A reason to downsize
For those who have always had a soft _ if eerie _ spot for Ssangyong SUVs, the Korando appeals with a nice packaging and decent road manners
Despite being a familiar badge, the Korando marks several changes for the Korean car brand Ssangyong, now owned by the Chinese.
The first is the name itself because the all-new Korando isn't what its three predecessors were: a Jeep Wrangler-like, utilitarian SUV that attracted real off-road enthusiasts and also the military.
What the fourth-generation Korando is today is a proper, modern-day rival to "soft" off-roaders like the Honda CR-V. Gone is the genuine Korando spirit. To people at Jeep _ or even Land Rover with its iconic Defender _ such a move could be considered blasphemy.
In fact, Ssangyong profoundly calls the new Korando a crossover, as announced two years ago when it showed the C200 concept vehicle that preceded the market-ready model.
Another change that has accompanied this crucial makeover is the design. The Korando embodies a very predictable design language that could easily be described as unexciting if you recall the old days of sharp-looking _ if controversial _ Ssangyongs, like the Stavic MPV, as well as the Rexton, Actyon and Kyron SUVs.
Sure, it's an aspect you'd either like or loathe. But let's face it: those chivalrous-looking Ssangyongs starkly contrast with the staid-looking Korando which, in side profile, looks almost like a jacked up Mazda 2 hatchback.
Above: The interior design and build quality is good,although there are only hard plastics around. Above right: The rear is roomy for three persons.
But beneath the Korando's plain skin lies an efficient packaging which, in turn, means that Ssangyong has done a good job in making the vehicle compact in appearance yet functional inside.
The Korando can take five persons in comfort, thanks to a flat floor design for rear occupants. The boot, too, is spacious and has its practicality levels boosted by rear backrests that can fold completely flat at a twitch of two simple levers. In short, the Korando is a fine five-seat SUV.
The overall interior design is a step forward from earlier Ssangyongs, principally because the Korando's relatives weren't as playful as what has happened outside the vehicles. This is quite important, since SUVs must offer cabins that are easy to use.
It's only the smallest of details that makes the Korando's fascia far from perfect. For example, the manual shift operation for the automatic gearbox is done unfamiliarly via a tiny toggle switch on the gear knob or by switches on the steering wheel that shouldn't be confused as volume controls for the audio system.
The Korando has a fairly decent amount of perceptive quality inside with nice grainy-surfaced, if disappointingly hard and hollow, plastics that are put well together. The leather seats look good, although they could have been more shapely to sit in.
The specification of the Korando revolves more around convenience rather than safety. There are all kinds of creature comforts and a sunroof, although only frontal airbags are available.
With an imported status costing 1.79 million baht _ going head-to-head with the Hyundai Tucson _ it would have been nice to see Ssangyong putting more safety features in the Korando.
At least, four-wheel-drive (which can automatically split torque between the front and rear axles, or the driver can fix it at 50:50) is standard in Thailand to boost active safety.
Which then brings us to the technical bit and the next milestone the Korando is marking for Ssangyong. Traditionally, Ssangyong has been sourcing power train tech from Mercedes-Benz, like the engine, transmission and drive system _ a selling point for those who have placed their trust in German technology.
However, Ssangyong says the Korando's 2.0-litre diesel engine is now a development of its own and the six-speed automatic transmission comes from an Australian company, although their placement in the vehicle still look very German.
The diesel engine isn’t short of grunt.
Whether you're with that or not, performance in the Korando is ample and frugal in its own right and should serve as a wake-up call for Honda to go diesel with the CR-V in Thailand. The only other car-based SUV in the under 2 million baht price bracket to burn oil is the Chevrolet Captiva.
When you talk about performance/fuel economy balance, the Korando beats its intended rivals with traditional petrol power and also the Captiva, an SUV using a rather old engine block from VM Motori, Italy.
But the Korando's diesel isn't perfect. There's turbo lag (hardly any shove) below 2,000rpm and a lack of urgency in the mid-ranges. It's only if the Korando isn't that hurried in pace would you appreciate the linearity of its ability to build up power to high speeds you wouldn't have imagined in the first place.
Lastly, an economy rating of some 13kpl looks quite good among mass market SUVs, but not against premium counterparts, like the diesel-powered BMW X1/X3. Sure, you'd be quick to say that oranges and apples can't be compared, but you now know where the benchmark for four-pot diesel lies.
The Korando is priced to fight Hyundai.
Although a 2WD-only version for the Korando has been developed, the 4WD variant (bar its weight) doesn't necessarily mean that it will increase petrol bills because when driven normally, only the front wheels are driven.
The bonus is that the Korando has light off-roading ability when the driver locks the 4x4 system via a switch placed a little too clumsily at the right bottom of the dashboard.
The last thing the Korando marks as metamorphosis for Ssangyong is the way the chassis has been tuned. Traditionally, Ssangyongs have been tuned with utter comfort in mind, meaning that the ride levels were plush but soggy when driven quickly or harder in corners. The Korando behaves otherwise.
What you now get in the Korando is a flatter, tauter and quieter ride than in any other Ssangyongs, which is the right approach because it's a compact SUV we're talking about here that needs to adhere to the needs of today's real-world drivers.
The ride remains stable even at excessively high speeds. In fact, the Korando has a good level of cruising ability to make it a good choice for families doing lots of upcountry travelling. And despite riding on huge 18-inch wheels, the low-speed ride is hardly discomforting.
The boot is spacious . . . and completely flat when seats fold down.
What hasn't totally been cured is the steering which, just like in most other Ssangyongs, is totally numb and isn't too keen when making quick directional changes. As well, understeer is pronounced in corners, meaning that it has that "running wide" effect if you drive the vehicle with more enthusiasm than usual.
Of course, SUVs aren't really meant to be driven that way. But then, the Korando falls behind the CR-V when it comes to on-road dynamic ability. Which, in the end, makes for obvious conclusions for the Korando.
This Ssangyong is certainly not the logical choice for the masses due to its imported price tag, although it must be noted that some of its positive qualities, like the tidy interior versatility and diesel grunt, do stand out to a certain degree in a market dictated by the Japanese.
But if you happen to be bored with the mainstream and have enough money to spend, the Korando can always be an alternative, particularly for those who find the Kyron and its like excessive in metal and too short on refined road manners.
AT A GLANCE
Styling ............................... 6/10
The Korando breaks away from Ssangyong's radical design language and opts for more convention, explaining the rather plain lines.
Performance ....................... 7/10
Diesel-turbo engine yields ample, if not brilliant, performance and fuel economy. No petrol variant to choose from _ which is right.
Handling/ride ...................... 7/10
As an SUV, the Korando has decent levels of grip and ride comfort, unlike other Ssangyongs that have soggy handling.
Practicality ......................... 8/10
Don't get fooled by the compact appearance. It's roomy inside for five, while the boot stays flat in whichever configuration.
Safety kit ............................ 6/10
Some items have been omitted in the interest of price, which shouldn't have been the case for an imported car.
VERDICT ............................. 6/10
Another wake-up call for Honda to go diesel with the CR-V. Obviously, the Korando won't be a big hit due to its imported status amid a raft of Thai-built competition. But for those who find the Kyron _ or even Rexton _ too excessive in size or too unremarkable to steer, the Korando is a way out.
The Korando has a stable ride.
Despite riding on huge 18-inch wheels, the low-speed ride is hardly discomforting.
OR TRY THESE
CHEVROLET CAPTIVA 2.0 VDCi
Price 1.287-1.373 million baht
Power150hp 2.0-litre inline-4 diesel-turbo
Gearboxfive-speed automatic, FWD
Wheelbase2,705mm
We thinkSeven seats, Thai-built status and diesel engine make it best value here. Facelift due next month.
HYUNDAI TUCSON 2.0
Price 1.791 million baht
Power166hp 2.0-litre inline-4 petrol
Gearboxsix-speed automatic, FWD
Wheelbase2,640mm
We thinkFor those who don't mind high prices, the Tucson scores with stylish looks and good on-road driving manners.
SUBARU FORESTER 2.0X
Price 1.698 million
Power150hp 2.0-litre flat-4 petrol
Gearboxfour-speed automatic, 4WD
Wheelbase2,615mm
We thinkBland to look at and to drive, this SUV prefers to focus on sheer practicality instead.
Credit: Bangkok Post (www.bangkokpost.com)
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