Ssangyong announces prices & specification for new Korando Sports Pickup

Korando Sports brings a new level of refinement to the market place, blending the suspension, engine and cabin finesse of a passenger car, the silhouette, space and seating for five that's typical of a double cab, and the rugged workmanlike ability of a commercial pickup.

This new Korando Sports will appeal to those who need a working vehicle, the practicality of 4-wheel-drive, the towing capability to haul up to 2.3-tonnes yet also the appointments of a family car. Whether towing a work trailer or horsebox, ferrying the crew to site or the children to school, Korando Sports will meet a range of different demands.

"As you would expect from SsangYong, the new Korando Sports is both keenly priced and comprehensively equipped," said Paul Williams, CEO of SsangYong Motor UK. "From just £18,295 (incl VAT) you not only get a lot of vehicle for the money, but also a 5 year limitless mileage warranty. SsangYong is the only manufacturer to have that much confidence in its pick-up, which will give customers complete peace of mind.

"SsangYong has a growing reputation for building extremely competent off-road vehicles, and the new Korando Sports builds on this pedigree. It's an honest, reliable and highly capable vehicle, and pound for pound will outclass many more expensive rivals."

Two models - SX & EX
There are two models from launch. The SX is extremely well appointed and comes equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels, tinted glass, air-conditioning, leather covered steering wheel, remote central locking, Kenwood MP3 CD & RDS radio with a USB & auxiliary port and Bluetooth connectivity.

The EX features the luxury touch of leather upholstery with heated front seats, powered driver's seat, heated, electrically adjustable and power folding door mirrors and rear parking sensors. A 6 speed automatic transmission with cruise control is also available as an option.

Power
Delivering both performance and economy - up to 37.7 mpg on the Combined Cycle, Korando Sports is powered by SsangYong's latest e-XDi diesel engine. This new Euro-5, 2-litre engine provides maximum power of 155 ps and peak torque of 360 nm delivered between 1,500 rpm and 2,800 rpm providing ample performance both on and off road, whatever the task.

Multi-link rear suspension
Unlike other pick-ups where the word 'truck' belies their more dated mechanical origins by utilising leaf springs, the SsangYong Korando Sports features a live rear axle supported by sophisticated five link suspension with coil springs to give a comfortable, car like ride.

Style
The fresh exterior design has been styled to reflect SsangYong's modern and efficient new look. From the front, it communicates a dynamic yet sophisticated appearance, featuring a mesh grille, trapezoidal bumper and stylish black headlight bezels to provide a premium touch. In profile, the sharp belt line runs to the rear bumper emphasising a sleek, sporty stance, while from the rear the wide glass area affords excellent rearward visibility.

Creature comforts
Inside the spacious cabin there's a light and airy environment due to the large front, side and rear windows, while the careful blending of black and metallic finishes along with an LED illuminated instrument cluster has created a smart and refined interior.

With spacious accommodation for five adults - the rear passenger seat features a folding armrest and can be reclined by up to 29-degrees, and there's also air-conditioning and Bluetooth connectivity to ensure comfort and convenience on the move.

Practicality
As with every SsangYong, practicality is at the core of the new pick-up's appeal. A large, flat rear deck provides a 2.04m2 load area to take a Euro pallet, and comes complete with load deck liner and anchor points. An optional rigid hard top is available to provide weather protection and security to the load area, and features a hinged rear window that closes behind the tailgate so that the central locking secures and protects the contents. Styled and colour matched to complement the rest of the vehicle, the result is a neat design that ensures form and function, and not the 'tacked on' afterthought of many retro-fit hard tops. There is also a full range of other accessories available from launch including two further load space covers.

Safe, secure, sure footed
Constructed on a separate frame chassis - the mark of a serious off-roader, the new Korando Sports offers a very rigid structure to help protect occupants in the event of a collision.  Accident avoidance and a sure footed performance off road are also enhanced by the electronic stability programme (ESP) - a rare feature on most pickups but standard on Korando Sports, active roll-over protection (ARP) and hill start assist (HSA).

5-year limitless mileage warranty
As with all models in the SsangYong range, the new Korando Sports is covered by a best in class 5-year limitless mileage warranty.

Designed to be totally transparent and give customers complete peace of mind, 'limitless' means just that: not a maximum mileage condition that some brands impose in their small print.

All the major mechanical components are covered including wheel bearings, suspension joints and bushes, steering joints, shock absorbers and even the audio system. Wearable components such as clutch discs and brake friction materials which could have their life reduced by poor driving are covered for one year or 12,000 miles, and the battery and paintwork for three years.

Posted in: All-Wheel-Drive,Euro-5,International,Korando,Paul Williams,Pickup,SsangYong,SsangYong Korando Sports