FIRST DRIVE First all-new model from SsangYong’s successor
John McIlroy John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk@johnmcilroy
IT can’t be easy to overhaul an entire car company, but that’s what KGM is attempting to do with the brand formerly known as SsangYong. The process started last spring with the change of name, but it’s really kicking in now with the arrival of the first all-new model launched under the fresh ownership: the Torres.
KGM’s debut vehicle is neither a small car nor a subtle one. Its first new offering is a 4.7-metre-long, five-seat SUV; that’s longer than the Nissan X-Trail and the outgoing Skoda Kodiaq, both of which are seven-seaters.
In design terms, the Torres is a bit of a mishmash of influences, with Jeep-like vertical grille slats at the front and a distinct whiff of Range Rover in the way that the rear lights wrap around the corner of the tailgate. There’s a lot of faux butchness about it, in truth, but it’s probably imposing and distinctive enough overall for a crowded market.
The car is being launched with a choice of combustion or pure-electric power. There’s a single engine – a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged unit producing 161bhp and 280Nm of torque. It’s paired up with a six-speed automatic gearbox and front or four-wheel drive.
The all-electric version is badged Torres EVX and it’s due to reach UK dealers soon, equipped with a 73kWh BYD-sourced ‘Blade’ battery good for up to 287 miles of range. A petrol-electric hybrid model is also on the way to Britain.
There are just two trim levels on offer. The £34,995 K30 comes with heated seats, front and rear parking sensors, a 12.3-inch infotainment system and 18-inch diamond-cut alloys. The K40 we’re driving here costs £37,995 and brings 20-inch alloys, heating and ventilation on the front and rear seats, leather upholstery and adaptive cruise control. You can pay a further two grand if you want this trim with four-wheel drive.
A 1.5-litre engine doesn’t sound much in a car this big and with a kerbweight of more than 1,500kg, but in unladen form at least, the Torres makes a decent fist of things. Although the gearbox doesn’t appreciate being rushed, a more patient approach will be rewarded by smooth enough progress. The engine – already used elsewhere in the range – spins up cleanly enough and only sounds harsh if you stamp on the throttle and demand instant acceleration, sending the revs rocke
