2020 (70) Ssangyong Korando 1.5 Ultimate 5dr

By Jonathan Crouch

Introduction

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?

History

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 Get

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.

What to Look For

Korando models from this era have proven reliable. Both engines are tough units, but not particularly efficient; and keep an eye on oil levels once a month. Look for signs of neglect from off-road excursions such as battered exhaust back boxes, broken wheel arch liners and hedge scratches on the paintwork. The interiors are also fairly indestructible but the metallic plastic finishes can quickly lose their lustre. Few problems have been reported amongst owners. A few people we came across had had transmission issues and one owner had experienced the engine light staying on during use. Other owners had experienced a few issues in terms of hesitation and unevenness in acceleration which was solved by correcting a partly sticking EGR valve.

Replacement Parts

(approx based on a 2021 Korando 1.5 petrol ex VAT) SsangYong parts aren't too expensive, given that it's a low volume importer. Front brake pads are around £63 a set - rears around £25 a set. A set of front brake discs is around £113; a set of rears around £74. An air filter can be anything between £15-£60, depending on brand. A cabin filter is around £20. A shock absorber can be anything between £30-£76, depending on brand.

On the Road

At the wheel of this 'C300'-era Korando, something of the previous car's sturdy feel remains - certainly enough to please its core market, who'll prefer the diesel version over the more affordable 1.5 GDI-turbo petrol variant. From launch in 2019, the diesel in question was just 1.6-litres in size, but it could still tow a couple of tonnes - as much as the previous 2.2-litre diesel model could manage. Most other comparable models in this class can tow no more than around 1.6-tonnes. As you'd expect, this more modern black pump-fuelled unit is quieter and more efficient than the powerplant it replaced; you only really hear it under heavy throttle loads, while the running cost figures - a WLTP-rated combined cycle fuel return of 48.7mpg and an NEDC-rated CO2 reading of 144g/km - became more class-competitive with comparably capable rivals. This fourth generation Korando is better to drive than its predecessor too. Yes, the firm ride can sometimes get slightly unsettled by low speed bumps on poorer surfaces, but that's because SsangYong intentionally chose a slightly firmer set-up to reduce body roll through the bends. That paid off. Aided by its stiffened chassis, this car flows from corner to corner with real poise, making cross country journeys far more enjoyable. Transmission and drivetrain options with this model depend on the engine selected; the 163hp 1.5-litre petrol variant can be had with either manual or auto transmission but only with 2WD; the 136hp 1.6-litre diesel can be had with 2WD or 4WD but only with a 6-speed auto 'box. So it's the diesel you'll want if you'll be occasionally venturing off road, where the Korando continues to feel much more at home than obvious segment rivals. More important though is the way it'll be able to cope with the urban jungle, hence the addition of a whole range of camera-driven safety features to this fourth generation model. What about the full-EV version? Well one electric motor drives the Korando E-Motion, situated on the front axle. It's powered by a 61.5kWh battery with an unremarkable 211 mile driving range. Like all EVs, this one feels quite rapid - though not pointlessly so: rest to 62mph takes around 9 seconds and the top speed is 97mph. A sporty drive mode is provided for quicker acceleration, but the car works best with the more languid power delivery offered in the normal setting. All the torque is, as usual with an EV, delivered at once, so on a greasy road, if you're setting off with purpose, you need to be careful not to spin the front wheels. Refinement is impressive, even for an EV - SsangYong has worked particularly hard on wind roar. The suspension is pretty well damped and doesn't clue you in to the heaviness of the powertrain beneath the floor, ironing off most ordinary bumps quite easily. Speed humps and larger pot holes catch it out though. As with most EVs, you can alter the level of brake energy recuperation using steering wheel paddles, the most aggressive setting of which provides virtually single pedal driving; ie, there's rarely any need to use the actual brake pedal, so severe is the off-throttle deceleration. Filling up the battery from empty takes around 11 hours from a 7kW domestic wallbox. Find a 100kW rapid charger when you're out and about and you can complete a 20-80% fill in about half an hour. A heat pump comes fitted to 'Ultimate'-spec to preserve battery range in cold conditions.

Overall

What are your priorities in buying a capable family SUV from the 2019-2023 period? Magazine writers are usually swayed by handling dynamics and premium prestige, but the average customer tends to look first at more straightforward things. Exterior style of course - that's what buying an SUV is all about. And value; a lot of volume brands have lost sight of that in their eagerness to capitalise on this profitable segment. You're also likely to want a spacious cabin, plenty of technology, a long warranty and a design tough enough to ensure that you're not embarrassed in the next snowy snap. These sound like sensible priorities to us - and they obviously did to SsangYong because they were apparently the so-called 'cornerstones' around which this fourth generation model was developed. As a result, this 'C300'-series Korando model is sharp-looking, technologically adept and equipped with as much camera-driven safety technology as you'll find anywhere in this segment at this price point. Plus it's actually class-leading in terms of rear passenger space, towing capability and the amount of equipment you get for the money. Of course, there are still areas where this car could improve. We'd like to have seen a more affordable diesel engine variant. And elsewhere, you might read that this car could offer a slightly more supple quality of low speed ride and that the running cost efficiency could still be better. In principle, we wouldn't necessarily argue with either of those comments, but we'd also qualify them by pointing out that they reference comparisons with far less capable rivals. It's easy to make your product better in these kinds of areas when it doesn't need to be very good off road and you're selling it for an over-inflated price. In summary, back in 2019 this car was the easiest SsangYong to recommend that we had yet tested and on the used market is a difficult option to ignore from this period if you're shopping in this segment and need a really capable car of this kind. You'll just have to get used to explaining to people what it is. And who knows, you might even end up suggesting that they try one.