• Only one petrol engine
• Six-speed manual or six-speed auto
• Four-wheel drive not available

Whilst the old Ssangyong Korando was available with diesel power and even four-wheel drive, KGM has streamlined the range to a single petrol engine with an automatic or manual gearbox.

Petrol engine

The sole petrol option is a long way removed from the sluggish 1.6-litre non-turbo in the smaller Tivoli, if somewhat behind the latest hybridised offerings out there. It’s a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol producing 163hp and drives the front wheels through a six-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic gearbox.

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So far we’ve only tried the auto, and while it boasts plenty of power, it never feels all that fast. The auto ‘box is partially to blame, with hesitant responses and the occasional forgetful moment where it’ll hit the rev limiter before shifting up under hard acceleration. The six gears are also more widely spaced than rivals’ seven or more geared autos.

Compared to most similarly priced small SUVs it’ll feel punchy enough, but most similarly sized rivals feel a bit more effortless.

What’s it like to drive?

The Korando’s slow-and-steady ethos extends to the handling. This is a car that doesn’t particularly like to be hurried, though dynamically it’s undeniably a massive improvement over older models.

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It’s quite firmly sprung, which helps its handling in the bends – body lean is well controlled and the car grips well. Push hard and it’ll be the front tyres that always give up first, and it’s not particularly fun. The stiff suspension translates to a ride that easily becomes unsettled over rough roads, with the result that the SsangYong rarely feels totally composed except on smooth motorways and A-roads.

The steering is accurate enough but is quite low-geared, requiring lots of arm-twirling round town. And while this translates into good motorway stability, it’s quite difficult to modulate on bendy roads. All-in-all, it’s well behind the best small and family sized SUVs. A Skoda Kamiq or larger Karoq is comfier and handles better.