The SsangYong Korando SX offers a healthy specification for a low price. With one or two reservations, it makes a respectable tow car.
At motorway speeds the Korando proved stable, even in strong winds. Performance is steady but determined, pulling from 30-60mph in an acceptable 18.4 seconds. Work the low-emissions version of SsangYong’s 2.0-litre diesel hard and it’s quieter than the engines fitted to early Korandos – although to be fair that’s not saying much. The SsangYong is stable under braking, and the stopping distance of 11.5m is respectable.
However, the hill start didn’t show the Korando in such a positive light. The handbrake needed a very firm pull to stop the car from rolling backwards, and the clutch and throttle needed careful balancing to pull to the top of the 1-in-6 slope.
The lane-change test was the Korando’s undoing. The caravan dragged the car offline and the driver struggled to keep control.
Inside, the cabin may feel a bit rough and ready but there’s plenty of space for five, and the boot can handle holiday luggage with ease. As standard the car comes with get-you-home gunk rather than a proper spare, but SsangYong says it’s acceptable to tow on a repaired tyre and a full-size spare can be ordered as an option for greater piece of mind. A five-year warranty package puts that of many more expensive cars to shame.