2025 KGM Ssangyong Torres to launch in October

AFTER a turbulent period of takeovers, failed acquisitions and heavy debt, the South Korean automaker Ssangyong has rebranded itself to KGM Ssangyong in Australia as it prepares to launch its all-new Torres midsize SUV, more than two years after it was revealed overseas.

Due to commence deliveries in October, the Torres launches with an opening price of $38,000 for the front-wheel drive Torres ELX, and is offered in a three-tiered range that tops out at $47,000 for the Torres Ultimate AWD. In the middle lies the $43,000 Torres Adventure which, like the ELX, is only offered in front-drive form.

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With chunky styling and plenty of offroad-ish design cues packed into its 4.7-metre long body, the Torres occupies a longer and wider footprint than many of its rivals, including the segment dominating Toyota RAV4, the Subaru Forester and Nissan X-Trail. Only the Mitsubishi Outlander is longer, and even then only by less than a centimetre.

But while it can boast a size advantage, there’s not much in the way of powertrain diversity just yet. No matter what trim level or driveline, all Torres variants are powered by the same 1.5-litre turbo petrol four-cylinder, producing 120kW and 280 and taking power to the front or all four wheels via a six-speed Aisin automatic with paddle shifters.

Unlike more rugged KGM Ssangyong models like the Musso ute and Rexton large SUV, the Torres forgoes a body-on-frame construction in favour of a more carlike unibody architecture, per the segment norm. That said, KGM Ssangyong does equip the AWD Torres Ultimate with a couple of offroad-lite features, with an AWD lock mode that sends an equal amount of torque to all four wheels in slippery situations, and the ability to ford water to a depth of 300mm.

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Fuel economy is a claimed 7.2L/100km on the combined cycle for the FWD ELX and Adventure, or 7.9L/100km for the AWD Ultimate. Too thirsty or dirty for your liking? The all-electric Torres EVX will make it to our shores before the end of 2024, toting a 73.4kWh battery and a maximum range of 462km on a single charge. The EVX will be powered by a 152kW/339Nm electric motor, however will be strictly a front-wheel drive proposition.

The base Torres ELX’s equipment list includes a twin 12.3-inch infotainment/instrument panel arrangement, dual-zone climate control, LED headlamps with LED daytime running lamps, a rear view camera, heated and power folding wing mirrors, privacy glass, 18-inch alloy wheels, an electronic parking brake and front and rear parking sensors.

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The Adventure builds on the above, with a powered tailgate, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, faux leather upholstery, LED foglamps, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and tyre pressure monitors.

Moving up into the range-topping Ultimate brings the aforementioned all-wheel drive system, a 360-degree parking camera, adaptive cruise control, a power sunroof, actual leather upholstery, eight-way power adjustable front seats with ventilation (and with lumbar adjustment for the driver), heated outer rear seats, and 20-inch alloy wheels.

2025 KGM Ssangyong Torres pricing

The Torres is covered by KGM Ssangyong’s 7-year, unlimited-kilometre factory warranty, with servicing pricing still to be announced.

• KGM Ssangyong Torres ELX FWD - $38,000
• KGM Ssangyong Torres Adventure FWD - $43,000
• KGM Ssangyong Torres Ultimate AWD - $47,000

Options:

• Metallic paint - $595