KGM Torres launches in the UK with £34,995 price tag
Skoda Kodiaq-rivalling family SUV is the first new car to arrive since SsangYong rebranded to KGM
The all-new KGM Torres has gone on sale in the UK, marking a significant milestone in SsangYong’s shift to its new KGM branding. Under fresh ownership from KG Group, the Torres is the first model to reflect the brand’s new design philosophy: "Powered by Toughness” according to KGM.
The Torres range kicks off at £34,995 for the entry-level K30, rising to £37,995 for the K40 and £39,995 for the K40 fitted with all-wheel drive. This version will arrive in the summer; the rest of the range is front-wheel drive and is available now.
At 4,700mm long, 1,890mm wide and 1,720mm tall, the KGM Torres is a pretty large SUV, measuring about the same size as the Skoda Kodiaq or Nissan X-Trail. However, unlike the Kodiaq or X-Trail, the Torres is not available with seven seats. At least its size should provide plenty of cabin space for the Torres to serve as a family car, with KGM claiming it boasts an impressive 703 litres of boot space, or 1,662 litres with the rear seats folded down - neither impacted in the four-wheel drive variant.
The KGM Torres EVX will provide an all-electric alternative soon, but for now the Torres will be offered with one engine. It’s a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol unit with 161bhp and 280Nm of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. KGM says the Torres should take 9.8 seconds to go from 0-62mph – a second quicker than the SsangYong Tivoli fitted with the same engine.
The pure-electric KGM Torres EVX will receive a 73.4kWh battery and uses a single electric motor that produces 201bhp and 339Nm of torque to drive the front wheels. KGM claims the Torres EVX is good for up to 287 miles on a single charge, but has yet to reveal any charging times. The Torres EVX does boast a maximum towing capacity of 1,500kg – the same as the petrol-powered Torres – and V2L (vehicle-to-load) charging capabilities, so its battery pack can be used to power appliances when you’re outdoors.
Whoever designed the Torres appears to have taken inspiration from across the SUV market, particularly the Kia Sorento, Land Rover Defender and Toyota Land Cruiser. The front end alone looks like a mish-mash of elements from sources including the new Hyundai Kona and a Jeep Wagoneer, while the wheels could have easily been swiped from the Volvo EX90.
Compared to the combustion-engined Torres, the EVX gets a blanked-off grille, light bar and a unique 20-inch alloy wheel design as seen in our pictures. The all-electric version also does without the red towing hitch covers on the regular Torres, but both versions feature extensive amounts of black plastic cladding on the sides and a contrasting C-pillar.
As standard, Torres K30 models get twin 12.3-inch screens with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, DAB radio, and front USB and AUX ports. There’s also keyless go, a rear parking camera, dual-zone air-conditioning, plus heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.
The K40 upgrades the base car’s 18-inch wheels to 20 inches, and adds powered and ventilated front seats in ‘premium leather’, plus heated rear seats, a wireless smartphone charger, integrated sat-nav, an electric boot lid and adaptive cruise control. The K40 AWD gets the same kit, but with the addition of four-wheel drive.
KGM is working on three more electric cars: a mid-size SUV, a large SUV and a pick-up truck, which it will develop in collaboration with Chinese giant BYD – makers of the Atto 3 SUV and Dolphin hatchback. KGM intends to launch the as-yet-unnamed pick-up truck in the UK by the end of 2024. It will be based on the Torres EVX, with both vehicles powered by batteries sourced from BYD. The next two EVs will follow in 2025.
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