KGM

Korando e-Motion

The KGM Korando e-Motion is the Korean car maker’s first fully electrified model. It’s a competitively-priced five-door, front-wheel drive SUV that has a driving range of 211 miles between charges and is packed with tech. Customers can choose between three trim levels at launch.

The good

Styling, handling, practicality, range, safety and price

The bad

Lots of competition out there and some offer better range

Tech Specs

Price from

£31,995 (excl. PiCG)

Combined Fuel up to

Driving range of 211 miles

0-62 from

9.0 seconds (0-60mph)

max speed up to

96.9mpg

co2 from

0g/km

Test Drive

SsangYong Korando e-Motion – First Drive (2022)

SsangYong has launched its first fully electrified vehicle and with smart styling, a very decent driving range and lots of high-end tech, it’s certainly worth checking out.

The Korando e-Motion is based heavily on the diesel and petrol models of the same name, but it boasts its own distinctive styling to help it stand out.

Customers can choose from three generously-equipped trim levels called ELX, Ventura and Ultimate and prices are £31,995, £34,995 and £37,995 respectively. The entry-level ELX is eligible for the Government Plug-in Car Grant which was recently reduced to £1,500 with the cap also being lowered.

The Korando e-Motion is powered by a high-capacity 61.5kWh battery that drives the electric motor and delivers 190PS of power with 360Nm of torque. It can complete the 0-60mph dash in 9.0 seconds with a top speed of 96.9mph. But, as with any electric car, the main figure is the driving range between charges, which on the e-Motion is 211 miles.

The vehicle looks stylish from any approach with an aerodynamic and futuristic ‘spread-wing’ grille, new LED daytime running lights with an assortment of blue trim highlights and extra air intakes. The new front bumper houses the triple stacked LED fog lamps and there are muscular wheel arches, new 17-inch alloy wheels with low resistance tyres, blue mirror caps, a redesigned rear bumper and tail lights with a distinctive double-V design.

We opted for the mid-range Korando e-Motion Ventura model and the interior was feature-rich with plenty of tech to explore. Once again, the blue theme is quite apparent with a 12.3-inch blue digital display that offers all the driving information, such as speed, driving range and battery charge levels etc.

The blue dashboard looks really smart and there are blue accents on the air vent surrounds and door panels, along with neat contrast stitching on the dual fabric and faux leather seats and front armrest.

The cabin has a clutter-free feel to it, but there are plenty of creature comforts with highlights being a 9.2-inch high-definition infotainment screen, TomTom navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, rear parking sensors, dual zone climate control and heated seats.

When it comes to performance, the Korando e-Motion ticks all the right boxes for a family SUV with nice, controlled handling and plenty of power on tap. It is well-balanced fizzing through the country lanes and, with the battery pack positioned low down, it has a lower centre of gravity than its ICE siblings.

The driver benefits from excellent all-round visibility thanks to the elevated seating position and all controls are easy to operate on the fly.

There are drive modes called Eco, Comfort, Sport and Eco+ with the Eco mode limited to 55mph.

In addition, there are paddles on the steering wheel to control the strength of the regenerative braking with a choice of three levels and, although single-pedal driving isn’t quite there, it does work very well in busier stop, start traffic.

The Korando e-Motion is comfortable cruising at 70mph on motorways and the range drops at an accurate rate which is always good to see – even with the likes of the air con in operation.

If you do step up to the range-topping Ultimate model one of the features it gains is a heat pump and this provides heat energy to warm up the cabin. This energy is recycled by the pump so battery levels are not reduced in the process.

Admittedly there are more dynamic and fun to drive electric vehicles out there, but for all-round appeal, the Korando e-Motion will suit many families on a budget.

And it certainly plays its trump car when it comes to space with one of the largest cabins in its segment. And that means back seat passengers will have plenty of leg, head and elbow room. The rear seats can also be reclined for added comfort.

The boot is also well-sized and can swallow 551 litres of luggage – a limit that increases to 1,248 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat. The boot floor can be lifted to act as a partition to stop items rolling around and there is an extra storage compartment to keep the charging cables.

Elsewhere there is a deep glovebox and central cubby bin, practical door pockets, front and rear cup holders and some handy trays. And with family breaks in mind, the front wheel drive Korando e-Motion can tow a trailer or caravan weighing up to 1.5 tonnes.

The vehicle can be charged from zero to 100 per cent in 11 hours from a 7kW domestic wallbox, but faster charging is achievable too. It takes 33 minutes to boost from 20-80 per cent on a 100kW charger or 54 minutes when plugged into a 50kW charge point. For convenience, a dashboard light shows if the car is charging or fully charged.

The Korando e-Motion also gains the same maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety rating that was awarded to the fourth generation Korando when tested in 2019. Some additional tests were carried out and the car passed with flying colours.

Safety features include lane departure warning, lane keep assist, lane change assist, driver attention warning, driver attention alert, automatic emergency braking, safety distance warning, speed limit warning, smart high beam, tyre pressure monitoring, six airbags and Isofix child-seat mountings. When the vehicle is travelling slowly a synthetic sound is generated as a safety precaution for pedestrians.

All in all, the Korando e-Motion is a very decent newcomer to the BEV scene. It looks smart, drives well, has a good range and is competitively priced. Factor in the seven-year warranty and this car is definitely worth exploring.