Test drive: SsangYong Korando LPG, an "eco" SUV at a good price

The fourth generation of the SsangYong Korando already made a very good impression during our first contact, which you can read here, where we detailed the news and the range. An SUV that remains one of the most affordable options in its size class, though with a “trick”: SsangYong offers a version with a petrol engine and basic Line trim that allows a very competitive “from” price: €17,600, including the €1,000 offer and the €2,000 you can save with financing.

Korando range: petrol, diesel… and LPG

In addition, only for this entry-level version, the G15 T engine, a 4-cylinder petrol unit, produces 149 hp paired with the six-speed manual gearbox and 4×2 traction, or 163 hp with the automatic gearbox and/or all-wheel drive. The same applies to the respective versions adapted to run on LPG, which carry a €2,000 surcharge over the petrol variants. It is worth mentioning that, unlike other gas-powered cars such as the Renault Captur LPG, the installation does not come from the factory; instead, SsangYong entrusts it to a specialised company. This should not pose any problem, as the quality of the installation is excellent and it comes with its corresponding warranty.

SsangYong also offers in the Korando range a turbodiesel variant, the D16T. In this case the discounted price starts from €22,500 after discounts, but already with Urban trim, as this engine is not offered with the basic Line trim. The Korando LPG with the same equipment costs €500 less than the turbodiesel, and has two main advantages: the kilometres you drive on gas are cheaper even than diesel, and you have an ECO label. Other additional advantages you can take occasional advantage of are its greater range: up to 1,200 km according to the WLTP homologated consumption, difficult to achieve, but in any case easily approaching 1,000 km, something that is not so easy with the turbodiesel.

With either engine, the Korando stands out for its good balance between equipment and price and for its great interior space, especially in the rear seats. Its finishes are simple but correct, and it is no reference in dynamic behaviour, but it more than fulfils its role.

The SsangYong Korando inside

When I say the finishes are simple, I mean that SsangYong works hard to convey an impression of quality that does not match the materials used, with an abundance of hard plastics; the equation has to add up somewhere to offer a car like this at this price. But mind you, it does not look down on itself at all, and there is clearly great care in the fit, with no rattles or creaks while driving.

This simplicity is also noticeable when operating the 8-inch touchscreen multimedia system which, like the interior finish, is correct and nothing more. Nor is it a problem, especially as it offers compatibility with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. Furthermore, the Korando has physical buttons for the main functions. That said, when you use the music player you may miss speakers with better sound, or a sharper image when relying on the rear camera for manoeuvring.

As details worth highlighting, I’d single out the excellent interior lighting, and the digital instrumentation offered by the higher trim versions, simple but well organised, with quality graphics and intuitive menus. It is a pity that the LPG integration does not allow a gas level or remaining range indicator for each fuel directly on the instrument cluster. The button to switch from LPG mode to petrol mode, and vice versa, is located on the left, above the air-conditioning outlet. It includes warning lights to indicate the LPG level in the tank, but in the normal driving position it is partly hidden and you have to “search” with your eyes to check it.

I also liked the seats very much, which offer a high level of comfort. But without doubt, the best thing about the Korando’s cabin is its interior space, with some of the best width, rear legroom and headroom among SUVs of its size. In addition, occupants of the rear seats can recline the backrests slightly, to travel more comfortably.

The boot capacity, however, is more typical of somewhat smaller cars: its 425 litres may be a little tight for those who travel frequently and carry heavy loads. With the LPG tank installed, one of the compartments that the other versions offer under the floor is lost, where it is possible to create different compartments.

On the road with the Korando: comfort and running economy

Ease of driving, comfort and running economy are the main characteristics of the Korando LPG when it comes to covering kilometres.

The ease and comfort come from excellent visibility, correct ergonomics, very smooth-acting controls and good general insulation, both aerodynamic and from the engine. The soft calibration chosen for the suspension also plays a major role here, although other SUVs show that equivalent or better bump comfort can be achieved without giving up a bodywork that stays somewhat more composed in corners. The same can be said of the way some driving assistants work, which in the end you often end up switching off, such as the unintentional lane change warning.

Being demanding, another point to improve is the steering, whose workload builds up when you need to follow the path indicated by the wheel while the road surface is not perfectly smooth, or when accelerating with the wheels turned. In this last situation there are clear losses of traction, not so much because of the engine’s power as because of the design and calibration of the suspension and the steering itself. Things improve a little if you choose “Sport” instead of “Normal” mode on the rotary selector on the centre console, which changes to slightly firmer steering assistance, without compromising ease of manoeuvring in town.

To leave the tarmac, where the Korando’s soft suspension absorbs potholes well on tracks or very undulating roads, we can count on the occasional help of hill descent control. But it is best not to get into too much trouble, not only because of the aforementioned loss of traction, but because the standard tyres are intended exclusively for use on tarmac and because the ground clearance is not very generous either.

An engine held back by a very long-geared gearbox

As in other models that run on petrol and LPG, in the Korando you only need to press the corresponding button to switch between the two fuels; you won’t notice anything at the wheel. What you do need to be clear about is that the 1.5-litre turbo 4-cylinder, especially combined with the manual gearbox, requires a particular driving style.

Between the engine taking a while to build up its pulling power, and SsangYong having chosen transmission ratios that are too long, the Korando, whether you drive in petrol or gas mode, forces you to pay attention to the rev counter so that the engine stays between 2,500 and 4,000 rpm, where it delivers its best performance. If you do this, acceleration is good, in line with the advertised power. But if you let the revs drop in long gears, you have to work your left foot and right hand.

It is not difficult to achieve, although it can become annoying to keep checking the gearbox depending on the terrain. It is also uncomfortable in town, where the low power at low revs, and the surge the engine delivers as it starts gaining revs, make driving a little “jerky”.

I do not understand how SsangYong’s development engineers chose gear ratios that do not match at all the way the engine delivers its power, with such pronounced gaps between the gears. This choice also affects consumption, with figures higher than those of cars of similar size and power. Getting below 8 l/100 km in petrol mode is difficult, and going above 10 is very easy, as consumption is quite sensitive to pace.

That is why, if you opt for a Korando, it is highly recommended to invest the €2,000 that the LPG installation costs. If you do not need the advantages granted by the ECO label and you are going to travel a lot on the motorway or with the car loaded, then I would not hesitate to consider the D16T version with the turbodiesel engine.

Optionally, the Korando LPG can be fitted with the automatic gearbox with manual/sequential shifting, a torque converter transmission that is smoother than it is quick, is not cheap (around €3,000), and unlike other gearboxes of this type has a significant effect on consumption. It is also possible to choose 4×4 traction, of the part-time type, always paired with the automatic gearbox; the problem is that this combination is only offered with the top Limited trim, which already means starting from a budget of over €32,000.

SsangYong Korando image gallery