The KGM Torres is an SUV that is available in both petrol and electric formats, and Business Motoring has undertaken an extensive test of both varieties. But before focusing on the vehicle, some readers may well be asking what is KGM?

Quite simply, KGM is what used to be SsangYong. The brand, which had a strong reputation for its budget but robust SUV and pick-up models, was taken over by KG Group, a major industrial conglomerate in its native Korea, in 2022.

KG immediately embarked on a rebranding of its new automotive division to KG Mobility, partly to distance it from SsangYong’s somewhat up-and-down history. KG Mobility was quickly shortened to KGM, the brand effectively relaunched and its history put firmly behind it.

The petrol variant of the Torres was originally designed as a SsangYong model – both versions still have the old badge eon their steering wheels for example – but it did not go on UK sale until early 2024, followed soon after by the Torres EVX, which has a full battery-electric drivetrain. The Torres name comes from a national park in Patagonia.

First impressions

According to KGM this is a mid-sized SUV to sit between the Korando and Rexton ranges. But on first viewing the Torres, whether in petrol or electric form, some might question such status. Measuring up at 4.7 metres long, 1.9 metres wide and 1.7 metres high it is a big beast, in fact larger than some seven-seat rivals – and you can’t get more than five seats in the Torres.

It certainly looks purposeful, but with a curious mix of styles – almost as if you could play ‘spot the rival maker’ in the exterior detailing. It also boasts some odd touches clearly designed to appeal to the core buying group for SsangYong products for many years, farmers and purveyors of other rural pursuits – details such as chequer plate foot pads and grab handles on the bonnet try to enhance an impression that this vehicle is as happy charging across a field as along a road.

Design

The Torres is certainly different to previous SsangYong product, as mentioned that bold styling treatment being all about angles, especially around the front and the wheel arches. An oddity is the bump on the tailgate which suggests a spare wheel cover but typically of modern vehicles doesn’t have a spare wheel under it.

The ICE (petrol) and electric versions of the two vehicles are easily distinguishable from one another on first viewing, as they boast distinctly different front ends. Where the ICE Torres has a large honeycomb grille its electric sibling boasts a dramatic X-shaped bumper arrangement.

Under the skin, this is very much an old-school SUV, with a body-on-frame construction rather than the unitary designs of most of today’s market. While not so handling friendly, this might again add to its appeal amongst the rural buyers, as such designs tend to be pretty robust.

Interior

We mentioned that the Torres looks big from the outside and that is reflected on the inside. Space for occupants and their luggage is plentiful – you can easily carry five adults, for example, and a nice touch for the three in the back is the availability of their own USB charging points.

The boot is enormous for the segment. It accommodates 703 litres in standard form with all the seats up, while the space expands to 1662 litres with the rear seats folded. The space is accessed by a tailgate that on the upper K40 trim is powered. There’s also an under-floor stowage area which on the electric version is useful for accommodating the charging cables.

The seating position is high – you really climb up into his vehicle. This makes for good visibility at junctions, and why the rear three-quarter view is not so great thanks to thick door pillars, plenty of electronic aids are available including a 360-degree around-view monitor on K40 variants.

The driver’s environment is dominated by a pair of 12.3-inch screens forming the instrument panel and the central infotainment screen. They look good but are not so great to use, navigation proving a less than user-friendly process.

We would definitely like to see separate climate control buttons – adjusting them on screen is a pain especially if one is using Apple or Android smartphone integration as doing so effectively logs you out. And a big screen is less of an advantage when the short-cut buttons are a big stretch over on the left-hand side.

In terms of finish, the interior looks reasonable, but the plastic surfaces are do not look particularly upmarket.

Plusses: High seating position, enormous boot
Minuses: Three-quarter rear view, usability of touchscreens

Equipment

Both the petrol and electric Torres variants are offered in two specifications, dubbed K30 and K40. Equipment highlights on the K30 include heated front seats and steering wheel, tinted windows, cruise control, keyless entry, a rear-view camera and dual-zone climate control.

The K40 models add leather on the front seats (those on the electric K30 are upholstered in faux leather), said seats being electrically adjustable in eight directions and ventilated. There is also rear-seat heating, adaptive cruise control (also on the electric K30) and a smart powered tailgate. The alloy wheels also expand from 18 to 20 inches while the electric K40 gains a 360-degree around-view camera.

Plusses: Well equipped, even base models
Minuses: Not a lot

Safety

The standard Torres comes with an extensive set of active driving assistance systems, extending to lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, rear blind-spot warning and various collision alerts, and in the K40 version the rear cross-traffic and blind-spot warnings expand to autonomous assistance.  The Torres has not as yet undergone a Euro NCAP crash test.

Plusses: Good safety specification
Minuses: Warnings too keen to activate

Powertrain

The petrol-powered Torres employs a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine of 163hp and 280Nm of torque, matched to a six-speed auto transmission. There’s no hybrid assistance though a hybrid drivetrain is likely to be offered from 2025.

This is a quite heavy vehicle (tipping the kerb weight scales at 1.6 tonnes) and so its 0-62mph time is not over-rapid at just under 11 seconds, with a terminal speed of 118mph.

Both the economy and emissions will not score many points with business buyers – even in the two-wheel drive format of our test car the combined cycle economy fails to break 30mpg with emissions of 194 g/km. Go four-wheel-drive and it’s 26.5mpg and 202g/km.

The electric Torres employs a lithium-ion phosphate battery to the newer and safer blade format, made by global battery manufacturer and now rival car maker BYD. The 73.4kWh unit drives a front-mounted motor of 152kW, equivalent to around 207hp, and with 339Nm of torque the car is significantly more potent than its petrol sibling despite weighing almost two tonnes – it will pass 62mph from rest in 8.1 seconds.

The WLTP-determined range of the Torres EVX is 287 miles, which in real-world use over our week translated to around 240-250 miles. It will accept charging at up to 300kW at which replenishment from 10 to 80% takes around 28 minutes. Using a rather more prolific 100kW unit from 20 to 80% takes 37 minutes, while full charge on a typical 11kw unit at home will take nine hours – basically overnight. E40 versions do come supplied with pre-heating to help the range in colder temperatures.

Reflecting KGM and predecessor SsangYong’s modus operandi, the Torres offers significant towing capacity – both versions are rated for 1.5 tonnes with a braked trailer snd 500kg unbraked. Off-road friendly features include the approach and departure angles on the body and the ability to ford at depths up to 300mm.

On the road

The engine of the petrol Torres feels quite potent, though you need to work it to get the best out of it. Then it is let down by the auto gearbox which is rather too relaxed in its changes – a sharp kick-down, for example when overtaking, produces a disappointedly slow response.

The car’s ride is not something to greatly impress, even on very smooth road surfaces, while negotiating the twists and turns of our Welsh test route rather added to the impression of the Torres as a big vehicle – it leans into corners and does not encourage spirited driving. Make steady progress, however, and it tends to be well-behaved.

As well as being quicker the Torres EVX is a little more accomplished on the road, though again it does not respond well to being pushed on, like its petrol sister proving a better proposition with more measured progress. It too is too softly suspended, and surprisingly audibly intrusive at speed with a lot of wind noise.

The most noise, however, or at least irritation, comes from the active safety aids. While EU regulations are increasingly making these a necessity, they are generally much less intrusive than they are on the Torres variants, especially it seems the EVX – our tester got totally fed up with suggestions that he stop for a tea break four or five times on a not very long journey. And trying to disable them through the infotainment screen is a job one soon abandons in frustration…

Plusses: Feels quicker than it is
Minuses: Woolly ride and intrusive safety aids

Costs

The petrol KGM Torres starts at £35,080, with the K40 priced £3,000 higher and the all-wheel-drive K40 costing £5 less than £40,000. The EVX starts at £44,495, with again a £3,000 premium for the K40 variant.

These prices put the petrol Torres above the product of other perceived budget makers and among entry-level versions of more mainstream rivals. It does outshine these on its equipment levels, though will likely suffer from higher depreciation.

The electric model also benefits from impressive equipment levels which it needs to, as the prices are well above budget and well into mainstream territory.

Leasing deals tend to be from around £490 a month, with the electric model priced at around £125 more. The warranty is above the norm too, at five years or 100,000 miles. Service intervals are yearly/10,000 miles.

In everyday use the ICE Torres will be expensive to run, especially as a business car – as well as the low mileage, the emissions levels result in a top 37% BIK tax rate. Obviously, however, any business buyer would be more than likely to go for the electric model.

Summary

The Torres is a competent start for the new era that is KGM, and it does have many positive aspects about it both in petrol and electric form, especially its space inside and its equipment levels. However it does also come with too many mostly small irritations that prevent it really being able to effectively challenge more mainstream rivals.

It will likely appeal, if they can afford it, to the brand’s traditionally rural audience who used to buy SsangYongs, but is unlikely to conquest many buyers from other brands.

Business Motoring First Drives are the initial test of a new vehicle, of usually between 50 and 100 miles. Business Motoring Full Reviews are usually conducted over a full week, completing several hundred miles.