Ssangyong Korando steps on the podium at Geneva Motor Show

MANILA: Midst the clouds of concepts and high profile vehicles, SsangYong has formed their own bubble at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. While the South Korean automobile manufacturer had already released a few photographs of the updated Korando prior to the Geneva Motor Show,

the brand now has put the crossover to please the eyes of the visitors at the event. Gone is the bland bubble shape of the previous generation Korando and the renovated SUV boasts angular and muscular looks both on the outside and inside.

Johng-Sik Choi, CEO of Ssangyong Motor Company, said, “This new Korando is further proof of the quantum change in direction that SsangYong has embarked on, and exemplifies this through contemporary design, state-of-the-art technology, the latest in safety, and new power options which will soon include electrification”.

The new and updated Korando now packs much more angular and sportier looks than before, thanks to the designing cues that have been taken from the Tivoli and Rexton. Enhancing the looks are the new bumpers, grille, trapezoidal headlights, taillights, and alloy wheels.

Dimension wise, the revisited SsangYong Korando stands 4452 mm long, 1870 mm wide, 1620 mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 2675 mm. The boot space measures 551-litre with rear seat standing. Fold the rear seats down, and you have a cargo space of 1,248-litre.

On the inside, changes are as prominent as outside. There is a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system along with a 10.25-inch digital display that replaces the old analog gauges. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and TomTom satellite navigation are all present inside the car. On top of all that, the new Korando also gets LED ambient lighting. Talking about the mechanicals on the SsangYong Korando, the crossover benefits from two engine choices.

The first mill is a 1.5-litre turbocharged gasoline inline-four motor that produces 163 PS of maximum power at 5500 rpm and 280 Nm of peak torque at 1500 – 4500 rpm. A 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel with a maximum power of 136 PS at 4000 rpm and a peak torque of 324 Nm at 1500 – 4500 rpm makes up the second engine. Both six-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmission are available. Auto start/stop technology will be standard on the FWD variants of the new Korando.

Lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, auto high beam assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and advanced emergency braking, etc. are the safety features which Korando comes equipped with. SsangYong has also mentioned that an all-electric variant of the new Korando will also make its way out soon.

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