Ssangyong Korando variants
Total price
Monthly payment

Finance representative example (PCP)

Total cash price £16,799. Borrowing £15,119 with a £1,680 deposit at a representative APR of 7.9%.

48 monthly payments
£259.81
Fixed interest rate
7.9%
Total amount payable
£20,154.66
Cost of credit
£3,355.66
Optional final payment
£6,004.00
Purchase fee
£10.00
Annual mileage limit
6000 miles

SsangYong Korando buying guide

What SsangYong Korando trim levels are there?

ELX is the entry-level trim but comes respectably equipped. You get 17-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, cruise control, auto lights and wipers, automatic high beams, DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity. There's also lots of safety kit with automatic emergency braking, collision warning and lane keep assist.

Ventura comes with petrol engines only and adds 18-inch alloys, roof rails and LED front fog lamps. Inside, there's part-faux-leather upholstery, heated front seats, all-round parking sensors and a reversing camera. You also get an eight-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and digital driver's dials.

Pioneer trim comes with a diesel engine and automatic gearbox to unlock the Korando's maximum towing capacity. Inside, there's a heated steering wheel and a full-size spare wheel.

Ultimate trim comes with either petrol or diesel engines and includes all the bells and whistles. You get 19-inch alloys, leather upholstery, power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats, plus adjustable lumbar support for the driver. There's also dual-zone climate control, ambient cabin lighting and a nine-inch infotainment screen with built-in navigation.

SsangYong Korando interior and technology

The Korando doesn't feel quite as cutting edge as some of its rivals inside, with a small screen and a fairly understated design. There is, however, a pleasing simplicity to it all. You get clearly marked buttons and dials for key controls, allowing you to adjust the temperature or the stereo volume without looking away from the road.

All models apart from entry-level ELX cars include a touchscreen infotainment system. The eight-inch screen is small by today's standards, and the software is neither outstanding nor particularly offensive. Crucially, all Korandos include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which will probably be the preferred interface for most drivers. The larger nine-inch screen on Ultimate models is technically an upgrade but doesn't really add much to the experience in practice. Ventura and Ultimate cars include digital driver's dials, which aren't littered with the visual fuss found on some rivals.

Practicality is strong thanks to the Korando's boxy body. Tall adults will fit comfortably in the front and rear rows, and it's one of the better mid-size SUVs for carrying three across the rear row thanks to a fairly minimal transmission tunnel. Boot space is 551 litres, which means it'll swallow a big pushchair or your holiday luggage with ease, although underfloor space is somewhat reduced on Pioneer models with their full-size spare wheel.

SsangYong Korando engine range explained

SsangYong Korando 1.5 petrol

This is the sole petrol engine available for the Korando – a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with either a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox. The 163hp output is decent but the Korando's weight means 0-62mph takes a fairly pedestrian 10.8 seconds regardless of which gearbox you choose. Average fuel consumption in the high 30s is mediocre but purchase prices for this engine are very low, which offsets its slightly higher running costs. Braked towing capacity stands at 1,500kg – respectable for this class.

SsangYong Korando 1.6D diesel

The diesel engine option unlocks the Korando's maximum 2,000kg braked towing capacity. This figure is the same for both standard front-wheel-drive diesel models and those with the optional four-wheel drive. All versions come with a six-speed automatic gearbox as standard. Performance is fairly sluggish, with 136hp and a 0-62mph time of more than 12 seconds but, drive gently, and you should see mpg figures in the mid-40s.

SsangYong Korando FAQs

The Korando measures in a little under 4.5 metres long. This puts it in a similar ballpark to SUVs like the Nissan Qashqai and Hyundai Tucson. The boxy body means lots of passenger space, with space for four tall adults or five for shorter hops.

Parking sensors and a reversing camera are standard on all Korandos except entry-level ELX trim, making it easy to squeeze the car into tight spaces.

Most Korandos come with a 551-litre boot – a very healthy figure in this class, and more than large enough for bulky pushchairs or a trip to your favourite flatpack furniture store.

That figure drops to 407 litres on Pioneer models as these use some of the underfloor space to store the standard-fit full-size spare wheel.

Fold the rear seats and you get 1,248 litres of space, or 1,104 on Pioneer-spec cars.

There's just two engines to choose from here – a 1.5-litre turbo petrol and a 1.6-litre diesel.

The petrol will suit you better if you cover average mileages and mixed driving conditions, and offers great value for money thanks to low purchase prices.

High-mileage drivers might find the diesel is a better bet, as will drivers who are planning to tow with their Korando thanks to the diesel's 2,000kg braked towing capacity.

Most Korando models are front-wheel drive. These lack the outright traction advantage of four-wheel drive models, but they're a little quicker and sweeter to drive in the real world. Plus, you can ensure excellent all-weather performance by fitting your two-wheel-drive Korando with a set of winter tyres in the cold months.

Four-wheel drive is available as an option on Korandos with the 1.6-litre diesel engine and will help generate a little more traction on low-grip surfaces.