SsangYong Korando

Averaged

Does anybody have any experience with the SsangYong Korando?

We're looking for something big enough to lug around three teenagers and assorted luggage, and want to buy nearly new then keep for 7 - 10 years. Budget is £12.5k cash, and top of the shortlist at the moment is an Octavia estate (would really like the Superb estate as the Octavia doesn't have loads of room once you put the kids in the back, but hard to find and outside our budget really).

The garage down the road has just started selling SsangYong (which I must admit i'd never heard of before!) and when we popped in to look at what's on the forecourt we saw the Korando. It wasn't the type of car we were originally thinking of, but it seems to have loads of space, reasonable kit, and a 2015 SE 2.0 TDI model demonstrator comes just within our budget.

There's not much online about them, although reviews seem to be much as i'd expect, e.g.

What Car? say 3 stars



The Ssangyong Korando is roomy, practical and comparatively cheap. Many of its competitors are far better to drive, although some buyers will consider its budget price enough to compensate for that.

http://www.whatcar.com/car-reviews/ssangyong/korando-crossover/summary/26016-5/

Wouldn't expect five stars for a budget Korean car and would accept the fact that it's not a terrific drive as long as it's solid, reliable, and reasonably economical - a big load-lugger's never going to be really cheap. Will test drive today, but looking for any experience as there seems almost nothing about running costs, service/spares, and what long-term ownership is likely to be like.

vikingaero

Steve Cropley, the editor of Autocar magazine ran one for a while and was impressed with it. It's not sexy but competent.

Long term ownership is a fraught question. They sell in low numbers and parts would normally be expensive because of the low volume. Support could also be limited.

I would err towards the Octavia for long term ownership.

colino

If it is a free gift, consider it. If not, don't even think about it.

RichardD1970

colino wrote: »

If it is a free gift, consider it. If not, don't even think about it.

Care to elaborate?

colino

Sit in one and be amazed that there are vehicles with quality from the 70's and that make Dacia look upmarket. They are now giving them long warranties, basically begging people that they are almost OK and the problems you will have, and you will, will be taken care of. A friend bought one brand new as a tow car for his daughter (to tow her horse-box, not her) and it ran badly from day one and spent more time in the garage than it did in their hands. After 10 weeks of it not running properly, trim falling off and a complete loss of faith in the new car, it was rejected. Surprisingly it was not the battle expected and it now is back in the garage being sold as a Managers car.
If you are desperate for a new car, make them an offer, they certainly can't achieve their list prices and be content with the facelift that makes it look better, has lots of modern toys, but really is a relic that has no place in the modern market. You'll need the long warranty and run it into the ground, it will be unsellable as a second hand, out of warranty jeep. On second thoughts, don't consider it, there are plenty of new and nearly new, better alternatives.

RichardD1970

colino wrote: »

Sit in one and be amazed that there are vehicles with quality from the 70's and that make Dacia look upmarket. They are now giving them long warranties, basically begging people that they are almost OK and the problems you will have, and you will, will be taken care of. A friend bought one brand new as a tow car for his daughter (to tow her horse-box, not her) and it ran badly from day one and spent more time in the garage than it did in their hands. After 10 weeks of it not running properly, trim falling off and a complete loss of faith in the new car, it was rejected. Surprisingly it was not the battle expected and it now is back in the garage being sold as a Managers car.
If you are desperate for a new car, make them an offer, they certainly can't achieve their list prices and be content with the facelift that makes it look better, has lots of modern toys, but really is a relic that has no place in the modern market. You'll need the long warranty and run it into the ground, it will be unsellable as a second hand, out of warranty jeep. On second thoughts, don't consider it, there are plenty of new and nearly new, better alternatives.

Thank you, that is a little bit more helpful for the OP rather than just don't do it.

patman99

Ssangyong are Korea's longest-running car maker, so can't be all bad.

They also use Mercedes diesel engines, so engine parts are easy to obtain.

They are very economical (but them no vehicle in this class is).

Have you considered a Dacia ?. The Logan and Duster are large vehicles.

Averaged

Thank you for the thoughts. After driving it, i'd say it isn't awful - there is loads of space, seating position is good, and it's comfortable in the back for passengers. Engine seemed ok overall when in the right rev range and would imagine it's a good car for towing on the motorway. But it's far from great to drive, especially on country lanes, quite noisy, engine seems to have lots of lag, and overall felt fairly basic.

So to cut a long story short I have a '14 plate Octavia 1.4TSI elegance turning up next Saturday - a year and 12000 miles older than the SsangYong, but pretty much all the kit you can dream of and a much better car

loskie

a very different car that to compare the two would be unreasonable

motorguy

loskie wrote: »

a very different car that to compare the two would be unreasonable

He didnt ask for a comparison, he asked for opinions and views on the Ssangyong?

bigjl

Ssanyongs are pretty popular in Ghana as they import them from South Korea.

Wife's cousin has a Rexton but with the old 2.9d engine so it is pretty slow.

There are also a few of the old Mussos kicking about, you used to be able to buy brand new Musso a few years ago though not sure about now.

If you can get past the less than brilliant interior quality then I suspect they would last fairly well.

As long as you avoid one with issues as mentioned above.

Every manufacturer does occasion sell a dud.