Our cars: Ssangyong Korando - September

Ssangyong Korando 2.0D 4WD SX

Week ending September 28
Mileage 5176
Driven this week: 376

Ssangyong Korando review

I've now got a full size spare wheel in the boot of the Korando, in place of a can of emergency foam. The fifth wheel is a £200 option, and without it you don’t even get a space saver. I’m pleased to have the reassurance of the full-size spare, particularly because I plan to do some towing with the car next year. The idea of pulling a trailer or caravan on anything other than four good tyres is not at all appealing.

The arrival of the spare has meant sacrificing a useful oddments tray under the boot that is now sitting in my garage. There is still enough space to store the removable Witter towing ball, so I don’t feel like I’ve lost too much.

andrew.golby@whatcar.com

Week ending September 21
Mileage: 4800
Driven this week: 364 miles

This week I've had to 're-boot' the Kenwood/ Garmin sat-nav system two days in a row. The first time it seemed to think I was travelling at breakneck speeds on suburban roads near our office, when in fact I was on the M3.

It was continuously attempting to recalculate the route and ETA for about 10 minutes before I did what all IT support desks advise: turn it off and back on again. The problem was fixed.

The next day it happened again, although this time I had no map at all, just a black screen. The same approach to fixing it worked, but it's a worry. If it happens again we may need to take an early visit to our nearest dealer in Barnes.

Andrew.Golby@whatcar.com

Ssangyong Korando 2.0D 4WD SX

Week ending September 14
Mileage: 4436
Driven this week: 358 miles

Ssangyong Korando review

There is no escaping it – the Korando has an old-fashioned diesel clatter from cold. Five minutes into the journey it begins to settle, but it’s not for another 10 minutes or so that the self-developed 2.0-litre engine adopts its ‘usual’ note.

Among modern diesels it’s rare to still be talking about issues such as this, but unfortunately the Korean unit is not a model of refinement.

I wonder if the slightly colder mornings we’re now beginning to see are why I seem to be noticing it more at the moment. If that’s the case, the winter will be interesting.

Andrew.Golby@whatcar.com

Ssangyong Korando 2.0D 4WD SX

Week ending September 7
Mileage: 4078
Driven this week: 130 miles

Ssangyong Korando review

If you’re the kind of person that carries around lots of small things, you’ll find the Korando has a home for everything.

In 4000 miles I’ve used nearly all of the storage space, other than the dash-mounted cubby. I found myself looking at it the other day trying to find an excuse to put something in it. It's easily reached from the driver seat and is a reasonable size as well. I find myself using the central cubby as a bin, and the space in front of the cupholders for most other oddments.

Maybe I need to find more to carry around.

Andrew.Golby@whatcar.com