[Test Drive] "Ssangyong Korando Gets Younger"... The Charm of Smart 'Infocon'

Spacious Interior with 10.25-Inch Digital Cluster and 9-Inch Large Screen Combination
'Infocon' Enables Remote Door Opening, Ignition, and Climate Control Operations

Respect Korando (Photo by Ssangyong Motor)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The Korando holds great significance for SsangYong Motor. Although the presence of the Tivoli and Rexton Sports has grown in recent years, the Korando has shaped the identity of the SsangYong brand for a much longer period. It is only natural that the industry’s expectations have focused on the new Korando, which was fully redesigned and launched early last year after eight years since the Korando C.

Since the launch of the new model, Korando’s monthly sales have hovered around 2,000 units. While this is a considerable figure compared to other SsangYong models, most evaluations suggest it has fallen short of initial expectations.

In response, SsangYong’s effort to enhance Korando’s appeal resulted in the ‘RE:SPEC Korando.’ The RE:SPEC Korando is characterized by the addition of the connected car service ‘Infocon,’ making it smarter. On the 19th of last month, we directly experienced the outcome of SsangYong’s efforts through a test drive. The test vehicle was the top trim C7 gasoline model.

The exterior gives the impression of an expanded version of the Tivoli, SsangYong’s flagship model. Due to its large body dimensions?length 4450 mm, width 1870 mm, height 1630 mm?it feels hefty at first glance but not crude.

The interior boasts spaciousness befitting a mid-size sport utility vehicle (SUV) highly suitable as a family car. The ample cabin space makes the interior layout feel somewhat sparse. The combination of a 10.25-inch full digital cluster and a 9-inch center display partially compensates for this shortcoming. The navigation system provided on the large display is intuitively designed to closely resemble real-world views, although the overly vivid color of the route guidance lines is a minor flaw.

Infocon (Photo by Ssangyong Motor)

The newly applied information system ‘Infocon’ allows control of the ignition, climate control, audio, and more via a smartphone. It also enables checking for abnormalities in key components. Particularly useful is the ability to remotely start the engine and activate the air conditioner before entering the vehicle. Additionally, various in-car functions, including navigation, can be easily operated by voice commands.

The test vehicle is equipped with a 1.5L turbo gasoline engine delivering a maximum output of 170 horsepower and peak torque of 28.6 kg·m. While it lacks some heaviness, it offers light driving without feeling underpowered even at high speeds. Both the accelerator and brake respond immediately to input, though personally, I found the brakes overly sensitive and needed some time to adapt. The cabin quietness is quite satisfactory.

The RE:SPEC Korando is also equipped with advanced vehicle control technology called Deep Control. This technology uses cameras and radar to detect the surroundings and automatically control the vehicle in dangerous situations. The core feature is Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control (IACC), which maintains a safe distance and speed relative to the vehicle ahead. SsangYong claims this achieves Level 2.5 autonomous driving.

Furthermore, SsangYong has applied features such as Lane Centering Assist (CLKA), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Front Vehicle Start Alert (FVSA), and Safe Distance Alert (SDA) as standard from the entry-level RE:SPEC Korando model.

SsangYong has priced the RE:SPEC Korando competitively in the 20 million KRW range. The gasoline model ranges from 21.97 million to 28.31 million KRW, with the diesel model priced 1.63 million KRW higher per trim.