The Korando Sports brought a new level of refinement to the pick-up market when it was launched just over a year ago, blending the suspension, engine and cabin finesse of a passenger car, with the silhouette, space and seating for five that's typical of a double cab, and the rugged workmanlike ability of a commercial pick-up.
This new 2014 Korando Sports will appeal to those who need a working vehicle, the practicality of 4 wheel drive, the towing capability to haul up to 2.7 tonnes yet also the appointments of a family car. Whether towing a work trailer or horsebox, ferrying the crew to site or the children to school, Korando Sports will meet a range of different demands.
"The new Korando Sports is keenly priced and comprehensively equipped," said Paul Williams, CEO of SsangYong Motor UK. "From around £15,000 (ex VAT) you get a lot of vehicle for the money, and the reassurance of a market-leading 5 year limitless mileage warranty. SsangYong is the only manufacturer to have that much confidence in its pick-up, and will give customers complete peace of mind."
Two models - SX & EX
There are two models to choose from. The SX is extremely well appointed and comes equipped with 16" alloy wheels, tinted glass, air conditioning, leather covered steering wheel, remote central locking, Kenwood MP3 CD & RDS radio with a USB & auxiliary port and Bluetooth connectivity. New for 2014 it also receives speed sensitive power assisted steering.
The EX gets new 18" alloy wheels, and features the luxury touch of leather upholstery with heated front seats, powered driver's seat, heated, electrically adjustable and power folding door mirrors and rear parking sensors. 6 speed automatic transmission with cruise control is also available as an option.
Three new hard tops available
Three new hard tops are now available as accessories, adding features such as a sliding front window for ventilation and access to the car's rear window, a heated rear window, hinged side windows - especially useful for ventilation when carrying dogs and other animals, and a hatch that locks as part of the car's central locking and opens without having to lower the tailgate.
The three designs are:
The ‘Top-Up cover' (£1,655 inc VAT) - a flat glass-fibre cover that is hinged to offer flexible opening options; ‘Classic' (£1,695 inc VAT), a full hard top featuring a rear brake light, interior light, side opening glass, fixed front glass and interior lining, and ‘Elegance' (£1,995 inc VAT) which is similar to the Classic, but also includes a heated rear window, sliding front glass, LED interior light, central locking, pop out opening windows and roof bars.
Korando Sports pricing
| Prices excluding VAT | |||
| Korando Sports | SX | EX | EX auto |
| Basic price inc delivery | 14,767 | 16,850 | 18,100 |
| First registration fee | 55 | 55 | 55 |
| Road fund licence | 220 | 220 | 220 |
| £15,042 | £17,125 | £18,375 | |
| Prices including VAT | |||
| Korando Sports | SX | EX | EX auto |
| Basic price inc delivery | 14,767 | 16,850 | 18,100 |
| VAT @ 20% | 2,953 | 3,370 | 3,620 |
| First registration fee | 55 | 55 | 55 |
| Road fund licence | 220 | 220 | 220 |
| £17,995 | £20,495 | £21,995 |
Power
Delivering both performance and economy - up to 37.7 mpg on the Combined Cycle, Korando Sports is powered by SsangYong's latest e-XDi diesel engine. This 2 litre Euro 5 engine provides maximum power of 155PS and peak torque of 360Nm delivered between 1,500rpm and 2,800rpm providing ample performance both on and off road, whatever the task.
Multi-link rear suspension
Unlike other pick-ups where the word ‘truck' belies their more dated mechanical origins by utilising leaf springs, the SsangYong Korando Sports features a live rear axle supported by sophisticated five link suspension with coil springs to give a comfortable, car like ride.
Style
The fresh exterior design has been styled to reflect SsangYong's modern and efficient new look. From the front, it communicates a dynamic yet sophisticated appearance, featuring a mesh grille, trapezoidal bumper and stylish black headlight bezels to provide a premium touch. In profile, the sharp belt line runs to the rear bumper emphasising a sleek, sporty stance, while from the rear the wide glass area affords excellent rearward visibility.
Creature comforts
Inside the spacious cabin there's a light and airy environment thanks to the large front, side and rear windows, while the careful blending of black and metallic finishes along with an LED illuminated instrument cluster has created a smart and refined interior.
With spacious accommodation for five adults - the rear passenger seat features a folding armrest and can be reclined by up to 29 degrees, and there's also air conditioning and Bluetooth connectivity to ensure comfort and convenience on the move.
Practicality
As with every SsangYong, practicality is at the core of the new pick-up's appeal. A large, flat rear deck provides a 2.04m2 load area to take a Euro pallet, and comes complete with load deck liner and anchor points. The optional rigid hard tops provide weather protection and security to the load area. Styled and colour matched to complement the rest of the vehicle, the result is a neat design that ensures form and function, and not the ‘tacked on' afterthought of many retro-fit hard tops.
Safe, secure, sure footed
Constructed on a separate frame chassis - the mark of a serious off-roader, the new Korando Sports offers a very rigid structure to help protect occupants in the event of a collision. Accident avoidance and a sure footed performance off road are also enhanced by the Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) - a rare feature on most pick-ups but standard on Korando Sports, Active Roll-over Protection (ARP) and Hill Start Assist (HSA).
5 year limitless mileage warranty
As with all models in the SsangYong range, the new Korando Sports is covered by a best in class 5 year limitless mileage warranty.
Designed to be totally transparent and give customers complete peace of mind, ‘limitless' means just that: not a maximum mileage condition that some brands impose in their small print.
All the major mechanical components are covered including wheel bearings, suspension joints and bushes, steering joints, shock absorbers and even the audio system. Wearable components such as clutch discs and brake friction materials which could have their life reduced by poor driving are covered for one year or 12,000 miles, and the battery and paintwork for three years.
SsangYong
SsangYong cars are manufactured in South Korea by SsangYong Motor, which is 73 per cent owned by the Indian engineering conglomerate Mahindra & Mahindra, and imported into the UK by SsangYong Motor UK. Established in 1954 it is Korea's oldest vehicle manufacturer and only 4x4 and SUV specialist producer.
There are currently some 60 SsangYong dealers covering England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, with new locations being added to the network all the time.
Range
- Korando - crossover line-up with 2 or 4-wheel drive from £14,995
- Korando Sports pick-up - a rugged 4x4 double cab pick-up with the finesse of a passenger car from £15,042 (ex VAT)
- Turismo - spacious seven-seat MPV available with rear or all-wheel drive from £17,995
- Rexton W - seven-seat off-roader with selectable 4x4 from £21,995
Source: Mercedes-Benz
