A couple of years ago, SsangYong Motor Company changed its name to KG Mobility as part of a re-brand of the business, following its takeover by South Korea’s KG Group. Distributed here by KGM Ireland, the once budget-brand has now set its sights on mingling with the upper echelons of the SUV market, with the launch of the fully-electric KGM Torres EVX. With a starting price tag of €51,000 (before gov incentives), the Torres EVX certainly presents itself as premium, but does it offer the package to match?
This SUV sits on BYD’s 73.4kWh lithium iron phosphate blade battery, returning around 450km from a full charge and achieving an output of 339 Nm torque and 204bhp to power a single electric motor. A quick glance at the EVX and you would think it is a 4×4, but it’s only offered in front-wheel drive.
Despite the baltic weather of late, the Torres EVX still put up impressive charging speeds, consistently pulling in around 90-100kW from public DC chargers. New technology on the BYD battery known as ‘cell to pack’ mounts the rectangular shaped blade cells directly into the battery to give higher energy efficiency. Max charging speed is 152.2kW, getting you from 10-80 per cent in under half an hour.
When stopped at a public EV charge point with the Torres EVX, one onlooker curiously approached me to ask: “What is that?”, which was mainly due to the rugged, yet attractive, front end having no badging. Styling is a huge step up from the Ssangyong Rexton and Rodius that most readers will remember from the noughties. The Torres EVX has a modern and distinctive silhouette, with horizontal LED daytime running lights adding to the appeal. Ride height and overall visibility are impressive. Towing capacity is 1,500kg.
The Torres EVX has an inviting and well laid out interior, providing a sleek and spacious environment. Of note is a 12.3-inch digital interface with Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto, ample space across the doorbins, glovebox and under the centre console, as well as a heated steering wheel and leather seats. Boot space is 703-litres increasing to 1,662-litres. Here you’ll also find a vehicle-to-load (V2L) connector which provides power for outdoor appliances straight from the car’s battery.
Some negatives would be the lack of physical buttons on the dash, meaning more time spent looking away from the road, and an extremely annoying speed warning that triggers should you exceed the limit by even 1km/h. Lane assist can also be too intrusive on back roads.
The KGM Torres EVX is a surprise SUV package and feels purpose built for Irish roads. A small dealer network may hamper sales, but this strangely likable car is most definitely worth a look.
