New KGM Torres: Reborn SsangYong targets Skoda and VW with sub-£35k SUV

With a shiny new title, rugged good looks, and a choice of petrol or all-electric powertrains, KGM’s new Torres is raring to right SsangYong’s wrongs. But will British buyers fall for its charms?

You might have missed it, but at the tail end of 2023 — as you were tucking into Christmas dinner and watching reruns of Gavin and Stacey — Korean marque Ssangyong quietly reinvented itself as KGM.  

So, why has KGM done a Datsun and ditched the old title? A change in ownership is the official party line. Although, it’s also likely a calculated move to cut ties with a reputation for awkward, oddball design. Historic models like Rodius and Kyron soured the brand’s image in the UK with styling that was, for want of a better word, just SsangWrong.  

That’s all set to change, though. KGM’s new slogan, “Go different”, applies to the new Torres SUV for all the right reasons. We think the new look is bold, but in a positive, self-assured sort of way. Peel away the badges and you could mistake Torres’s “rugged and tough” aesthetic for a cutting-edge design from Toyota or Jeep.

Inside, things are similarly slick. Lashings of leather and metallic trim are welcome (especially at this price point), while twin-panoramic 12.3” digital displays remind us of those fitted to VW’s facelifted Golf. You won’t be left wanting for kit, either: even base-model K30s see standard Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, heated seats and steering wheel, plus a reversing camera.  

For British SUV buyers, strong practicality is just as alluring. Therefore, Torres’s claimed “Best-in-class load capacity” should be music to many ears. According to KGM, you can expect 703 litres with the rear seats in situ, or 1662 with them folded flat – whichever way you slice it, that’s impressive.

Sensibly, KGM hasn’t alienated either side of the ICE vs EV rift with a restrictive powertrain lineup. Kicking off with a 162 PS 1.5-litre turbo petrol mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox, the combustion Torres is available with a choice of two or four-wheel drive. Although, if it’s added off road capability you’re after, swapping the standard road-biased Nexen rubber for something with an all-terrain remit (such as  Yokohama's all-new Geolanded A/T4) should further enhance traction. 

For around £10,000 more (£45,000), you can opt to future-proof your Torres with an all-electric model. Granted, the 287-mile range and 201-bhp output are merely adequate rather than exceptional, but a useful one-million-kilometer battery warranty should at least allay any fears over severe battery degradation. Impressively, the EV also manages to muster the same 1,500 kg towing capacity as its ICE-powered stablemate.

Interested? Well, provided you don’t want one of the four-wheel-drive variants (which will arrive later in the summer of 2024), you can place an order right away. And we see no reason why you shouldn’t.  

Almost overnight KGM appears to have transitioned from left-field also-ran to a serious front-runner in the SUV race. But was the new name just what the doctor ordered? Let us know what you think about the brand’s refreshed look and feel.

Hero image credit: KGM