[Taboleo] Torres EVX, Affordable Price and Bold Battery Warranty

Torres EVX, KG Mobility's First New Car After Name Change
10 Years·1 Million km Warranty, Confidence in LFP Battery
Targeting Mid-Size Electric SUV Market with Cost-Effectiveness Strategy
Purchasable in 30 Million KRW Range with Subsidies
Spacious Interior and Fully Loaded Basic Options

When we buy products, we consider various factors. Design, performance, brand, after-sales service (AS), and price are all important elements. Among these, the most crucial is the balance between performance and price. This is what we commonly refer to as cost-effectiveness (performance relative to price). In household expenses, cars account for the second largest portion after housing. Therefore, price sensitivity is also high. Especially for electric vehicles, which are more expensive than internal combustion engine vehicles, price has an absolute impact on sales.

KG Mobility cleverly penetrated the niche of the domestic electric sports utility vehicle (SUV) market by adopting a 'cost-effectiveness' strategy. KG Mobility is the new name of SsangYong Motor, which pioneered the market with traditional SUVs like Musso and Korando. After the name change, their first new car is the mid-size electric SUV, Torres EVX. To create a cost-effective electric SUV, KG Mobility chose to equip it with a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. On the 7th, we test-drove the Torres EVX and directly tested its driving and battery performance. The test drive route was about 60 km from Yeongdeungpo Times Square to Yeongjongdo.

- What was your first impression of the Torres EVX?

▲ At first glance, it gave a strong and tough impression. Not a bulky muscular look, but rather a simple and solid appearance. The first thing that caught my eye was the horizontal LED daytime running lights (DRL), which emphasized the futuristic feel of an electric vehicle. Particularly impressive in the exterior design was the rear part. The rear features a hexagonal garnish design that gives the impression of a spare tire being attached. Traditional SUVs that frequently drive off-road often have a spare tire mounted on the rear. Actually attaching a tire would involve considering factors like the weight of the trunk door and cost. KG Mobility cleverly turned this into a design element.

- How was the actual driving experience of the Torres EVX equipped with an LFP battery?

▲ The driving performance on regular roads was sufficient. Acceleration and braking performance were good, and cornering and handling abilities were decent. It seems adequate for use as a family car in daily life. The Torres EVX is equipped with a 73.4 kWh LFP battery. The electric motor’s maximum output is 152.2 kW (207 horsepower), and maximum torque is 34.6 kgf·m. The driving range per charge is 433 km, and the official combined energy efficiency is 5 km/kWh (based on 18-inch wheels).

The LFP battery installed in the Torres EVX was made by China’s BYD. LFP batteries have the advantage of being highly durable due to their resistance to external shocks and low fire risk. However, their energy density is low, resulting in a shorter driving range. To compensate for this, BYD utilized the 'cell to pack' manufacturing method. Typically, batteries are made in the order of cell-module-pack. Cells, the smallest basic units, are combined into modules, and multiple modules are combined with a battery management system (BMS) to form a pack. BYD eliminates the intermediate module step and makes the battery directly from cells to pack. This allows more cells to be packed per unit area, extending the possible driving range.

BYD's Blade Battery installed in the Torres EVX
[Photo by BYD]

The Torres EVX’s single-charge driving range of 433 km is comparable to competing models with lithium-ion batteries, such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 (456 km) and Kia EV6 (475 km). Achieving this range with an LFP battery is an innovative feat. Moreover, KG Mobility has set the battery warranty period at 10 years or 1 million kilometers. Compared to competitors’ battery warranties of about 10 years or 160,000 km, this shows tremendous confidence.

- I often go camping and do outdoor activities with my family. How suitable is the Torres EVX as a family car?

▲ The Torres EVX is a mid-size SUV with a spacious interior. Especially, the trunk capacity is 839 liters, the largest among comparable models. Folding down the second-row seats expands the capacity to 1662 liters, making it useful for camping or car camping. Additionally, it features a V2L (vehicle-to-load) function that allows the electric vehicle battery power to be used externally. This enables long-term use of electric appliances like electric heaters, beam projectors, and electric mats outdoors. It can be used until the battery capacity drops to 20%. Also, the vehicle’s ground clearance is 175 mm, which is higher than comparable vehicles. This allows it to drive smoothly on rough, unpaved roads.

- How are the convenience features and infotainment system?

▲ The convenience features were satisfactory. Basic features such as emergency braking that warns of collision risks at intersections, adaptive cruise control that maintains a safe distance from the vehicle ahead, blind-spot collision warning that detects and alerts of vehicles approaching from behind during lane changes, and lane-keeping assist that keeps the vehicle centered in the lane were all equipped. However, the automatic lane change function on highways was somewhat disappointing. Even when a vehicle was approaching from far behind, the Torres EVX hesitated to change lanes. While it is good to have conservative settings for safety, I wondered whether this feature could be effectively used on Korea’s highways, where high-speed traffic is common.

- Since it’s a cost-effective electric vehicle, I’m most curious about the price.

▲ The price competitiveness of the Torres EVX is clearly evident when compared to competing models in the same class. The Torres EVX’s main competitors in the mid-size electric SUV segment are the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6. The Torres EVX lowered its price by up to 2 million KRW from the pre-order price, with the E5 trim starting at 47.5 million KRW. Considering that the Ioniq 5 starts at 50.5 million KRW and the EV6 at 48.7 million KRW (prices after tax benefits), it is competitive. Including subsidies, the prices in Seoul are approximately 38 million KRW for the Torres EVX, 41 million KRW for the Ioniq 5, and 39 million KRW for the EV6.

This aggressive pricing strategy shows KG Mobility’s intention to gain an advantage in price. It will be interesting to see whether this cost-effectiveness strategy will succeed in the electric vehicle market.