Ssangyong is a brand best known for 4x4’s and commercial vehicles; now though, it has a new family car, the Korando Crossover SUV. Ssangyong is a Korean company, and is positioned at the budget end of the market. It hopes to tempt Nissan Qashqai buyers with keen pricing and lots of extras supplied as standard. We took a test drive to see what it has to offer Irish parents and their families.
 
For the mums out there who can’t get Dad to drive their Renault Scenic or Citroen Picasso in case it ruins their street cred, the Korando could be the answer. It looks cool, especially from the front, and has lots of masculine features like large wheel arches and twin exhaust pipes. The dashboard looks modern, and all buttons and switches are big and easy to use. The interior feels solidly built - the quality of materials used is well above average and should be well able to stand up to the daily pounding your kids and their stuff will give it.
 
Families today often outgrow their car as the kids get older, and the ‘I’m not sitting in the middle’ disagreement is all too common with teenagers. The Korando should not pose this problem; it has a flat floor in the rear, loads of head and leg room, as well as a bench seat that can take three large adults and be reclined.
 
We managed to clock up 1,000 miles in the Korando – taking in Carrick-on-Shannon and the Ring of Kerry with five people plus luggage on board. Unlike many small diesel engine cars today, the Korando has a 2 litre engine with loads of power. We found it great outside of the city; it is superb for overtaking and very quiet at cruising speeds. On twisty back roads it has plenty of grip and can also tow a horsebox or large trailer. It should suit families that undertake long drives frequently, and there is a 4-wheel drive version if you need to go off road.
 
The downsides are that around town it is a tad noisy, but not annoyingly so, and the ride is a little bouncy. The extra power comes at a price too and some rivals are a bit cheaper to run. We got around 320 miles from €50 diesel (€1.42 a litre) with a mixture of town and country driving.
 
The Korando in ES trim offers strong value. It costs €25,995 and has loads of kit like alloy wheels, cruise control, heated seats, integrated bluetooth and privacy glass. Road tax is €390 per year, and there’s a five year warranty, so if things go wrong you’re covered. The higher grade EL model costs €29,495 and has parking sensors, leather seats, roof rails and a spoiler.
 
Is there loads of storage space?
You bet! The rear seats are also a doddle to fold flat, which creates enough space to fit a couple of bikes. The boot is about 10% bigger than that of the Nissan Qashqai and there is also a large storage box under the driver’s armrest.
 
Is it baby friendly?
Yes and no. Only one seat has ISOFIX child seat mounts. However loading the kids is easy due to the height of the rear seats, while the headroom and the wide opening doors mean you are not likely to bang your head or the baby’s. The passenger air bag can be disabled so you can put a baby seat in the front, too.
 
Is parking easy?
Simple. Large mirrors, a higher than standard driving position, a deep rear window, and the short bonnet make even those daunting tight spaces in city centre car parks manageable. Parking sensors are fitted to the more expensive EL version.
 
What about safety?
Disappointingly, the Korando has not yet been safety tested by Euro NCAP. However it is fitted with eight airbags, along with driving aids like stability control, hill start assist and emergency brake assist.
 
Final Verdict
Thumbs Up
Great value
Loads of passenger and luggage space
Powerful
Looks cool (at least we think so!)
 
Thumbs down
No safety rating
Only one baby seat mount
Not the cheapest to run
 
Mummypages Ratings
Baby friendliness: 3/5
Safety: 3/5
Cool rating: 3/5
Passenger and storage space: 5/5
Car park friendliness: 4/5
Value for money: 3.5/5
 
Total rating: 21.5/30
 
Statistics (applicable in the Republic of Ireland)
Price as tested: €25,995
Fuel Economy and tax: 48mpg / €390 per year
Warranty: 5 years
Isofix baby seat mounts: 1
Seats suitable for adults (excl driver): 4
Seats suitable for kids only: 0
 

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