KGM Korando (SsangYong Korando) Review 2025: Price, specs & boot space
Written by Andrew Brady
Quick overview
Pros
- Practical choice with spacious rear seats and big boot
- Generous equipment levels
- Transferable five-year warranty
Cons
- Not as cheap as you might expect - especially high-spec models
- Some of the interior finishes are a bit below-par
- Quite expensive to run in terms of fuel and insurance costs
Overall verdict on the KGM / SsangYong Korando
"The KGM Korando (originally Ssangyong) is now in its fourth generation - so why has it taken you until now to hear about it?"
The KGM Korando is a bit of an obscure choice, made by the Korean brand KGM (formerly SsangYong) and sold as a budget alternative to the Nissan Qashqai. It ticks all of the crossover SUV boxes. It’s hugely practical, easy to drive and loaded with standard equipment. A five-star Euro NCAP safety rating (a first for SsangYong) and a five-year, 100,000-mile transferable warranty should be enough to attract your attention, even if the sharper-than-ever looks don’t quite do it for you. Read our full KGM Korando review to find out if it's the car for you.
Ssangyong offered the Korando with a petrol or diesel engine, but that's since changed since the rebranding. Now, just one petrol powerplant exists although this can be specced with either a manual or automatic gearbox. It also has, what KGM calls, a 'part-time four-wheel drive' system. This allows the driver to activate high or low range depending on conditions. It’s a car that’s traditionally been popular with the towing fraternity, unfortunately, because there's no diesel now, towing capacity has dropped from 2,000kg to just 1,500kg.
While it’s better than ever to drive, it’s still a long way away from being as sharp as a Peugeot 3008. We quite like it though - the (rather light and lifeless) steering takes a lot of turns from lock to lock, and it’ll lurch about a bit in the bends. It’s characterful.
It’s also not as refined as alternatives. There’s quite a lot of engine noise and it makes a particular din if you floor the accelerator to keep up with traffic. This is something you might have to do quite often, as it’s far from swift - most rivals will out-accelerate it from the traffic lights, if that’s your thing.
Even with a power output of 163PS, the petrol-powered Korando is slower than a 1.0-litre Skoda Karoq with just 115PS. An electric guise has since come and gone, but the KGM Torres EVX has technically picked up the baton and has an official range of 287 miles.
For now, there's only one trim level: the K35. Still, it comes with some impressive tech to boot such as a reversing camera, a 9-inch touchscreen, a heated steering wheel, a six-speaker audio system, high beam assist, and lane departure warning.
There’s a caveat, of course. You can spend more than £26,000 on a new KGM Korando K35, and that’s proper money. But depreciation is your friend, and you should be able to pick up a nearly-new model for considerably less. If you’re not fussed about having all the bells and whistles, older lower-spec models start from around £20,000.
We rate the KGM Korando as a no-nonsense family SUV with an extensive list of standard equipment and an affordable price tag. It’s far from perfect though. Most buyers will probably be better looking at mainstream alternatives like the Peugeot 3008 or Kia Sportage.
heycar has 1000s of used cars for sale, including a wide range of KGM Korando cars for sale.
Is the KGM / SsangYong Korando right for you?
If you want a no-nonsense SUV and don’t particularly care about badge appeal, the KGM Korando could be an excellent choice. It’s very practical and comes loaded with standard equipment - but don’t take it for granted that it’ll be cheaper than the competition.
The fact that KGM's backing it with an extensive five-year warranty, which is transferable to second (and third, and fourth…) owners should ease your mind about buying from a manufacturer you may previously have never heard of. The five-star Euro NCAP safety rating is a green flag for family buyers too.
What’s the best KGM / SsangYong Korando model/engine to choose?
The four-cylinder petrol engine still pumps out 163ps and has an official 36.6mpg figure. The diesel powerplant was perfect for towing larger items such as caravans and returned around 45mpg. Hopefully, KGM offer a similar engine soon to join the petrol.
What other cars are similar to the KGM / SsangYong Korando?
The KGM Korando has traditionally undercut conventional rivals although the latest model has moved towards the mainstream with a fancier cabin and stronger prices. As such, you could also consider alternatives like the Peugeot 3008 (which has a superb, futuristic cabin and is good to drive) or Skoda Karoq (which is a very sensible and practical choice).
There’s also the SEAT Ateca (which is similar to the Karoq but slightly more entertaining to drive), or the age-old Nissan Qashqai (which everyone loves but actually isn’t as good as its more up-to-date rivals). The Kia Sportage has since been refreshed and has better engines than the Korando - it also comes with a seven-year warranty.
Comfort and design: KGM / SsangYong Korando interior
"You might expect the Korando to have a plasticy, drab interior - and that was certainly true of the old model. But the latest car looks surprisingly modern and upmarket inside."
There’s a large, glossy black piece of trim brightening up the dash, while silver highlights also lift the cabin. The K36 comes with a flashy 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and like many modern cars with this tech, it can show sat nav information.
It’s obviously not as slick as Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, but it’s clear to read with sharp graphics and all the information you could possibly want on hand. Likewise, the 9-inch infotainment runs TomTom sat nav software and has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You can also mirror your smartphone.
There are quite a lot of physical controls in the Korando’s cabin. That’s a good thing in our eyes - we like being able to twirl a knob to adjust the temperature of the climate control or press a button to turn the heated seats on.
It’s an easy car to get comfortable in too. It has electronically adjustable heated and ventilated front seats and 850mm of rear legroom - a future not far off a Skoda Kodiaq.
Quality and finish
While the interior of the KGM / SsangYong Korando looks pretty smart, you’ll soon start to find issues when you start poking around. There are plenty of harsh plastics, especially on the lower half of the dashboard and door cards. Some of the switches feel a little cheap, too, although they’re generally pretty well-damped. And who doesn’t like a well-damped switch?
It’s the little things which make the KGM / SsangYong Korando feel less of a quality product than, say, a Skoda Karoq. The way the electric seats thud to a halt when they reach their maximum adjustment, or the irritating ‘welcome’ sound the car makes when you get in it (you can turn that off, fortunately).
Still, we’ve spent an extended period with the Korando and it seems to be wearing well. The leather seats look pretty swish, with well-finished stitching and perforated trim. A lack of soft-touch materials could be a good thing for long-term endurability.
Infotainment: Touchscreen, USB, nav and stereo in the KGM / SsangYong Korando
When launched in 2019, the Korando used Ssangyong's 'Blaze Cockpit'. This was really just a fancy moniker to say it featured two digital screens and mood lighting. This feature has been carried over to the KGM Korando K35.
The media system is fine - a bit laggy to respond at times and its menus aren’t the simplest to navigate - but most users won’t find any great cause for complaint. We also like that there’s a physical knob for the volume control and shortcut buttons to various features. These mean it’s easier (and less distracting) to use on the move.
Space and practicality: KGM / SsangYong Korando boot space
The KGM Korando measures 4450mm in length, 1870mm in width and 1629mm in height (including roof rails).
You won’t have any issues with space in the front, with loads of headroom and a decent amount of room between the seats - as well as a substantial centre console to prevent awkward elbow bashing. You can still stash your phone in the cubby in front of the gear lever, but it now has bigger door pockets and a deeper glovebox.
The two cup holders in the centre console do a good job of holding water bottles in place - and they’re big enough for a grande macchiato. There’s a useful stowage space for your sunglasses too.
There’s also an impressive amount of room for rear passengers. Two adults will feel very comfortable, with a huge amount of headroom and decent levels of knee room. Visibility is good, thanks to relatively large rear windows, meaning travel sickness should be kept at bay.
All Korando models get a drop-down armrest with cup holders in the back, which is a nice touch, while there are door bins big enough for a bottle of water, too. There are ISOFIX child-seat anchoring points on the outer rear seats.
As is often the case, the middle seat is for occasional use only. It’s fairly narrow, and a lump in the floor means adults will find themselves perched in an unusual position. If you regularly need to carry three in the back, we’d recommend a Citroen C5 Aircross instead.
The boot is a decent (if not class-leading) size, capable of carrying 551 litres. It’s a usefully square shape, although the rear wheel arches do intrude slightly. There are various hooks for strapping items in, while a false boot floor means there isn’t much of a lip for lifting bulky items over.
Unlike the old car, the spare wheel's been swapped out for a tyre repair kit. On the plus side, you can utilise all the Korando's boot space. However, if the reassurance of having a spare wheel is important, you'll need to pay an extra £438.
The rear bench splits 60:40 on all models, dropping easily to provide a usefully flat floor for carrying large items.
Handling and ride quality: What is the KGM / SsangYong Korando like to drive?
"The first thing you’ll notice about how the Korando drives is how old-school it feels. The steering takes a lot of turns from lock to lock, which is a pain for city driving."
It doesn’t feel particularly connected to the front wheels. Indeed the Korando is quite a ponderous crossover, and certainly no match for a SEAT Ateca or Peugeot 3008 in terms of driving dynamics.
The ride is quite firm, meaning you’ll wince if you don’t slow down enough for potholes or speed bumps. Before, you could opt for the ELX trim with the meatier 17-inch alloys, but 19-inch alloys are all that's available for now.
Ordinarily, the plus side of firm suspension is a car that remains relatively flat and composed in bends. While the Korando leans less than older SsangYong models, it’s still not as agile as most mainstream rivals.
Still, the high-up seating position and light steering mean you can drive the Korando around town fairly easily. It does feel a bit like taking a Land Rover Defender into a city centre - this is definitely a car that feels more at home in the country - but it’s easy enough to negotiate narrow streets thanks to decent visibility.
What engines and gearboxes are available in the KGM / SsangYong Korando?
There’s just one petrol engine: a 1.5-litre four-cylinder, available only with four-wheel drive and a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox.
It’s not a fast choice. It might have a fairly generous power output of 163PS, but it’ll take 11 whole seconds to reach 62mph. Even a 115PS 1.0-litre Skoda Karoq can accelerate to 62mph in 10.6 seconds. We’re not quite sure how KGM only managed to shave one second off the previous car's time.
We thought the diesel suited the Korando’s character more than the petrol, although - like all diesels - we couldn’t recommend it if you covered mainly short journeys or frequent drives around town. Lots of stop-start driving wouldn't let the diesel get fully up to temperature and this impacted fuel economy. Something worth keeping in mind if the idea of a used diesel Korando is bouncing around your mind.
The six-speed automatic gearbox is very hesitant, constantly fidgeting about its gear selection and causing you to lurch forward when you want to accelerate from a standstill. Unfortunately, this trait has carried across to the KGM Torres model too.
Refinement and noise levels
Road noise is quite noticeable and is not helped by the 19-inch wheels. The unsophisticated suspension clatters over bumps, causing a surprising amount of clatters for a modern SUV. Little things add up to hamper refinement… the indicator noise is irritatingly loud as standard, but you can turn this down in the settings.
On the plus side, you won’t notice any perceptible vibration through the controls, aside from perhaps a slight thrum through the seats when the diesel engine’s cold. And the petrol engine is quieter - even if you do have to rag it everywhere to make progress.
Safety equipment: How safe is the KGM / SsangYong Korando?
One area in which KGM hasn’t cut costs is safety. The Korando is the first KGM / SsangYong ever to be given a five-star safety rating by Euro NCAP, the independent body responsible for crash-testing new cars.
Standard safety equipment across the KGM range includes an autonomous emergency braking system, which can warn drivers before applying the brakes if it detects an impending crash.
There’s also a driver attention alert, which will suggest you take a break if you start weaving about in the road and generally acting distracted, and a front vehicle start alert. This will let you know if the car ahead in traffic moves off and you don’t.
The lane-keeping assist system will nudge your steering wheel if you stray from your lane on the motorway, while the emergency call service will dial 999 if you’re involved in a crash.
Hill-start assist helps you take off from a standstill on a hill without rolling backwards, while hill descent control will control your speed when tackling a steep slope.
MPG and fuel costs: What does a KGM / SsangYong Korando cost to run?
"Before, the diesel Korando was the most efficient in terms of fuel economy. Now, the petrol returns just 36.6 mpg."
That sounds pretty good until you realise a more powerful Nissan Qashqai is good for up to 44.8mpg (40.9mpg for the four-wheel drive variant). An equivalent Skoda Karoq can return up to 52.3mpg.
With the manual gearbox, SsangYong quotes an official combined fuel consumption of 36.6mpg, dropping to 34.8mpg with the automatic transmission. That’s going to hit you hard at the pumps.
KGM / SsangYong Korando reliability and warranty
With a five-year/100,000-mile warranty, the KGM Korando should be a fairly safe investment in terms of reliability. While the brand isn't as well known as mainstream competitors, it does have a growing dealer network, and the Ssangyong variant has previously taken the top spot in the annual HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index.
KGM / SsangYong insurance groups and costs
While the KGM Korando shouldn’t cost you a fortune to insure, it’s worth noting that it does fall into slightly higher insurance groups than many rivals.
Both the manual and automatic K35 fall into insurance group 20A. For comparison, a 1.3-litre Nissan Qashqai DiG-T Tekna+ with 158ps is group 19 while e-Power variants are 26.
VED car tax: What is the annual road tax on a KGM / SsangYong Korando?
All 2025 Korando models will be subject to £190 VED while the first-year rate is £1,095. The Korando emits 176 g/km of C02. A Nissan Qashqai fitted with the e-Power engine emits just 119g/km, meaning you'll pay much less in the first year.
KGM / SsangYong Korando price
"SsangYong has always been a niche brand and its dealers are quite small affairs. Things are much the same for KGM. This means there aren’t huge savings on as-new vehicles, but there are still bargains to be had."
Opt for a pre-KGM model and you could pay as little as £2,500 for a 2014 Korando with 100,000. 2019 diesels are priced from £6,400 while 2021 petrol variants start from around £10,000. Then there's the rare Korando e-Motion which can be had from £15,000.
If a newer 2024 KGM appeals, these can snapped up for just £21,500 and most have delivery mileage. There's more choice in the used market as the K40 and K30 trims can be found here. We spotted a split new K35 Korando on the used car market with zero miles for £23,495. That's a £2,500 saving.
Trim levels and standard equipment
The most affordable model is the K35 with the manual gearbox. These are priced from £25,995 and come with heaps of standard tech such as automatic headlamps, front and rear parking sensors, puddle lighting, rain-sensing wipers, heated door mirrors and an eight-way adjustable driver's seat.
The automatic starts at £26,995. This gets the same rather clunky six-speed Aisin transmission that the Torres gets, therefore we'd recommend the six-speed manual.
Again if you're thinking of buying used, the Korando Ventura models are only available with two-wheel drive and the petrol engine, albeit with a manual or automatic gearbox. These were built on the spec of the ELX, with combined faux leather and fabric seats (heated in the front), 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels (without all-weather tyres), front and rear parking sensors, an electronic parking brake, 10.25-inch full LCD instrument cluster, and an eight-inch touchscreen media system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Unashamedly aimed at the caravan and towing market, the SsangYong Korando Pioneer was sold with a 1.6-litre diesel engine and automatic transmission, with the choice of two- or four-wheel drive. It had a two-tonne towing capacity, 17-inch alloy wheels (with all-weather tyres), a heated steering wheel, a full-sized spare wheel, and a 3.5-inch LCD instrument cluster (rather than the fancy 10.25-inch display).
The top-spec SsangYong Korando Ultimate was, as its name suggests, the ultimate Korando. Sold with a petrol engine with automatic and manual transmissions, or an automatic diesel with four-wheel-drive, standard kit included leather seats (with adjustable driver’s lumbar support), dual-zone air conditioning, a nine-inch touchscreen media system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 19-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, smart keyless start, rear privacy glass, LED multi-focus headlights, 10.25” full digital cluster and mood lighting and a power tailgate
Ask the heycar experts: common questions
What is a KGM / SsangYong Korando?
Is the KGM / SsangYong Korando a good SUV?
Which KGM / SsangYong has a Mercedes engine?
SsangYong Korando Alternatives
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