SsangYong Smashes the 4×4 £20k Barrier

This Ssangyong 4x4 crossover is under £20k

SsangYong Smashes the £20k Barrier for a Stylish 4×4 C-Segment Crossover

You’d be forgiven for assuming that a compact 4×4 crossover designed by none other than Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italy’s Ital Design is unlikely to be cheap.  Even a few months ago, it would be remarkable if a car manufacturer launched what they reckoned to be a stylish, quality C-segment SUV with genuine four wheel drive for less than £20,000. But Korean firm SsangYong have gone and done it – and hats off to them!

This Ssangyong 4×4 crossover is under £20k

The new SsangYong Korando is being introduced with a price tag which makes it an amazing 15% cheaper than its closest rival, at only £18,795 for the 4WD ‘SX’ trim specification with a manual gearbox. This keen pricing also means that the SsangYong Korando is the lowest priced vehicle in its class, the ‘C-Segment’, which includes competitors such as the Nissan Qashqai, KIA Sportage and Ford Kuga.

Selling a compact 4×4 crossover car for such a competitive price surely means that it will suffer in some other areas, to compensate? Uncannily, the Korando SX manages to compete in the green stakes too, as it produces a relatively commendable 157g of CO2 per kilometre. Its 149PS engine puts out 360Nm of torque, so will be suitable for towing up to two tonnes, and the 4WD system it’s fitted with is by no means Mickey Mouse basic either. The system runs by Torque on Demand and continually monitors grip, channelling the car’s power to whichever wheels need it the most.

You’ve probably guessed by now that the SsangYong Korano SX won’t suffer when it comes to its interior specification and other trinkets, either. Darkened privacy glass, a leather-covered steering wheel and gear lever gaiter, roof rails, a decent sound system by Kenwood, a Bluetooth phone system and Hill Start Assist will all be fitted to this price-busting Korando SX model. To put the cherry on the cake, SsangYong have only gone and given buyers of the Korando SX a 5-year warranty, providing yet another compelling reason why prospective compact SUV buyers should consider buying one from one of the 52 SsangYong dealers currently operating throughout the the UK.