Although it doesn’t tow as well as a Volkswagen Amarok, it should be remembered that the SsangYong Korando Sports EXT costs almost £10,000 less.
SsangYong’s pick-up plays the value-for-money card to good effect. You get plenty of equipment for not much cash, and there’s a comprehensive five-year warranty package.
As a solo drive it’s more accomplished than you’d expect of a budget pick-up. Car-like rear suspension means the Korando Sports doesn’t have the high payload or huge towing limit of most pick-ups, but the flipside is a more comfortable ride.
Hitch up to a big twin-axle caravan, though, and the suspension lets the caravan boss the car around too much. In the lane-change test the SsangYong felt scrappy, and the driver had to work hard on high-speed runs.
At motorway speeds the Korando Sports is composed enough on still days, but there’s too movement in strong crosswinds. Slow-witted steering doesn’t help the driver tame this tendency to wander.
SsangYong drivers won’t be going anywhere in a hurry. It took the Korando Sports 21.8 seconds to pull from 30-60mph with a van in tow. It stops better than it goes, bringing the tourer to a halt from 30mph in 11.8m.
