a variety of circumstances.

The vigorous steering wheel ‘tugs’ and loud beeping alerts from the often over-zealous Lane Keep Assist and Lane Departure Warning features were irritating at times, although it’s easy to modulate or switch off most of the safety tech via trip computer or switches on the dash.

The Korando’s thick C-pillars and postbox rear window severely restrict rearward vision, but the quality rear camera, rear (and front) parking sensors and Rear Traffic Cross Alert (it beeps a warning when a passing car is approaching), combine well to help avoid a nasty rear-ender.

While not as whizz-bang as the Korando Ultimate’s, the infotainment package in the mid-spec ELX is also on a par with many of its rivals. The native interface on the 8-inch touchscreen is a bit clunky, but using Bluetooth or connecting a smartphone via Apple Carplay or Android Auto is a breeze. The six-speaker stereo also delivers excellent sound quality.

Other nice touches on the ELX Korando include the automatic power-folding side mirrors with puddle lamps to improve night-time visibility.

The pale yellow spread of low beam light from the headlights is a tad disappointing though (Ultimate versions get the more penetrating LED white beams).

The SsangYong Korando ELX is far from a mainstream choice, but there’s a lot to like. From decent driving dynamics to the amount of safety tech for the price, the Korando will prompt more than a few to take a second look.

This five-seater also feels solidly built, right down to the solid clunk when closing the doors, and apart from the rear cargo area, the interior layout is up to scratch.

The icing on the cake is SsangYong’s above-average ‘7-7-7’ after-sales package, which includes seven year warranty and seven years capped-price servicing as well as roadside assistance.

How much does the 2020 Ssangyong Korando ELX cost?
Price: $30,990 (drive-away)
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 120kW/280Nm
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Fuel: 7.7/100km (official)
CO2: 179g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five star Euro NVAP