KGM Torres 1.5 K30 5dr Auto

Ten Second Review

A new brand, KGM Motors, needs a new car and this KGM Torres is very much that. A tough, versatile, five-seat upper-mid-sized SUV, it comes in both combustion and EV forms and offers something quite appealingly different.

Background

KGM Motors, you'd be forgiven for not knowing, is the new name for the Korean marque that used to be called SsangYong. So it's not quite a new brand, but it does need a new product line-up, which starts with this car, the KGM Torres. KGM does sell other models here, but they're all simply re-badged versions of previous SsangYongs. The Torres, in contrast, is all-new, the first a fresh raft of designs we'll see from the brand using a lot of borrowed technology from Chinese maker BYD. This new product offensive was a condition of SsangYong's buy-out by huge South Korean chemical and steel company the KG group in 2022. The Torres represents the first fruits of the subsequent re-launched brand's rejuvenated 'new era of innovation' approach and is apparently named after the Torres del Paine National Park in Chile.

Driving Experience

This is a futuristic -looking car, but its core engine is rather old school, the same 1.5-litre 163PS four cylinder petrol turbo unit used by the old Korando and Tivoli. KGM says it's been massaged bit for this installation, with a 10% improvement in acceleration, which explains why the 10.8s 0-62mph sprint time is the same as the smaller Korando model fitted with the same basic unit. Top speed is 118mph. A 6-speed auto transmission is mandatory, but unlike with the Korando, 2WD isn't; if you don't want front wheel drive, a 4WD option's available at the top of the range. With 280Nm of torque on tap, braked towing capacity is rated at 1.5 tonnes (750kg braked) plus there's a trailer sway control function. Don't expect cutting-edge drive dynamics - but since when has any EV crossover of this kind offered that? You're likely to find this one predictable, solid and refined, with plenty of camera safety kit. Off road, KGM claims 'competitive' approach and departure angles. These are aided by a tough chassis fashioned from 81% high tensile steel. The combustion alternative is a full-EV model, the Torres EVX. This mates a 201bhp single drive motor with a 73.4kWh battery that when fully energised offers 287 miles between charges. Impressively, the EVX can tow the same weight as the combustion model.

Design and Build

'Powered by Toughness' is apparently the design philosophy behind this KGM Torres - which is hardly a unique approach amongst SUVs. So it's quite refreshing to find that this car looks quite different to most of its rivals. The slotted grille gives a Jeep-style vibe, but here it's accompanied by all kinds of sharp creases and edges. This SUV's a little bigger than it looks in the pictures, the 4.7-metre length about the same as a Nissan X-Trail or Skoda Kodiaq. There's a chunky profile too, with 1,720mm of height and 1,890mm of width. Lots of black plastic cladding and a contrasting C-pillar add finishing touches. The red towing hitch covers of the combustion version are omitted on the all-electric EVX version. And that EV model is also set apart by a blanked-off grille, a unique 20-inch wheel design and a special LED light bar (replacing conventional headlights). It's modern and minimalist inside, where a wide, slim dashboard houses a pair of 12.3-inch screens. You view the 'twin panoramic' instrument display through a four-spoke flat-bottomed steering wheel. And you're surrounded by metal accents, smart ambient lighting and (on top models) leather upholstery, which all aim to create a luxurious, sophisticated vibe. Rear seat space is generous for a couple of adults, but you might reasonably expect an SUV the length of an X-Trail or Kodiaq to offer a third seating row. The Torres doesn't, which seems like a bit of a missed opportunity. That does at least mean you get a class-leadingly large boot, rated at 703-litres with the rear seats in place - or 1,662-litres with them folded.

Market and Model

Torres pricing starts from around £35,000 for the combustion model. That gets you the base 'K30' version, which also comes in plusher 'K40' form for £3,000 more. You can also have the 'K40' derivative with AWD - but that requires the kind of £40,000 budget that isn't too far away from what you need to pay for the EVX all-electric version (which starts from just under £45,000). As expected equipment levels are generous. Even the base 'K30' derivative comes complete with 18-inch diamond cut alloy wheels, a 12.3-inch smart audio screen with 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto' and a rear view camera. Plus you get automatic dual zone air conditioning, a heated leather steering wheel and TPU leather upholstery. There's also a 12.3-inch full digital instrument cluster, auto headlamps and wipers and an electro-chromatic rear view mirror, If you can stretch to the plusher 'K40' variants, you'll get premium leather seats, a smart powered tailgate and 20-inch diamond cut alloy wheels. Plus power-folding mirrors, a wireless phone charger and rear privacy glass. Safety kit fitted across the range includes autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic warning, blind spot detection, lane departure warning, driver attention alert, front vehicle start alert, lane keeping assist, trailer sway control and a smart high beam system for the headlights.

Cost of Ownership

KGM has done its best to make this combustion Torres model's aging 1.5-litre petrol turbo engine as efficient as it can be, but the returns of this unit are still some way off the class best. You're looking at 33.2mpg on the combined cycle and 194g/km of CO2 for the front-driven version; and 31.1mpg and 207g/km for the AWD model. Mind you, it's necessary to be comparing apples with apples here and pitching this car against proper tough SUVs that as well as comfortably seating five, can easily tow heavier loads and, if necessary, take you properly off road, rather than simply through the odd muddy carpark. Once you do that, this Torres actually stacks up pretty well. As for the EVX full-electric version, well we gave you its EV range figure in our 'Driving' section - 287 miles. This variant DC-charges at 145kW. And it's possible to charge external devices from its V-2-L socket. Whatever Torres model you decide upon, perhaps the best bit is the peace of mind that comes as standard with this car thanks to KGM's impressively complete five year 100,000 mile warranty. Insurance groups for the combustion version are 33 for the front-driven model and 32 for the AWD version.

Summary

At a stroke, the Torres makes everything else in the KGM range look a bit 'yesterday'. The brand claims this C+ segment SUV creates 'a new market niche'. It doesn't, but it's an important car for the brand to have, filling the gap between its existing Korando and Rexton models. The Rexton has a niche following, but it's difficult to think of many reasons to buy a Korando, which is why the Torres is so important to the future of this Korean maker. It's the company's first really credible volume SUV and within the range is this manufacturer's first really credible volume electric vehicle. Firsts don't get much more significant than that in the modern automotive era. We're a little disappointed that the budget here didn't extend to a more modern electrified combustion engine or a PHEV; but KGM's BYD development partner doesn't bother with those. Still, the exterior design's appealing and the EV variant's drivetrain looks competitive. As a result, expect the Torres to vastly out-sell everything else in the KGM range. Whether that's enough for marque profitability is another question.