Ssangyong Korando - All the details

With its all-new Korando, Ssangyong is trying to remind people of its capabilities as a brand and gain some presence in the Philippines market. Launched earlier this month along with its younger sibling Tivoli, the Korando is now in its fourth-generation and here’s everything you need to know about it.

Ssangyong Korando design

The Korando has been in the market for a very long time now. You can get an idea of its age by the fact that its last version was released a decade ago! Then it got an update in 2016, which was, unfortunately, unsuccessful in creating the impacting Ssangyong actually wanted. So now, the new 2020 Korando is here to try and please everyone once again.

The new 2020 Ssangyong Korando specs sheet is miles better from its predecessor. It looks and feels more mature and modern. Following are some of its key external features-

• Slim, trapezoidal “birds wing” front grille
• Redesigned LED headlights and fog lamps
• Daytime running lights on the front and rear
• Flat ‘floating roof’ design that slopes downwards towards the back
• More defined hood and shoulder lines
• Creased tailgate
• Rear spoiler and skid plate
• Polygon-shaped LED taillights
• Diamond-cut alloy wheels in 17-, 18-, or 19-inch configuration

Ssangyong Korando colour options-

The Korando is available in 4 different colours - Cherry Red, Grand White, Dandy Blue, and Platinum Grey. Which one do you like the most?

How is the interior of the new Korando?

Ans. To make sure that the interior of the new car matches the updated exterior, Ssangyong kind of went a bit overboard. The interior, especially the dashboard, looks too busy for everyone’s liking. It is well put together, no doubt in that. But somehow, it feels like filled up to the brim. Don’t you think so?

The ‘Blaze Cockpit’, as Ssangyong likes to call it, features European design elements. Some of its key interior features are-

• High-quality fabric, faux leather and cloth, or premium leather seats
• Power-adjustable front seats (top-end models)
• Dual-zone climate control (top-end models)
• 10.25-inch Super Vision HD digital instrument cluster (mid and high-end models)
• 8-inch HD infotainment system with 34 “infinity mood lighting” options (mid and high-end models)
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support

Ssangyong Korando engine options-

For the new 2020 model, Ssangyong decided to let go of the 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine and replace it with two new engine options, which play a significant role in the 2020 Ssangyong Korando specs sheet.

The first engine option is a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine which churns out a max power of 160 bhp and 280 Nm of torque. This is the more powerful engine out of the two options and is available only with the top-end variant of the car.

Then we have the 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine that has been tuned to produce 134 bhp of max power and 324 Nm of torque. So, if you want to experience the pull of the torque, you will have to go with this one. It comes with the remaining two variants of the Korando.

Engine specs	1.5-litre turbocharged petrol	1.6 turbodiesel
Max power output	161 bhp at 5000 rpm	134 bhp at 4000 rpm
Max torque output	280 Nm at 1500-4000 rpm	324 Nm at 1500-2000 rpm
Drive system	Front-wheel drive
Transmission	6-speed automatic / 6-speed manual

Ssangyong Korando safety features-

The new Korando has an impressive 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating and the features that helped it achieve that are-

• 7 airbags
• Active rollover protection
• Front collision warning
• Front vehicle start alert
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Driver attention alert
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Lane keep assist
• Lane departure warning
• Safety distance alert
• Traffic sign recognition
• Traction control system

What are the Ssangyong Korando variants?

Ans. The 2020 Korando has been given three variants - 1.6D Sport, 1.6D Premium, and 1.5T Sport. The first two are the diesel variants, and the last one is the petrol variant. The 2020 Ssangyong Korando price starts at PHP 1.29 million for the 1.6D Sport variant. In contrast, the other diesel variant retails at PHP 1.77 million, and the only petrol 1.5T Sport will set you back by PHP 1.29 million.

Other alternatives at this price point could be the Honda HR-V, Nissan X-Trail, and Hyundai Tucson.

Also Read: Ssangyong Tivoli - Old vs new