FORECOURT
SSANGYONG KORANDO e-MOTION SsangYong has finally brought an electric version of the Korando to the UK. James Batchelor was the first motoring journalist here to take it for a spin – did he think it was worth the wait?
Under the bonnet
THE KNOWLEDGE SsangYong Korando e-Motion Ventura Price (as tested): £34,995 Engine: Single electric motor Power: 188bhp Torque: 360Nm Max speed: 97mph O-60mph: TBC Range: 210 miles Emissions: 0g/km CO2
The Korando’s single electric motor produces 188bhp and 360Nm of torque.
WHAT IS IT? The South Korean carmaker has its eyes on the flourishing electric car segment, and the Korando e-Motion is its first EV to go on sale in the UK. WHAT’S NEW? The firm has taken its Korando small SUV, added an electric powertrain and smoothed over the styling to make it more aerodynamic. WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET? Power comes from a single electric motor hooked up to the front wheels. With 188bhp, the Korando is more powerful than the MG ZS EV and Mazda MX-30, and just a little shy of the Hyundai Kona 64kWh. The e-Motion tops out at 97mph, and while there’s no claimed figure yet for the 0-60 sprint time, in our test drive it felt to be around eight seconds, which is comparable to the car’s nearest rivals. The electric motor is powered by a 61.5kWh battery (55.3kWh useable), which gives a claimed 210 miles of range. In our testing on a cold winter’s day, a 100 per cent charge was giving a displayed 200 miles and the range dropped mile for mile. WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE? SsangYong has added a whole heap of sound deadening within the body panels and behind the dashboard. There’s even a different type of front subframe to reduce vibrations. And it really works – it’s eerily quiet, even on the motorway. With 188bhp and 360Nm of torque, the e-Motion is the quickest Korando you can buy. Squeeze the throttle hard and acceleration isn’t neck-snapping, but it’s nicely progressive and quick enough. There’s no ‘b-mode’ for extra brake regeneration, instead paddles behind the steering wheel control three settings of regen. Elsewhere, it’s just like other Korandos, with decent body control, responsive steering and a stiff ride. But the aero-friendly 17-inch alloys do give a slightly more cushioned ride compared with some top-spec petrol and diesel Korandos with 19-inch wheels. HOW DOES IT LOOK? Just like MG and Hyundai, SsangYong has gone for a smoothed-off look to differentiate the electric version from petrol and diesel models, adding a cleaner front bumper and tweaked
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