SsangYong Kyron 270Xdi Limited 165CV, road test (part II)

We have already told you about the sensations off-road of the SsangYong Kyron, as well as its engine. Now it’s time to step inside, after first taking a look at the exterior lines.

It is a heavy car, weighing 2 tonnes and with an engine that sometimes struggles to move it. Even so, in first gear we will have no problems, since the gear ratios are rather short in the lower gears. Nor does it have exaggerated dimensions, so it looks sturdy and solid, which is good for improving its handling but worse in a collision, since the force is not dissipated as well as it would be on another chassis. Its dimensions are 4.66 metres long and 1.88 metres wide. Let’s take a look at the outside.

Exterior design

The model underwent a facelift about a year ago, changing mainly the front lights and the tailgate. Previously it had rounded fog lights, lower down and positioned not so delicately, close to the bumper. Now they can suffer more impacts than before. Around the back, a silver trim strip that ran across the full width has disappeared and been replaced by a smaller, centred one. At the rear I prefer it.

At the front it makes an impression. Just looking at it, you can see its off-road spirit, which is less and less present in other brands but which the Korean manufacturer wants to keep. Fans of this sport will surely appreciate it. The front grille is split by the bumper, with an upper section where the radiator grille is common to all the brand’s models and a lower grille section that allows proper ventilation of the engine.

The 18-inch wheels don’t look like they are that size, possibly because of the large gap between the wheel and the bodywork. The suspension has plenty of travel, to our taste. It is not a car with a particularly boxy design, although it has some details of that kind. At the rear there is a black plastic piece along the lower area, a few centimetres high, to protect the bodywork, which also houses the reflectors. It is something already fitted by some brands, always black, whatever colour the rest of the car is.

When we open the tailgate it does not rise all the way up, but stops halfway, yet with an opening more than sufficient to load any object, however large. If it fits inside the car dimensionally, it can be loaded without problems. The boot holds 625 litres and 1,222 litres with the rear seats folded.

Interior design

Getting into the SsangYong is somewhat difficult because of its height, but whoever buys one knows that. We are not sure whether running boards can be fitted, since they are not offered as an option, although I seem to recall seeing some with them. Once inside, the pleasure is complete. The leather seats are quite comfortable and although they don’t hold you tightly, that isn’t really necessary. Rallying with this car would be more than a little complicated.

The first thing that stands out is its portable TomTom navigation unit. It has extra settings compared with others, such as managing the radio volume when a call comes in, Bluetooth configuration and other options. Even so, it can be used in another car without problems, and we can use the radio without having it connected. Another striking feature is the amount of plastic, both on the buttons and on the steering wheel. The rest of the dashboard (what can be seen in the photos in beige) has a very acceptable finish and decent quality.

One of the things the brand takes great care over is interior space for occupants. Both in the Rodius and the Kyron, the width is more than sufficient for three adults in the back, with two backrest positions and legroom and knee space such that even those over 1.90 metres will not bother the driver and passenger. A very important aspect.

All the controls are within easy reach from the driving position. We find the steering-wheel controls somewhat awkward, since they are very sensitive and merely brushing them activates them, so you can turn the volume up or down or change the audio source. We did not like the multicoloured cabin lighting at night. Each part of the dashboard has a different colour, whether orange for the instrument cluster or red for the radio, which takes away from the uniformity and elegance of the whole.

Forward visibility is good, although to the rear it is somewhat limited. Since it does not have parking sensors, manoeuvring can be quite tricky. You have to be careful not to park by guesswork, both for our car and for the cars of our neighbours in the next bay. If possible, have one of the passengers get out and guide you; there’s nothing wrong with that and it won’t make you look foolish.

Another thing we like most is its number of front and rear storage compartments. It has a very large glovebox, the centre armrest is also for storing bulky items, and the space in the doors and the pockets behind the front seatbacks make it stand out in this respect. To top it all, there is also a space beneath the rear seats for storing whatever you like, although it was not originally designed for that. I have some ideas (see detail). Care is needed when folding the rear seats down, because this space disappears; to line up the backrest with the boot floor you get a large, flat surface (see detail). There are even storage compartments at the back too, plus a 12V socket.

Tomorrow we will look at the equipment and overall assessment, as well as prices and versions.

Photos | Javi Vicente and Jorge Rubio