► Brand formerly known as SsangYong
► New KG Motors Torres is a chunky SUV
► We test EVX electric model for the first time
Say hello to KGM and the new Torres EVX, a chunky electric SUV that promises plenty of fresh tech and fresh thinking. But it’s more familiar than you might think it is…
At a glance
Pros: Quiet and comfortable, hugely roomy, well-equipped
Cons: Sloppy dynamics, poor grip, clunky infotainment
What’s new?
Well… alright, KGM isn’t technically new. KGM stands for KG Mobility and is the new name of SsangYong Motors: the value-focused Korean brand that’s been present but relatively small-fry in the UK and Europe for decades. SsangYong Motors went bankrupt in 2022 before the KG Group – a huge ‘chaebol’ in South Korea that works in industries like chemicals, steel and even media outlets – saved it.
As for the Torres, it too is a new prospect for the brand with a whole new design language being applied. The new SUV model is split between the combustion-powered Torres SUV and the Torres EVX – the electric version we’re testing here. The Torres and the EVX model are designed to sit between the Korando and the Rexton in the KGM range.
The EVX features a slightly cleaner design at the front end compared to the combustion-powered model, including shallow and sharp DRLs and an active shutter designed to improve aerodynamic efficiency.
What are the specs?
Just one power variant of the Torres EVX is on sale here in the UK, with relatively competitive performance specs. A 73.4kWh battery (supplied by BYD) powers a single e-motor driving the front wheels, good for 204bhp and a 0-62mph time of 8.1 seconds – a respectable time. KGM is also keen to point out the Torres can tow up to 1.5 tonnes with a braked trailer, or 500kg unbraked.
KGM claims a WLTP combined range of 287 miles – a reasonable if not particularly good claim given rivals of a similar size. As for charging, the Torres EVX can either be charged at 11kW AC or up to 120kW DC.
Two specs are available: K30 priced from £44,495 and K40 from £47,495. Frankly, the K30 is all you ever need, as it features heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, cruise control, a 12.3-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a reversing camera, dual-zone climate control and a load of (let’s be honest… required) safety tech. K40 adds a heat pump, larger 20-inch aerodynamic wheels (on the model pictured), proper leather upholstery, a 360-degree parking system and more safety tech.
What about the interior?
On the surface, it looks smart and modern – quite a difference from other SsangYong KGM models of the past that look like they were modern about five years before they went on sale. The overall design is quite neat, with an almost furniture-like dashboard design, a copper-coloured satin material used liberally and a ‘floating’ centre console with cupholders and an armrest storage area. The only physical buttons that feature, however, are relegated to the steering wheel. Overall material quality is perfectly reasonable – but not quite up to scratch to something like a similarly-priced Skoda Enyaq.
The infotainment system looks a lot like something you’d see from Kia or Hyundai, or maybe BYD, as two wide screens are attached together into a panel that sits on top of the dashboard. The snag is that it’s pretty naff to use; it’s not very responsive, prompting us to tap the screen more than once to get it to do something, and the menu layout doesn’t seem very logical at times. Add the fact that all of the climate controls are on this screen and there doesn’t seem to be any shortcuts for turning off safety kit mean it can be frustrating to use.
Those blessed with sitting in the second row will experience a properly palatial amount of space, even behind a tall driver. There’s plenty of headroom and legroom available even for tall adults, but we wouldn’t mind if the door opened a bit wider.
The boot, too, is enormous. It’s accessed by what looks like a side-hinged door thanks to the way the handle has been incorporated into the car’s chunky looks, but it raises like a regular hatchback tailgate. With the rear seats up, there is 703 litres of space available – more than 100 litres larger than a Skoda Enyaq, around 150 more than a Renault Scenic and 250 more than an electric Mini Countryman. It’s massive – the trade-off is the car’s design; it looks abnormally rear heavy, like the car has swallowed a wardrobe.
How does it drive?
It’s not one for keen drivers, that’s for sure. Acceleration from the single motor is good, making the EVX feel brisk and athletic at a standstill – but that’s provided you have grippy tyres. Our Torres EVX K40 test model was fitted with Nexen Rodian GTX tyres that featured an almost hopeless amount of grip. Even in hot, bone dry conditions it didn’t take much to get the front wheels to chirp and skip under moderate acceleration, a problem only exacerbated to frankly worryingly low grip levels in damp or wet conditions. If you’re after a Torres EVX and these are fitted as standard, you might want to get a different set of tyres.
The steering is tremendously lax and light – good for wafting around on the motorway without the EVX twitching or skipping around in its lane, but it completely lacks any feel doesn’t have a lot of precision, either. You can twiddle it with a single finger if you like, but it’s a little vague.
Rolling refinement is impressive, though. Even at motorway speeds on rough roads, the EVX is quiet and calm and the ride quality is impressive even on the K40’s larger 20-inch wheels, soaking up even quite lumpy ruts well. The trade-off is that the EVX likes to lollop around, rolling significantly around tight corners.
That and the slightly nagging safety equipment. The infotainment and safety systems are more than happy enough to bong and ding at you for various reasons, with some slightly amusing English translations for certain warnings thrown in for good measure.
Before you buy
When the brand was known as SsangYong, it was known for providing good values cars compared to most of its rivals that offered plenty of practicality and equipment. But the numbers don’t quite stack up here.
A basic Torres EVX may be well equipped, but there’s a lot of competition here. A top-spec Renault Scenic is around £4k cheaper, drives much sweeter, looks smarter and isn’t that much less practical. Ditto the Skoda Enyaq, or a Tesla Model Y.
Verdict: KGM Torres EVX
KGM is following in the footsteps of its SsangYong descendants by offering a chunky SUV that is hugely spacious comes with tonnes of stuff as standard. It helps that the Torres EVX is strangely likeable, an interesting car to look at (handsome at the front, weird at the back) and is comfortable on the move.
But the price isn’t as attractive as you’d think given what the Torres EVX competes against, it’s quite soggy to drive and the infotainment is quite annoying to use.
A mixed bag overall.