Ssangyong has added a cheaper variant to the Korando lineup in UK. The SX variant is priced at £18,795 (16.46 lakhs), around £2,650 (2.32 lakhs) lesser than the previous low-end variant. Ssangyong claims that the cheaper variant is a direct response to the customer feedback which asked for an SUV under £20,000.
The low-spec Korando is powered by 2.0L turbo diesel generating 147hp and 360Nm mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Ssangyong claims a fuel economy to be 19 km/l for the SX.
Don’t think that they have skipped on equipment list. The SX variant gets
- Roof rails
- Tinted glass
- 17-inch alloy wheels.
- A leather covered steering wheel and gear shift
- A Kenwood MP3 CD radio with six speakers
- iPod & Bluetooth connectivity
- ESP with Hill Start Assist
- Rear parking sensors
- Cruise control
The Korando is one of the Ssangyong SUVs heading to the Indian shores. Personally, I am more excited about the Korando than the Rexton. A major reason for this bias is the fact that the Korando is a more modern SUV and looks good too.
See spyshots of the Korando testing in India
More importantly, the Korando is a perfect competitor to the Skoda Yeti which I believe is the best car on sale in India today. The Korando will sit above the XUV500 in a segment that has just one contender. If the Korando is launched for 16 lakhs, it could prove to be an interesting launch. That said, the lack of a third row and an unrecognizable badge mean it will find it tough to rake in the volumes at that price.