SsangYong Korando SUV - Interior & comfort
The interior ticks almost every SUV box and offers some impressive technology
Interior design and quality takes a big step up from the previous Korando, so the car now has a more luxurious feel than the Nissan Qashqai. A wide centre console contributes to the Korando's SUV feel from the driver's seat, while metallic trim and air vents span the dashboard for a more cohesive look. e-Motion versions get eco-signalling blue accents.
Refinement is a slight issue, however, with more tyre roar and engine noise than the best in this class. The petrol is far quieter and more refined on the move than the diesel; the electric version is quieter than both. We’d also avoid the 19-inch wheels as they can result in a fairly unsettled ride on some rougher surfaces.
SsangYong Korando dashboard
It's still possible to find lengths of cheap plastic trim but most of the touchpoints and the Korando's switchgear all feel reassuringly sturdy. Technology impresses too, thanks to a 10.25-inch digital instrument display in higher spec models that serves up customisable driving, infotainment and navigation graphics. It all looks crisp and you can easily control it using buttons on the steering wheel.
Equipment
Four trim levels are offered, called ELX, Ventura, Pioneer and Ultimate. ELX is only offered with the petrol engine, a manual gearbox and two-wheel drive (or with the electric motor), and features cloth trim, 17-inch alloy wheels with all-weather tyres, cruise control, DAB radio and auto lights and wipers. Ventura will be available with the same engine as the ELX but will also have synthetic leather upholstery, 18-inch wheels, heated front seats, parking sensors, a digital instrument cluster and eight-inch touchscreen.
Pioneer gets the diesel engine in two- or four-wheel drive and has faux leather and cloth seats, 17-inch wheels, heated front seats, parking sensors, a heated steering wheel and an infotainment system with a rear-view camera. Ultimate trim is available with the front-wheel drive petrol engine and the diesel engine with four-wheel drive. It adds full leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, 19-inch wheels, keyless entry, LED headlights and the top digital instruments and infotainment screen.
Options
Like many of the Japanese and South Korean car manufacturers, SsangYong steers customers to pick the trim level with the kit they need, rather than offering myriad optional extras. Other than the engine and trim, the only thing you'll really need to pick is the paint colour.
Technology
The infotainment setups have displays measuring either eight or nine inches depending on the trim level. We found both touchscreens were responsive and the menus were clear and easy to navigate. While the eight-inch version lacks the built-in sat nav of its bigger brother, both feature Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can still access navigation via a third-party smartphone app like Google Maps.
