2017 Citroen
C4 Cactus
67,500 milesManualPetrol1.2L
Cash £3,995
2014 Vauxhall
Zafira
98,587 milesManualPetrol1.6L
Cash £2,129
2025 Volkswagen
T-Roc
14,594 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L
Cash £19,720
2025 Volkswagen
Taigo
15,463 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L
Cash £18,740
Things ticked over until the start of 2024, when KGM emerged from the ashes of SsangYong. The Korando was rebranded and the diesel engine was dropped, leaving just the 1.5-litre petrol unit. The previous ELX, Ventura, Ultimate and Pioneer trims were replaced by the single K35, and in time it was joined by K30 and K40 trims.
Which one should I buy?
SsangYongs outnumber KGMs by more than four to one, and there’s a 60:40 split in favour of petrol-engined cars. Three-quarters of Korandos are autos and one in four has four-wheel drive. We’d be inclined to pick a diesel, probably with front-wheel drive for better economy, but four-wheel-drive models make sense, too.
Buy a Korando ELX and it’ll come with cruise control, high-beam assist, 17-inch alloys, electrically folding door mirrors and a full complement of safety kit including traffic-sign recognition and hill-descent control.
Ventura trim came with 18-inch wheels, heated front seats, a rear camera, front and rear parking sensors, an eight-inch touchscreen and roof rails. Ultimate adds leather trim, electric adjustment and ventilation for the front seats, navigation, ambient cabin lighting, an electric tailgate (auto-gearbox cars only), a heated steering wheel, privacy glass and LED headlights.
On the road
This is arguably the Korando’s weakest area, because it lags behind rivals in several ways. The refinement levels of petrol and diesel editions are disappointing, and while the former feels reasonably sprightly, the diesel doesn’t have the zest that you might expect. The automatic gearbox isn’t as slick as it should be, and the steering doesn’t offer a lot of feedback. On twisty roads you’ll notice there’s plenty of body roll in corners, but the pay-off is a ride that’s more comfortable than you’ll find elsewhere, especially on cheaper models with smaller wheels.
Alternatives to the SsangYong Korando
The mid-sized SUV segment is one of the busiest, so the Korando is up against some talented rivals; many are better to drive and have a larger dealer network. These include the Ford Kuga, Peugeot 3008, Vauxhall Grandland and Citroen C5 Aircross.
