Our cars: Ssangyong Korando - May

Ssangyong Korando 2.0D 4WD SX

Week ending May 17
Mileage: 14914
Driven this week: 201

Ssangyong Korando review

Late for a trip out on my bike this week, I ditched the usual bike rack, flipped the seats instead and threw the bike in the back.

I wasn’t sure if it would fit, but it slotted in with ease. It also reminded of how rarely I use the split seats. The Korando’s mechanism is as easy to use as any – one pull of a lever and you end up with a flat load area. The same lever also offers multiple reclining options for the rear seats.

Andrew.Golby@whatcar.com


Week ending May 10
Mileage: 14713
Driven this week: 259

I’ve been driving a variety of other cars this week, nothing flash, but the lack of refinement in the Korando is very clear when hopping between other mainstream makes and models. Most of all, it’s the engine which lets the Ssangyong down. It’s noisy and clattery on start-up, and far less muted at cruising speeds than most.

If there is one area to concentrate upon for the Korando’s next incarnation, it has to be this.

Andrew.Golby@whatcar.com

Week ending May 3
Mileage: 14454
Driven this week: 378

Things I didn’t expect to write about whilst running a Ssangyong Korando: Apparently if I ever bump into Alex James, formerly the bassist of Blur, we’ll be able to have a chat about the merits of running an orange Korando.

I know this because there is a full-page feature about him and it on The Sun’s website. It seems that Tommy Walsh and Melinda Messenger have also discovered the merits of a Ssangyong.

Of course the truth is, they have all been paid by Ssangyong to promote the car. I just wonder whether this kind of thing works with car buyers? On the plus side, it probably helps gets the Korando noticed, where just being recognised is still a rare thing amongst the public.

Andrew.Golby@whatcar.com