The odds were strongly against this OEM once its former self collapsed into administration. That now seems like ancient history as KG Group has put a lot of work and money into giving what had been Korea’s oldest marque a fresh start.
Certain legacy models, such as the Tivoli, Korando and Rexton, still find buyers in many markets, but the focus is increasingly on developing ever more fresh metal. Overall, sales are good but could be way better. South Korea, Turkiye, Australia, even Germany – each contributes either much or handy volume.
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The importer for the British market continues to take a long-term approach with a step-by-step expansion. New models, new dealers, ad campaigns targeted at the demographic it wants. No doubt with one eye enviously on countries such as Poland where KGM now outsells Fiat, Mini, Jeep and, Land Rover.
Keeping annual sales below 5,000 units
A special factor in the UK is making sure that the ZEV mandate is respected. Plus, as the brand is classed as a Small-Volume Manufacturer, annual deliveries of passenger vehicles and LCVs must not exceed 2,499 units in each case.
Just shy of five thousand sales a year would be very good business indeed, particularly as KGM vehicles are far from bargain-basement. How does the brand get there though? Perhaps by emphasising the rugged-yet-cool credentials of its vehicles. In other words, play in the price and size classes which Land Rover walked (up and) away from.
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By GlobalDataWith a tagline of ‘Powered by Toughness’, KGM seems to know what it’s doing and certainly the newest models embrace this look. Take the Torres, which I just drove for a week and was fairly impressed by. It is let down by certain details but quality isn’t one of them. So the basics are great and what needs fixing can be easily done.
Torres as the neo-Freelander
We know it’s going to be reinvented as part of the Chery JLR JV but imagine if the Freelander model series was still around. In 2025 would it look like the Torres? I reckon it might well do. And at 4,705 mm long with front- or all-wheel drive, plus a 120 kW (163 PS) 1.5-litre turbocharged engine and six-speed Aisin automatic gearbox, even the basics are similar to what the littlest Land Rover once had.
Ah yes, that engine. To be kind to KGM, it did what it could as quickly as possible to get vehicles into production. And there was much extraordinary engineering at the former SsangYong just waiting for some investment. So if the not-that-economical powertrain could do with some updating then I won’t damn the Torres for this alone.
Treading lightly I saw almost 40 mpg but in the real world, and despite abundant torque (280 Nm), the auto gearbox hangs on to lower ratios. And the result is low thirties overall. Again, this can be improved and I bet the company is already working on evolutions of its existing engines and bought-in transmissions. In fact we do know that a Torres Hybrid should be revealed later this year.
Two trims, FWD or AWD
In Britain, there are K30 and K40 trims, each with generous levels of standard equipment, while the second of the pair can also be ordered with AWD. The EV, badged Torres EVX in the UK (just EVX in Korea), is a separate model. In fact they have different codes, the electric SUV being U100 and the ICE J100.
Both K30 and K40 have the same 703 litres of boot space, expanding to 1,662, both extraordinary numbers for a C/D segment model. There is even a spare tyre (!) in a bay below the boot floor. It’s puzzling that there is no seven-seat layout, KGM choosing instead to go for a massive amount of space behind the second row.
Another of the things which the company could do to make the Torres more desirable would be to sharpen up the handling. Not only is the steering too light, body lean can be excessive with roundabouts best taken gently so as not to upset any passengers. Still, with AWD, grip is great and people who love the brand for its vehicles’ impressive towing and off-roading credentials will be happy.
Side-hinged tailgate?
For me the looks are top-notch and there are many pleasing details, including Defender-style headlight shapes, the suggestion of a spare wheel cover on the tailgate (it’s just a styling trick) and an electric release which is positioned on the driver’s side. This makes you think the boot is side-hinged but instead it’s a conventional hatchback. Yet this helps the Torres stand out, as do the silver panels behind the rear-seat windows.
Each time you start the car there is a process to go through on the touchscreen if you want speed warning to be turned off. This is quite a few presses and the software is sometimes slow. Lane Keeping can by contrast be deactivated via a steering wheel button.
The dashboard looks really good and is festooned with some attractive copper-coloured trim while the seat fabric looks durable even if the carpet is thin. Plastics are mainly hard and tough but that’s also the case with most vehicles from, for example, the world’s number one brand. The central cubby is big, there’s a shelf below it and the doors will take 1.5-litre bottles with room to spare for other odds and ends.
Summary
Frustratingly close to being a very good SUV would be my summation of the Torres. It looks oh-so-right, quality is faultless, there is a crazy amount of space for five occupants and all their gear. If KGM can firm up the dynamics, tweak some of the ADAS software (and for the auto gearbox) while keeping pricing where it is, this vehicle could help the brand to really shine.
Pricing for the KGM Torres starts at GBP36,749.
