Do Bad New Cars Still Exist? The SsangYong Korando Ultimate Reviewed

[@JayEmmOnCars]

CarVertical: The History Checking Service Use This Link or Code "JAYEMM" for a 20% Discount! www.carvertical.com/gb/landing/v3?b=1e4c9523&a=JayEmm&voucher=jayemm&chan=jayemm

[@fortheloveofnoise]

of course you can...Fiat still makes cars

[@essendon72]

Check out the New Rexton, better than the Korando IMO.

[@user-pn3im5sm7k]

I like your delivery style and personality. Subscribed. Great information.

[@iatsd]

Of course bad new cars still exist: GM and Chrysler are still in business and can offer multiple models that are just dire.

[@citizenfour9622]

@4:30 - James, would you like a cheap suit to go with your cheap car? I don’t get why you insist on using the pejorative “cheap” over the more appropriate “affordable”.

[@poached_egg_on_cars]

I used to work at a Ssangyong dealership in Witham, Essex before they pulled out of the dealership and moved to Chelmsford. They weren't bad cars, but reminded me of a car you'd see in GTA you'd only steal if the police were on your tail and it's the only car within reach.

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Ha, I know what you mean

[@spiller212]

😂

[@cwang6951]

That's an amazing way to describe a car 😂

[@Rosso488]

Hahaha that’s funny.

[@ArmchairOps]

Brilliant analogy 😂👍

[@racesuey]

If you know Ssyangyong's history, you can see why they feel a generation behind. It's quite sad history honestly and reminds me of British Auto industry. After East Asian Financial Crisis in 1997, the company changed ownership a couple of times and ultimately was purchased by SAIC, a Chinese firm, they used Ssangyong's engineering to built SAIC's own model lineup in China and effectively ignored Ssangyong's lineup in Korea and aboard. The company of course failed to compete against Hyundai/Kia at this stage as most of the company's, engineering strength was used to develop SAIC. In 08' with economic crisis, SAIC decided to sell Ssangyong and decided to lay off almost 3000 workers. This resulted in one of the most catastrophic protests in Korean history that involved Ssangyong workers fighting to their death by sieging inside the factory. Ultimately, the Indian company, Mahindra purchased Ssangyong and injected cash to create new vehicles that would be sold both as Ssangyong and Mahindra. And this new Korando is one of the first products after the company was normalized. It feels a generation behind because it kinda is based on the car that was planned a generation ago. But, Ssangyong also can utilize Hyundai-Kia suppliers back in Korea and that really helped them to obtain a lot of newer tech at least in the infotaiment/option side despite having older powertrain tech. In Korea, this car is considered great value options to housewives who want bigger SUVs but are price conscious. However, with Covid-19, Mahindra was faced some financial challenges and went back into court-receivership. Now it was sold off to Korean conglomerate KG. KG is conglomerate that specialized in chemical and steel industry so I'm hopeful that Ssangyong might turn around. They just launched new product back in Korea called Ssangyong Torres which honestly feels so close to other cheap SUVs from Hyundai, Ford and Honda other than outdated powertrain tech. I think Ssangyong's biggest strength is that they have Hyundai/KIa suppliers back in Korea. This helps them to get some of the Korean car's biggest strengths, which is features and options. (Not to mention LG and Samsung which is one of the biggest suppliers for high tech options for Germans) They also have Mercedes-backed frame-body/RWD platform (as Mercedes almost purchased them back in the 90s) with their Musso pickup and new Rexton. These are honestly decent as a cheap frame body vehicle - only issue being Ssangyong not really having powertrain technology to put in the big vehicle. It's great to see that James giving fair and decent review to this Ssangyong. As a car enthusiasts, I kinda despise their CUVs (or any CUVs for that matter) but I really wish them the best and hopefully they can create more enthusiasts level body on frame vehicles after making money with these!

[@princesssolace4337]

Well , the model name is not gonna help it. Whoever named it must got a bad grudge , probably he got bullied so bad coz his parent own a Rexton and he vowed to destroy the company from the inside for destroying his teenage life.🤣🤣 PS - if u grow up watching primetime news in the early 80s till mid 80s , Korean workers protest are always on bcoz of its violence. It's their culture , willing to die for their families and fighting a big corporation that utilize the riot police with no brake time for tea and biscuits.

[@littlefishy6316]

Very interesting and well written comment. MG has also had an interesting recent history, I have been seeing lots of new MG models and their electric range has had favourable reviews.

[@realAlexChoi]

I wonder if Ssangyong could make a comeback as an offroad focused brand, sort of like a more offroad focused, tougher Land Rover

[@cwang6951]

Thanks for the wrapup!

[@whyyoulidl]

Great comment 👍🏿. It's a shame there aren't more in-depth Ssangyong reviews. Talking of which, I just heard a new owner's name change is in the offing...

[@williamdrijver4141]

Engine still has a reliable oil dipstick. 100 x better than what many "premium" brands offer: sensors to measure the oil level.

[@Lucas_Antar]

My car has both and the senors work fine. I don't see why I'd have to even look at the dipstick at this point. My fancy sensors even tell me how clean the oil is. I think people just like to complain.

[@shastaweston]

@@Lucas_Antar You won't be saying that when those sensors fail overtime

[@fregyt]

@@shastaweston that’s not really the issue for me. I dont mind replacing sensors on my car as long as they are easy to reach, and cheap. Nearly all of the ones on my car that could break are within 30 mins replace time. I do it myself ofc

[@HPsawus]

I don’t mind sensors I just don’t like the planned obsolescence that they will inevitably impose on these devices

[@prylosecorsomething3194]

@@Lucas_Antar you're buying new. As someone who gets cars a few years old I'd much rather have the simple solution because it's less for the previous owners to break

[@gaffnaldo1]

It's a bad day for us all when 30k is considered cheap.

[@jonnyc429]

Glad I'm not the only one who thought exactly that

[@العقيدمعمرالقذافي-ح4ف]

that's cheap for a new suv

[@gaffnaldo1]

@@jonnyc429 worlds gone mad Jonny

[@jonnyc429]

@@gaffnaldo1 certainly has mate

[@saippuakivikuappias]

And 30k for a car that isn't even (quite) up to scratch.

[@2orangy]

I have a ssangyong rexton rx290 i bougnt in 2003..drive it for more than 300,000kms without major problem...contrary to jay's comments, the car is solidly built. Noise insulation is very good. Hardly hear engine noise from inside, even driving it at 140kmh to 160kmh.. you can still have normal conversation inside the car..good job ssangyong..

[@cliffwilkins9178]

He and other 'reviewers' receive no advertising revenue or other benefits from the brand so they'll slate it. It's how business is done in this corrupt merrygoround.

[@morgman43]

I'm kinda disappointed that SsangYongs are no longer comically ugly, but then I stop and wonder if it's not that the rest of the world hasn't just caught them up. Looking at you, BMW.

[@patagualianmostly7437]

The pick-up that appeared here a few years back had to be the ugliest vehicle ever. 😝

[@TheSultan1470]

No

[@Inferiis]

@@patagualianmostly7437 no, that was their minivan. That thing was hideous

[@stephengamble2576]

I have a Korrando 2.0 LE petrol I bought new in 2019. My friend was a mechanic at a Ssangyong dealership on my doorstep and he told me they were good cars and hardly ever came in for warranty work. I also liked the look of them and it is really well made and for the price I paid amazing. I've now done just over 30000 miles in it which includes towing and touring round Scotland. It's been a joy to own and everyone that has been in it have been shocked at the quality of it. Downsides are 2L petrol is a little bland and has just enough power,more lack of torque than power but is very quiet and does hit it's claimed mpg figures. The dealers don't have a menu style service pricing or pre pay service plan,so you have to ring round the dealers for the best price. Overall I love my Korrando and the most important thing for me is it has been 100%reliable and trust worthy and I am a fan of the brand and would definitely buy another Ssangyong on it own merits against other brands. Well done Ssangyong

[@vletrmx21]

My dad's first brand new car was his 2015 Kia Sorento, what a value for money and (imo) good looking car from certain angles. It threw up an engine light (exhaust sensor) 2 weeks before the 7 year waranty was out and it was honoured, abroad!

[@newchannel1220]

My girlfriend had a 2013 Hyundai Sonata and it literally caught on fire.

[@06dpa]

It probably came on 2 weeks earlier than planned

[@MikeBanks2003]

I have a SSangyong, it is a Kyron, and it is one of the best cars I have ever owned and I still own it. It is thrifty on diesel, and has had no further problems with it in ten years of use.

[@CHMernerner]

I had kyron too. Only problem beside that can be happen in old cars(like fuel injector gone bad .. becaus and of age) was rust problem that period of ssangyong had. I rolled it around mountain and some crazy things. And once had crash with hyundai accent. The accent had to straighten up their everything and i changed my foglamp.

[@danielpope6498]

I rented a diesel AWD Korando in Iceland and it was actually quite good in that setting. I liked it

[@davidwoolley4935]

Had 2 korandos now both new cars from a 2015 se4 and a 2018 elx models primary for towing now moved up to a 22 plate Rexton not had any trouble with any, great 4x4 with good specific. The Rexton 8 speeds autos one of the comfiest cars I've driven and been a passenger in. My local dealers have been great with nothing been to much trouble and always happy to answer any questions I have .i tow a 1700jg twin axle with ease and stability it A+ from me.

[@paulyflyer8154]

The biggest surprise in this video for me was the first few minutes when you told us the price...21k to 30k. It's still a lot of money to part with, and I can't imagine anyone doing that when they can get an alternative used premium brand a few years old. For this reason I think it'll fail to sell and 2nd hand ones will be rare.

[@oddities-whatnot]

The word "premium" is based on nothing more than a supposed image.

[@PitestiNation]

A few years old? A 3 year old bmw SUV is around 50k. Prices have increased man. For 30k maybe you can buy a 7 year old bmw SUV. In this case, a lot of people would choose the new car over the almost 10 year old "premium" car

[@paulyflyer8154]

@Pitesti Nation Nonsense. Check your local BMW dealership. Plenty of 3 year old X3's for well under 28k and in Manchester BMW there's a 3.0d X5 2019 model for just £24,995. And there's far cheaper ones on auto trader.

[@PitestiNation]

@@paulyflyer8154 either they're entry level or you're talking about leased cars where only part of the car value is sold because you're buying the monthly leasing as well

[@Petrslav]

@@PitestiNation is the European used car market also insane right now? I bought a car back in May here in the US, and a brand new Kia forte was only 7k more than a used 2017 Kia forte with 177k miles on it that reeked of cigarette smoke. Needless to say I bought a brand new Kia forte lxs.

[@cbrown182]

My dad had a 2017 korondo from new until last year. The interior and exterior was very boring, but he liked it as it was cheap, economical, had all the gadgets and it pulled the caravan no problem with 4wd. The cheapness did tell after a few years as it had some issues with suspension springs snapping and belt tensions wearing out, but it was all fixed under warranty. He ended up getting a Kia Sportage after and he much preferred everything about the korondo other than the styling.

[@lesrayner4644]

I run a 2004 Korando elx, 2 Ltr,had it for 7 years . Absolutely brilliant car I use it for towing my caravan. In all that time I’ve had a new battery and some tyres. What more can I say !

[@paul1978g]

Many years ago, when I first started out in the motor industry, I worked for a dealership who held a franchise with International Motors, the official importer for several Japanese and Korean manufacturers (these being Subaru, Isuzu and Ssangyong). I recall the dealership held an "offroad day" (they also had Land Rover in group) and took a couple of these imported cars. An Isuzu Trooper 3.1 Citation, an Impreza 2.0 estate, a Subaru Legacy and a pair of Ssangyong Musso 2.9TD. Both Ssangyong (which I seem to recall translates as "Twin Dragons") had to be trailered back with drivetrain failure. Nothing else broke, not even the Land Rover Discovery the other branch brought. I'm genuinely surprised they've survived in the UK this long, where other better marques like Saab and Lancia have failed. The sales brochure made much of the design being done by, Ken Greenley, the same chap who designed the Bentley Azure, but in reality, this was very far from his finest work. In summary, a terrible old box of bolts that only the deliberately and belligerently contrary seemed to want to drive, which consequently leads to just exactly the kind of frustrating encounter you'd expect with the owner.

[@stuarthart3370]

Was the Musso's 2.9 TD, a made under licence Mercedes unit. ?

[@user-pn3im5sm7k]

Dealership offroad days should be normalized. Currently they are parasites in society so at least being slightly useful would be good for them.

[@CHMernerner]

If they were late 2.9TD models(something that is over 125hp), they had very troublesome engine. Before that, they were the most reliable engine from korea. many old mussos and their sister vehicle, KJ Korando, were survived even without noticable rust. Before somewhat forced ban on old diesel vehicles some years ago .

[@aslkbgh]

Own a 2005 Rextron for about a Decade now, done about 450K KM on it. really reliable in terms of gearbox and engine, only required basic maintanace, special notes on expensive diesel injectors and turbo, overall I love that off-roader

[@toddp9286]

Well the engine and gearbox from those years are licenced from Mercedes-Benz, so that's probably why it's somewhat reliable but also very expensive to fix

[@Gravstein]

@@toddp9286 The first gen had 2.9td (MB sprinter engine) with an Australian auto gearbox. the second gen had a 2.7xdi that was loosely based on a MB bottom end, but the cylinder head is SS own design. Gearbox in those are mercedes 5 speed auto. Parts are not that expensive, injectors are Delphi and turbo is Garrett.

[@PGTriumph]

We have a 22 plate 1.6d Korando Ultimate and althjough I think your review is fair, we are really happy with it so far. Since last June we have done around 3k miles and not had a single issue. We part exchanged a 2016 1.6 Xtrail while it had value in it and before bits srarted to fail. The Korando though - it's unfortunate you had the petrol version because the economy is much worse than the diesel, something held up bu the enthusiastic Facebook groups. We get around 30mpg round town and on a run bewteen 38 - 40 - not close to the Xtrail but we didn't expect that. We took 2 people to the airport with 2 full sized cases and all that was needed was to take out the load cover, Leg room for the passengers is terrific with one of them being 6'4". Seats are comfortable, driving position is good with everything in the right place and controls good. Media system is good with Android auto for music and the choice of Nav systems like Waze although there's nothing wrong with the installed nav choice. One small gripe is that you need a USB lead for Android Auto when otherwise the phone connects by Bluetooth for calls. Maybe a bit early to give a full review but so far we're happy both for everyday use and for longer runs where it's very comfortable. You get a lot for your money so no regrets so far. Haven't noticed the flexy bonnet either!!! As a foot-note and because of the start of your video, the Korando is used by my wife as her daily because I have - wait for it - a Ssangying Rexton and it's a 2012 model the same as the one you slated and I love it. It's the 2.7 Merc engine and gearbox which I've owned for around 9 months and I bought it to replace the most boring car I've ever owned - a Volvo XC90 which only lasred 3 months. The Rexton is my workhorse for work carrying tools and generally running me around and will also be used to tow our caravan. Starts with no fuss, comfortable to drive with a solid feel to it and again no issues with the bonnet - I do wonder what you do to them and can't fathom why anyone would want to climb on a bonnet in the first place!! Not a pretty car, but it's functional and it does stand out even if that is on it's own with a huge boot and class leading towing capacity. Keep up the good reviews, hope this wasn't too much of a ramble.......

[@pholland6643]

I purchased a korando in 2010, it had a 2L turbo diesel. Loved that car. Owned it for 10 years without any issues. Would have liked to buy another but the company status was too risky to buy the new rexton, try that one.

[@j.undefined1666]

As someone who works with Ssangyongs in the South East of the UK, Korandos are very similar in feel, fit and finish to a Hyundai. Though I've had more warranty issues with Ssangyongs.

[@stupidvideos1449]

Hyundai makes good stuff from what I've heard

[@Gorbyrev]

I miss a world where estates were king. Darn you SUV!

[@rasherbasher8203]

Totally agree with you👍

[@shanepatrick641]

Estates are more practical.

[@gbrh-uk4zq]

@@shanepatrick641 better in almost every area, except ground clearence and entering the car

[@shanepatrick641]

@@gbrh-uk4zq Good point! They are as low to the ground as hatchbacks.

[@gbrh-uk4zq]

@@shanepatrick641 hahah yes my bad. Myb 2mm higher

[@urbansnipe]

Im glad to see the tried and tested aisin gearbox on a car these days rather than a questionable new gearbox that you hear all these horror stories about

[@gerardbooth40]

'Buy an estate. They're just better'. Spot on James.

[@TadanoHitohito]

Disagree, station wagons are lame

[@SoulTouchMusic93]

@@TadanoHitohito compared to suv's estates turn better, are lighter and have more space inside. I have yet to get into a suv with headroom. The floor is too thicc. Also use less fuel and go through tyres and brakes at a lower rate.

[@TadanoHitohito]

@@SoulTouchMusic93 I'm not sure what euros classify as SUVs, but every wagon I've seen has been less spacious than an American SUV

[@TheSultan1470]

Untrue.

[@SoulTouchMusic93]

@@TadanoHitohito american suv's don't have to fit in the 3.5 ton weight limit for B licence.

[@0783155]

Good review and I agree on most points. As a drive tester I have worked on this car. We first got it 4 months before release, fully packed in thick blankets. My job was to fine tune the navigation system and find bugs. In the end we delivered a okay product but the cooperation with three different Korean companies and us was a sh*tshow. Because of these problems eating time, we never really could get the last bugs out of it.

[@hughwalker5628]

I like the look of the Tivoli. I hope, as soon as it's replacement is out, you'll be doing a video on it. For people who aspire to new car ownership (or nearly new) but are a little short on resources, these are a boon, despite the drawbacks. Fuel consumption, though, really can be a deal breaker. Hopefully, they're working on it. I have a 15 year old Forester which does better.

[@gamerdrive5565]

If you can’t afford a quality new car, why would you pay a premium for a bad car, rather than a good one used for less money?

[@fregyt]

@@gamerdrive5565 legit, buy an old car. Makes so much more sense. If you need the modern pieces of tech like apple CarPlay you can easily add that in. I have e46 , cost me $1000 aud for all my creature comforts. Dead cheap

[@hughwalker5628]

@@gamerdrive5565 I did! My Forester is 15 years old now and I'll keep it until it dies or I die, whichever comes first. I never liked buying new cars and money has never been an issue but I know plenty that would love to, just to say they've got a new car. If it pleases them, why not?

[@FleetAdmiral215]

I'd have KIA over Ford / Vauxhall / Peugeot anyday of the week !, I'd be worried about residual value on cars like this , The design of exterior/interior remind me of VW , James Great video as always !

[@robertharris7027]

Back in 2006 we bought a Rexton for the company. It was not a beautiful car, but it did the job. The following Chrysler 300 was horribly expensive to run. Leaving BMW (they do not build the 2 series GT anymore), I'm thinking about this SsangYong now, especially since it is one of the last cars offered with a Diesel.

[@andreir698]

get the Rexton ultimate, u won`t regret it

[@progste]

I'd say 99% of new cars on the market are "bad", it depends on the point of view. Most hybrid and electric cars will be scrap in 10 years.

[@JamesGadbury]

New cars are just bland to my eyes. They aren't designed for car enthusiasts any more.

[@kimamey]

Why will most hybrid and electric cars be scrap in 10 years? Based on my 2009 Prius which gives me no problems at all I can't see any reason. I've seen many others as well.

[@kimamey]

@@JamesGadbury That's a matter of opinion of course but you need to look at what you refer to as a car enthusiast and what car companies are trying to do. What is a car enthusiast? Do you think it's someone who's interested in cars or who likes what you like. That may be the noise of a V6, V8 or more. Or maybe a very high top speed and fast acceleration which some EVs do of course.. Mainstream car companies need to sell lots of vehicles to people who need transport they can afford rather than to what might be termed enthusiasts. That may enable them to produce something more exciting but usually only if it makes use of existing parts. It's just commercial reality I'm afraid. I remember some years ago Jay Leno had been given a hydrogen vehicle to try and was asked about his feelings on that and other new technologies like electric cars given his love of and large collection of cars that would probably appeal to enthusiasts. He said 'We need cars like this and electric cars so we can still drive ones like those for fun. A good point I thought.

[@mandalay34]

We got the runout previous model Korando 2.2 diesel AWD manual in 2018 at a very attractive price with seven year warranty. We have a good local dealer here in West Wales so service is not an issue. We bought it to tow a small horse trailer, and there was no other suitable new car at anywhere near the price. No complaints apart from the terrible FM radio. It looks much more compact than the Korando tested here and, being a previous generation vehicle, is not ridiculously wide - a big advantage on narrow country roads.

[@sutherlandA1]

I consider SsangYong in the same situation as Proton, started off well as cheap value for money reasonably reliable vehicles using proven componentry from known reputable car companies just as the Japanese and Korean carmakers did. Unfortunately they were never able to make the transition to proper popular respectable manufacturer especially once started designing their own platforms and drivetrains in-house and therefore never were able to break into the mainstream market. Proton especially have pretty much disappeared after multiple new owners and relaunches and SsangYong is under new ownership and due for a name change and yet another relaunch in early 2023

[@nickryan6787]

Wow it's amazing to hear about a comment about Proton from outside my country. I think that's kinda true but it benefits the domestic market here because it's cheaper to make our own cars than to source it from another country (especially Japan). The thing is Proton still end up getting sold to Geely (a Chinese car company) then it saw improvement in sales. They still have in house designs and drivetrain cars like the latest Saga, Iriz, Persona but the higher end models like the SUV X70 and subcompact X50 are CKD Geely models (rebadged).

[@fwamsterdam]

I have a 2006 Korando TDI Cabrio. An amazing car that I bought for 6,000 Euro as temporary transport solution after my Jeep JK blew up (literally exploded) Now, 13 years and about 100,000 Kms further and it remains to be a dependable partner for the house, garden and guests in our house in Ibiza. I just bought a 2024 Korando E-Motion. Totally different, but confidence in the brand and local SsangYong service shop, Cruz Motors, made the difference. Alerrnative was Kia or Mazda, but at a much higher price point.

[@caeserromero3013]

I picked up a Sept 2021 registered Tivoli XE in Feb 2022 (ex demonstrator with only 600 miles on it) for £12.5k. I'm pretty pleased with it thus far. It's definitely reliable (It still started and drove after rats ate some of the engine, A/C and Headlight wiring and I only noticed because the A/C didn't work in Aug 2022). I've had it a year and only put barely 1k miles on it but it's comfortable, roomy and pretty tidy looking. I previously had a 2015 Citroen C4 that I loved (But that one didn't survive a similar rat attack and was written off) but the Tivoli has the edge on the interior with the leather and heated seats/MP3 radio etc. The last car I had with leather seats was an '86 Metro Vanden Plas as a 17 year old! I got the Tivoli on a tip from my dad (when C4 was sadly written off and most local dealers had long wait lists due to covid supply chain issues) who has a Tivoli ELX (bit longer). His Tivoli has the rear parking sensors/camera, satnav and electric folding wing mirrors etc. They seem pretty solid if unspectacular cars. If you want (relatively) cheap (comfortable) motoring, they're not bad.

[@Zuflux]

I watched a lot of "wheeler dealers" on tv as a kid. It was often on when I was home from school, or early in the evening. I'm sure you hear it a lot, but you kinda look, and sound a lot like the host from that program. Adds to the enjoyment of this, honestly.

[@kustu]

You should review the new Rexton. It's actually really good value for the money.

[@nebuchadnezzar9641]

I agree. I bought one in Australia 6 months ago. I absolutely love it.

[@Baron-Ortega]

My mates got the honking big 4x4 truck thing for work and it's awesome.

[@whyyoulidl]

Saracen?

[@TheCarLovingSwede]

You really are the best KZbin car reviewer

[@TheVaultIsMine]

Hyundai, Kia, SsangYong and all of the other 'Pacific Rim' car manufacturers were simply a joke about twenty years ago however Hyundai and Kia in particular have made leaps and bounds since then! SsangYong isn't quite there yet however give them a few more years for sure

[@jamesspeytebroodt7237]

true yeah

[@patagualianmostly7437]

Bear in mind too that many other brands like Mazda are made in Thailand. ...or Indonesia...(at least for some markets.)

[@markgrovenor389]

A good review thanks. I bought the Korando Ultimate AWD diesel 18 months ago and it has been a reliable vehicle to date. I bought it for the value for money reason that you have described although I wonder how the resale will be, given the company's failure to penetrate the Australian market... I agree the mileage is not the best, although over the 12 months it has averaged 7 l/100km (about 33 mpg) and is continuing to improve now that we have relocated to semi-rural living with less traffic. My biggest issue has been the poor boot space. With at least one half of the rear seat down the problem is easily addressed although bad luck if you have passengers. This was made worse due to the Ultimate model having a full-size spare, whereas the base model EX (in Australia) only has a can of tire slime, which increases the depth of the boot significantly. My other gripe is the basic view of the head unit, which does not have DAB for the Australian market and doesn't provide basic descriptions from the FM radio broadcast such as song name. My son's Astra has this and it is 6 years older. Other than that, I can't complain. It isn't a race car although I am sure the 0-100 km/h time is better than quoted. It is good enough for a family hack either way.

[@marcelvangalen163]

I have a korando diesel 2.2. from 2012. I never have problems and it's the most reliable car I've ever had. Still drive it with pleasure.

[@holty2]

I picked up a 1 year old ex-demo Tivoli Ultimate with 3000 miles on the clock and in the 18 months I've owned it I can honestly say I love it. Went for the 1.5 Petrol Turbo Manual for £17,000 which, for everything included, felt (and still feels) like an absolute steal. I often find myself asking why there aren't more on the road. The only downside, as you say, is the fuel economy. Even in the much smaller Tivoli, we're lucky to get 38, often hovering around 32/33, which is very disappointing. I'll almost certainly be putting my money where my mouth is when we come to the end of our PCP though and am eyeing up the electric option(s). If you're still looking for a Tivoli to review, you're welcome to take mine for a spin. P.S. Expecting an Emira delivery in April and waiting for your review with bated breath...

[@Vincenzo-wn1or]

We have a 23 Korando and it's great. Way cheaper than a VW tRock and looks just as smart.

[@eze8970]

Not sure you mentioned the depreciation aspect J?! These work best as low spec VFM cars as you said. Interesting review, they've come a long way, but not sure they'll trouble Kia/Hyundai/MG/Dacia who are better established. Get well soon! 🙏🙏

[@L5GUK]

I've alway had my eye on SsangYong as the next Kia/Hyundai story. In from the east with the intention of bringing well priced motoring for good reliability. Like the two previous brands there was some tacky quality, lack of prestiege etc, but now they're certainly gunning with the big lads now. I do believe that for them to be really successful in the english speaking market, perhaps they need to rebrand though. Doesn't need to be a name change, but could be some play on SsangYong.

[@whyyoulidl]

News hot off the press: The new owner's are to ditch the Ssangyong name...

[@OrangeUp]

Let's call them SangSing.

[@p2p104]

My brother got one, brand new with highest trim. That car is perfect value for money. 24k EUR without VAT., 4% lease, three payments. Great value of a car!!

[@OldBaron5664]

I am on my second Ssangyong Musso having replaced my twenty year old MK2 in 2019 after given sterling service, your issue with the bonnet must be a thing with the model my old Musso was rear ended in 2018 the vehicle that hit it looked as if it had hit a tank yet all the Musso had was a few scratches and a very slight out of alignment number. Strange you mentioned the slow acceleration of the Korando the new Musso even though it has a smaller engine than the old MK2 it easily goes over the speed limit not bad for a 3.5t vehicle glad the information system has a audible and visual warning. You are the only negative review that I have seen Ssangyong do listen to their customers and act on anything the MK4 Musso had the handbrake on the left of the centre console after dealers and the owners clubs pointed this out in regards to right hand drive vehicles on the MK5 it was changed. I was told when I got my first Ssangyong cheap rubbish will not last a month twenty years later due to age wear and tear replaced it.

[@Apodalont]

Always enjoy your reviews from across the pond my friend! Keep up the great work.

[@radiozvrk6784]

I just tested Korando in Croatia. Short ride,70km. It is realy nice car,1.5 gdi,2WD,MT. You can drive it easy between 2-3500 rpm. Lot of power,comportable. 25000 Euro + insurance and MOT. I like the interior a lot,just like the exterior. Short ride but I managed to get it to 7.6 l/100km on display. With my way of driving it will be around 7l/100km.

[@shikiryougi8076]

A few of those issues you've had sounds like you've gotten a bad lemon. But I feel like you are right about the powertrain. Well they're going through a rebranding now, KG Mobility, or hopefully just KG. Their new Torres looks good but I fear that it might get a 1.5L underpowered engine as usual. Some of their modern cars look alright, and they seem okay with the amount of tech they give you compare to some other brands. Still, the reliability, workmanship and unfortunately branding means people will just scoff at them as bad cars.

[@CHMernerner]

Yeah. Bonnet makes noise?? They are never THAT bad... And They recently said they are just using Exactly how Aisin Set the TCU, They don't change when they bought the transmission. Because they don't want to make any problems. And when they used MB's, MD did not even gave access to TCU 😂

[@X9Z17]

I recently owned a 2014 SsangYong Stavic (or as you'd call it there, a Rodius or Turismo), and I loved it. Was a massive vehicle, I used it as a camper, or for transporting my mates about to the pub. Was great economy as a diesel but struggled with speeds over 90kmh due to only being a 5 speed. I updated the head unit which was antiquated even by 2006 standards to a Pioneer double screen, and it looked amazing. Was reliable, never had an issue with it, super practical despite its immense size, but my mates lost a bit of respect for me due to owning it 🤣🤣

[@Matelot123]

I had a 2016 SSangyong Turismo 2.2 Diesel with a Mercedes 7 speed auto from new. Best car I have ever owned. Definitely lacking in the dashboard tech dept but apart from that not bad on fuel for a 2 ton car. Nippy when it wanted to be and as you say, loads of room cos they were massive. Brilliant car. I only got rid of it because it developed a fault somewhere inside the dash where the windscreen wash would not not turn off the wipers once used. Unfortunately by then they had stopped making them so I couldn't get another one. :(

[@X9Z17]

@@Matelot123 The dash was certainly out of the year 2002, but overlooking that is easy thanks to the sheer level of practicality, and you can fit a 1.25L bottle of drink between the center console and the seats, loved it!

[@Matelot123]

@@X9Z17 Yeah people that never owned them definitely gave them an undeserved bad press. In terms of space and practicality it would be hard to find a car to beat them.

[@timelwell7002]

Great review - many thanks. As an owner of a KIA Venga, I can testify that it's a very solid car. If I were to buy another KIA model it would almost certainly be the Sportage - which from 2011 onwards is a great car. Or perhaps I'd be tempted by it's stablemate the Hyundai Tucson. I am not in a position to buy a new car, not even a more budget example like the Ssangyong Korando. I'd far sooner stick to a used KIA or a Hyundai, though I could be tempted by a used Audi Q3. There are 2 things I REALLY don't like - these are (1) An automatic handbrake, and (2) Poor fuel consumption. That's why I for one will not be looking a Ssangyong any time soon.

[@timhancock6626]

The wife and I did 270 miles from Kent back North last week. The Octavia 2.0 Tdi estate (2014) showed an average MPG of 60.4 mpg for the journey. We certainly were not pushing it, but it does show the technology gap if the Korando struggles to beat 30 mpg.The interior is what sells this Korando though and it looks very impressive. I think I'd still prefer an upper spec ( 115 hp diesel or 130 hp petrol) new Dacia Duster before a Korando because of its honest utility and because they seem very popular with owners.

[@kize32]

Your Octavia is not a turbo petrol SUV. Kodiaq is skoda equivalent to this

[@timhancock6626]

@@kize32 It's a car.

[@fragu123]

@@timhancock6626 …my EV6 Kia doesn’t take any fuel at all… so we’d find your Octavia not that frugal t.b.o…😉😂🤷🏻‍♂️

[@themanipulator1]

I think they absolutely do depending on your viewpoint. For me, bad cars for the money is a big thing, I'm thinking in particular of some electric cars. Very expensive, fiddly, often limited practically and usability. Obviously not them all but there's certainly more bad options than traditional ICE alternatives.

[@captgutter]

For a car that is a country mile away from anything I would consider, that was a very enjoyable watch. Having shunned the badge snobbery of my colleagues back in 2016, I chose a Korean car in the form of the Hyundai Tucson, this despite having recollections of the horrid Pony from years back. Kia often evoking memories of the Pride. Putting these thoughts aside along with any prejudices, and you'll more often than not be in for a pleasant surprise.

[@leostreat3573]

Had a brand new MG SUV thingy as a courtesy car for 12 days before Xmas after some wally crashed into my stationary Alfa right at the very bottom ( totally empty!!) bit of the car park. It was okay, full of gadgets, seats were plasticky though. Auto headlights and reverse camera, heated seats etc etc . Wobbly at speed would be my main gripe .

[@tanssi2145]

The issue like we’ve seen with SY in the past, is you can offer a cheap car with any warranty you like, but if the dealers won’t honour anything, or fix things properly/ fast, or even exist in a handful of years... = no parts, I live in Australia and there are A LOT of new MG’s on the roads, already heard some other worldly reliability and customer service issues, frankly I’m terrified for them / those who get stuck with them on the used market, the brand new price keeps dropping and dropping its always a bad sign, usually if it’s too good to be true, it is too good to be true

[@azuproduces]

I noticed a lot of the interior parts are from Kia (windows switches, steering wheel buttons, stalks) they must have some sort of collaboration. That's why the interior feels more quality than you'd expect

[@Battery-Powered]

Don’t know about quality but Never liked the SsangYong design on any of their vehicles…

[@princesssolace4337]

Agreed , especially if u work too hard for your money. If I'm filthy rich I wud buy the company and turn it to just designing office furniture . I wud stop to even build a bicycle. 🤣

[@fabianhenrich4697]

Dont forget that it is fucking chinese. So your money goes directly to the CCP who rule with an iron fist over the people. Its like buying your coffeemachine from a shop in Korth Korea. Same result in the end. A brutal and illegitimate government get even more funds that it already has.

[@FlamJongUn]

Did anyone ever?

[@Battery-Powered]

@@FlamJongUn it was bought so maybe some people liked it…

[@benpenagonzales6014]

My jag had Nexen tyres. But when I sold the wheels on ebay someone said, not that price with those ditch finders! I found them to be more than adequate in all conditions and extremes.

[@GT380man]

“Ditch finders”, lolz. Reminds me of buying vintage motorcycles still wearing 1980s tyres, which by then were “harder than a Pompey skinhead” & offered no grip at all.

[@hexgraphica]

It looks better than pretty much most German rivals, if we take out the luxury touches and the proportions made possible by the price premium

[@davidhayes4814]

Oh please ….!

[@limpet7r63]

A lot of modern German stuff is gopping, to be fair. Particularly BMW who have completely lost the plot styling-wise. The grilles are now beyond the point of self parody, and the detailing on cars like the new 2 series looks like it was inspired by Lego. I say that as someone who has owned 3 new BMWs since 2011.

[@alanhindmarch7682]

I bought the previous generation Korando new 4 years ago. I have had no problems and manage an average of 36 mph around town and upper 40s on long journeys including motorways. Mine has the 2.2 turbo diesel engine with 176bhp, 4x4 which seems to suit the car. Perhaps Ssangyung should have kept the bigger engine, as the engine doesn’t have to work that hard to get the car moving or at speed on the motorway, even with 4 adults and luggage.

[@chrislockey7706]

We own a 2014 Korando Didn't pay much for it but it's been reliable and fuel efficient and it goes well enough The is better car's to be had but at the price we paid I'm happy and would certainly consider another.

[@MP-Fin]

My friend has a SsangYong Korando 2015 with the Mercedes 2.1L diesel and he seems to like it 😀 I wouldn’t call any new car bad. If it gets you from A to B SAFELY is all that matters to me.

[@wlewis6544]

Not sure that it’s actually a genuine Mercedes engine….I think they’re built by other factories under licence using Mercedes plans. So not really Mercedes

[@MP-Fin]

@@wlewis6544 looks like we both had some information correct, here's what I found: Indeed, the most memorable aspect of the Korando was the use of licensed Mercedes-Benz engines in the second generation model. Produced from 1996 until 2006, the second generation Korando offered either an M111 2.3-litre or M104 3.2-litre petrol engine, or a choice of OM601 2.3-litre or OM602 2.9-litre diesel engines, all based on the Mercedes-Benz engine design. For the third generation, the C200, SsangYong switched to their own engine design and now offered a single petrol engine, a 2.0-litre as well as a choice of two diesels, a 2.0 or 2.2-litre.

[@geoffreyveale7715]

Try buying a new car that has a fault during warranty and the dealer refuses to do the proper fix so you have to take it back seven times before they finally do the proper fix. Then, when the car is 6 months out of warranty the gearbox fails and needs replacing , but the dealer/manufacturer says sorry cannot help. It may be argued most cars have reasonable reliability, but some dealers and manufactures give the finger to customers when it comes to warranty.

[@garethgrundy8087]

@@wlewis6544 The diesel I worked on in Oz was licence built. Used Delphi instead of Bosch injection which had a faiiled HP pump. We had to replace the whole injection system, clean the tank and flush out all the lines. Ssangyong paid us for the warranty work. Apparently the dealers were overwhelmed with failed cars hence us doing 3 cars. Never wanted to have anything to do with Delphi diesel systems since then.

[@wlewis6544]

@@garethgrundy8087 and people still think they’re getting a bargain with a ‘Mercedes’ engine 🫣

[@nafriadn]

i think the question: ‘do new bad car still exists?’ is a bit not quite explorative, it’s not wrong tho. i think it should be like: ‘do cheap car getting better?’ maybe is better discussion question as technology getting better, but love the vid tho, keep up the good work!

[@spatchcockdaniels1479]

My local garage where I get my cars serviced is also a SsangYong dealer so I've had a couple as courtesy cars. A Tivoli maybe 5 years ago and then the previous gen Korando maybe 3 years ago. Even in those 2 years you could see significant progress in the quality and the latest ones as seen here seem to be another step on. My impressions we're the power trains were a real weakness (1.6 Tivoli really struggled at motorway speeds) and the specification of the equipment was low e.g. radio was terrible tinny affair. However, the build quality seemed solid and they had clearly thought about how you would use the car - Ergonomics and little useful features to make family life easier. The worst part for me though was the ride. The Tivoli was rock hard while the Korando was so rolly-polly that I was on the verge of feeling travel sick even as the driver. As mentioned here already, you're better spending the money on a nearly new Ford/Peugeot or similar.

[@whyyoulidl]

Petrol or diesel Tivoli? I got the elx in diesel; better torque and suits the 100+ mile daily commute

[@spatchcockdaniels1479]

@@whyyoulidl sorry should have said - petrol.

[@kimmohietala5359]

In some ways almost all new cars are bad. Engines are overly complicated because of the emission regulations and are not designed to last over ten years. And some vehicles are SUVs that is just bad, full stop

[@kenoverton7918]

Yes, keyless, electric handbraked, nagging (binging and bonging for no reason) overcomplicated bags of the proverbial.

[@MrRandomcommentguy]

You can buy plenty of bad cars brand new. Anything with a Mercedes-Benz badge on for starters.

[@Kelveron]

I have a feeling SsangYong will really struggle when the multitude of lower-priced Chinese brands flood the market, which can't be too long now.

[@citizenfour9622]

And shame on anyone who buys those slave-built CCP buckets!

[@djlinux64]

The Chinese won't flood the Western markets due to safety, emissions regulations, lack of brand power, lack of dealers. Just look at Toyota. It's a ghetto in Switzerland despite being one of the best selling marques in the USA.

[@MrMozkoZrout]

Why would you want this car ? well because it's cheap. Yeah it has imperfections but compare it to Dacia Duster and it's almost the same price and it's way better and way better equiped.

[@scramblo]

If I’m not wrong, the rpm not going over 5.5k may just be the fact that it is a turbo engine. While yes, I do believe it is a dumb concept, it might be to keep the engine from maxing out the turbo because past that point, power plateaus and thus, shifting is a good idea.

[@super_slav91]

The Aisin box is used in everything from Isuzu, Mazda, Toyota and some others.

[@timokuusela5794]

Here in Finland we call KIA "Köyhempien Ihmisten Auto", a car for poorer people. My elderly relatives bought a new KIA and it stranded them dangerously when the engine management went crazy. Now, with 9000.- one gets a lot of fuel. And anyways, small differences in fuel consumption do not matter at all. My daily drivers are Hummer H3, and occasionally Blazer K5 -79, even more occasionally a Taunus (Cortina 5) with a 5 liter V8 in it. So, I know that even extreme fuel consumption does not really matter even though my daily driving is between 30-50 miles. And yes, when cold, the Blazer's first few miles are a liter/km... That Ssangyong seems to be a very good car, as we all know that after the 2005 or so, all German cars are just trash, and even some new Toyotas. We will be surprised with Chinese cars in the near future, just like we were with Japanese when they starting to get good in the sixties and were just better in the seventies. I am only hoping that the electric stupidity gets the needed reality check and starts to ease. The Earth can not survive the planned electrification of the vehicles. They are grossly net harmful for the environment. In the USA, in eleven years, electric cars saved petrol only a few days of worth of USA:s consumption. That is right, their Energy Department made a study. Eleven years was worth a few days of fuel used and range anxiety... Only benefit of the electric cars is that they accelerate quickly. So, they are for the Naive and for the Posers.

[@uncreativename3425]

my parenst baught a ssanyong grand tivole 9 weeks ago it got finished a week ago and its the best car ive ever had especially because we always had second hand cars but this is the first ever new car we baught

[@Thismightnotbemitchell]

i've had this car for about a year and a half, and i like the car, but i do agree on the low miles per gallon, and the laneassist still trying to help even when u turn it off. But i do enjoy the many features. haven't had any problems with it at the moment.

[@LiamE69]

Makes more sense in a lower spec to be honest. At Fiesta money it makes a great option for a young family. At KIA Sportage money, no reason not to just get the KIA.

[@madharaboy]

I remember seeing an ad for one yeeeears ago, a Mercedes powered SUV. Kid me loved that ad! It looked pretty good to me, and I think I see similar lines in this.

[@chrisantoniou4366]

Thanks for sticking up for those of us who don't like black on black on black interiors! How hard is it to provide some cream, grey or even tan interiors?

[@lbnewell23]

If I was spending nearly 30k on a small suv. I’d get a nearly new Volvo XC40 you can get a decent spec with less than 5k miles for this amount of money. Looks good inside and out. Isn’t this slow much more refined and I trust it’s reliable

[@alanmackechnie5728]

Is it possible the engine is rev limited until it reaches a running in mileage?

[@patagualianmostly7437]

Mmm...Interesting point. 🤔👍

[@GT380man]

Ooh, good question, not mad at all.

[@willshaw24]

Had one in at work, I would have one over a dacia. Very simple but does everything it should.

[@C.Fecteau-AU-MJ13]

A Sang Yong ute here in Australia was hands down the worst car I've ever driven. The mine I worked for were considering buying a bunch, they ended up with LandCruisers again, for obvious reasons. The Sangyong wasn't gonna work

[@rais1953]

"Can you still buy a bad car new?" Not if it's Korean. But experience in Australia steers me away from Jeep, Dodge, Fiat, then from anything Land Rover and from anything from Volkswagen Group. No doubt there are others but I would avoid all of those.

[@otto.a.2465]

In three or four years time when it has deprecated nicely it would make sense for me. Not a bad looking thing!

[@juanpablocorreiaecheverria2857]

It’s a very good value for money this car. If I knew nothing about cars I’d definitely buy it.

[@bad_parent]

talking of bad cars brand new- I recently rented a car and got given an MG ZS SUV. It was the worst car I had ever driven in my entire life. From the handling, to the automatic transmission to the horrific computer components nothing in this car was right. Some cars bring you joy, but few cars have given me genuine rage to the point of screaming at the wheel.

[@paultaylor9652]

Front looks VW ish the rear very MG ish, I guess overall you pay your money and you get what you get, I'd rather go for a nearly new estate car than one of these SUV things.

[@Sir-Prizse]

Before I buy a SsangYong, I would rather buy a Dacia... because the Dacia has the image of a cheapskate and that suits me really well. If I were to buy a new car for everyday use, it would have to be extremely spartan and robust. The only car that would somehow fit my stingy attitude would be the Dacia Sandero. I'm currently driving a 60 hp VW up! in the base "take up!" spec. Every feature you take for granted in a modern car is missing from it, even a glove box.

[@lillexus5589]

A Deawoo Chairman may just be the car for you, ultimate cheapskate car.

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

As most of these older gen powertrain they would be more efficient with a little more power, it wouldn't hurt consumption significantly but would improve the experience quite a lot.

[@maples328]

To be honest, I have the exact same hood complaint on my 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander 😢. And the MPG of this vehicle is fine IMO

[@frederickherring2284]

1964 MY DAD PASSED AWAY. My mum didn't even have a license to drive. In Brisbane you needed a car. So when my dad;'s estate was settled, she bought a brand new car. A Datsun Bluebird. Well, the comments from the men in the Family. Jap Crap, cheap and nasty they said. won't run the distance. She had it till about '74, you couldn't kill it. Never any trouble, reliable and tough.

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Amazing the products, and people that we ignore on account of xenophobia. It's a miracle German cars ever took off in the UK!

[@GoldenCroc]

99% of people making comments about cars dont know much or really anything about them. Its one of those subjects everybodys got an opinion of, but few really know well.

[@aidan1585]

The powertrain is lifted straight out of a Hyundai i30! (The 1.5 T-GDI & the 1.6 CRDi engine are both Hyundai Group engines. The manual gearbox is also from the Hyundai Group

[@gabordeak4287]

Jay! Bro! First huge mistake: You did not remove the trays from the boot. There are your 550litres. Man, what a halfassed test! Cmon!

[@LochyP]

Not being funny but if the handbrake couldn't hold its weight on a hill, surely you'd just leave it in gear?

[@jamesbrett6518]

My handbrake is never on when I leave my car. In gear is much safer. As for climbing on bonnets, all cars are thin-skinned these days.

[@whyyoulidl]

+1, anytime an incline is a little iffy, she's in gear.

[@simonleach6632]

If someone was on the hunt for a practical, reliable family car and asked me if one of these was a good idea I would do my absolute level best to persuade them to buy a good new or second hand estate instead, something like a Skoda Octavia for example, not fancy but absolutely solid, far more practical than any crossover SUV out there, and decent to drive too and probably better on fuel than any of them to boot!

[@essendon72]

I bought a Ssangyong Musso XLV Ultimate 18 months ago (MY22) and it's been fantastic. Not had a single problem over 30 000km in Australian country conditions. They could improve in a few areas but for the price they are loaded with features. I could have paid an extra AU$30 000 for a top level Ranger with similar features but I didn't. Not sorry I didn't either. Have a look if you want value for what you get.

[@1969cmp]

....I'm looking at a Musso.....and I'm in Oz, too.

[@essendon72]

@@1969cmp I think they are good if you plan to keep for long term. The only thing that may not be great is resale value but in UK they seem to fetch a good price second hand. Another option is the Triton but can run up to $70k for top spec.

[@blastithenry]

JM, full Dalek opening preamble. Frightening! Always enjoy content if/when I can overcome Dalek. The old 2.7 Rexton xdi engine is a Mercedes copy on licence as is Tiptronic 5 speed gearbox isn't it. In fact the whole car looks hugely similar to the old Merc series doesn't it. All on a good old solid bash crash chassis. Perhaps everything everything else could be considered as a (then 2005) 'modern' speculative style of construction? But not as soft tin as my old 1.6 Toyota Celica TA 1973 (wings bent in and needed straightening if you decided to swap the plugs!) Not all Merc engines or gearboxes are good to copy, despite them being Merc. But this old 2.7 Rexton has always proven an excellent 'grunt' vehicle for me. Plus it's basic simplicity of all round construction, it's strength being it's relative lack of sophistication. Don't feel a 2005 2.7 xdi Rexton deserves such abuse, although wrong initial choice of Delphi electronics not the best idea perhaps. Maintained with just a bit of love mine has proven a good solid reliable runner. Possibly the cheapest of it's type as well. Not sure it deserves the abuse and laughter as mine soldiers on whatever I put in it, on it, or wherever it goes. The jobsworth attitude towards these sickens me. "Korean Sir? Oh dear me.... even a simple but and bolt might not undo, and the costs could be fantastic sir" Just not true. They might not be the very peak of sophistication and ride, but the do work well, soldier on, and are easily worked on using reasonably priced spares, if you can get past the lies, eg. you will never get a replacement part, it will take a year and cost £1million. They are not the best, never pretend to be. But cost bugger all and will serve you well with a bit of TLK and love. Give these old boys a break please. You might not look so cool arriving in one, but you and all your kit will get there, in one piece, no matter what you throw at it. Thank you JM, please keep reducing that Dalek and it will always be good to hear your take on anything.

[@jkk244]

Someone told me that Brit’s don’t leave manual cars in first gear or reverse when parked? 1:51 If true, why not? It adds an extra layer of support to the handbrake keeping the car from rolling away. I’ve been driving for 40+ years and always leave my car in first gear when parked.

[@VampirusX]

It's like a Rav4 bought on Wish.

[@alarmactionukalarmactionuk893]

Interesting hear what was said about KIA. We once owned a 2004 KIA Sedona MPV ex dealer demo model. At the time of handover I could not of ever believed that this lumpy old bus of a car would become one of our most favourite vehicles. Driving this Sedona solo isn't the greatest of experiences but then hitch up a ton and half of caravan and it was transformed into a brilliant versatile tow car that adored hard work and toil. It simply towed like an express train putting many premium brands to shame whilst we powerfully overtook as they struggled coping with Cumbrian and Malvern punishing climbs. Sadly the final emissions level mean't an unreasonable VED levy which led to our faithful Sedona being PX'd for cheaper to run but less able Hyundai ix35 and Tucson.

[@mk.h]

😁 Love your original fashionable collar style/choice. 👍

[@jumpferjoy1st]

I have considered Ssangyong in the past. The Tivoli is better on fuel, if a little smaller than the Korando. Just the performance was a deal breaker for me. 0-60 in 12 seconds means difficulty overtaking, let alone problems going up hills or being loaded up with people and stuff.

[@whyyoulidl]

I'd avoid the petrol; diesel's torque and low down power much better.

[@jazzragu]

The less I know about Ssanyong the better it is for my health. I have a very sensitive gag reflux! Had to bail after 5 minutes.