There is a new kid on the block from a brand you probably forgot exists in the Aussie market. KGM SsangYong (formerly SsangYong) has actually built a lengthy history on our shores since it first released the quirky-looking Musso SUV in 1997. It is also South Korea’s oldest car company, established in 1953, well before Hyundai and Kia.
After some years of slow sales, acquisitions and a big investment from its majority owner, KG Group, KGM SsangYong is keen to grow its market share with the introduction of some new models. One of them is a medium SUV called the Torres.
Thus far, sales are slow, with just 196 units sold since its release and over the four months from October, 2024 to January 2025, according to VFACTS. With those numbers, you might not have seen one on our roads yet. But don’t worry, we have the full breakdown here after spending some weeks, 2000km, and 40 hours in the Adventure and Ultimate variants.
2025 KGM SsangYong Torres Adventure: Specifications
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder
Output: 120kW@5000-5500rpm / 280Nm@1500-4000rpm
Gearbox: Six-speed auto
Drive type: Front-wheel drive
Wheels: F & R: 18×6.5, 235/55
ANCAP: Not tested
Tare weight: 1502kg
Power-to-weight: 12.51:1 (kg:kW)
Official consumption: 7.4L/100km
Our consumption: 9.1L/100km
Fuel tank/Fuel type: 50L/91 RONPower efficiency: 16.21kW:L/100km
0-60km/h: 4.42 seconds*
0-100km/h: 9.46 seconds*
60-110km/h: 6.70 seconds*
1/4 mile: 16.90 seconds at 137.5km/h*
Max acceleration: 0.630g*
100-0km/h braking: 43.13m in 3.33 seconds*
Max deceleration: -1.025g*
Decibel at idle: 44*
Peak decibel at 60-100km/h: 77*
Starting price: $43,000
*Figures as tested by Driving Enthusiast on the day. Manufacturers’ claims may be different
2025 KGM SsangYong Torres: How much does it cost?
Entering the market with a starting price of $38,000 is the front-wheel drive Torres ELX. Next in line is the Adventure from $43,000, and then the top-spec Ultimate which adds all-wheel drive, priced from $47,000 (all drive-away).
It’s a tough gig in the medium SUV market. The Torres is up against popular strongholds. But, it does undercut the prices of many competitors, like the Hyundai Tucson, Honda ZR-V, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4, Subaru Forester, and the Volkswagen Tiguan. Some of those do offer more features than the Torres, and some are hybrids, which often increases the ticket price but reduces long-term running costs.
Alternatively, looking at the entry spec Torres ELX, the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro, GWM Haval H6, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5, and the MG HS all offer cheaper base models as well.
One important aspect to add to the cost comparison is warranty and servicing. KGM SsangYong is above the industry standard here, offering a seven-year, unlimited kilometre warranty and five years of free road-side assistance.
Servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, and is advertised to alternate between two set prices of $338 and $442 for the first seven services. At the time of writing in February 2025, there is a deal offering three years of free services.
2025 KGM SsangYong Torres: Interior & packaging
Presentation is always the first aspect you notice when settling into the driver’s seat of a new car. And first impressions here are neat and stylish. Surfaces look and feel strong, with a clean and interesting design. It’s a fresh decor, with bronze panels to break up the grey, some soft-touch leather-look materials, and contrasting stitching around the borders. The huge screen duo also brings in a modern flair.
Marketed with a practical and rugged edge, the Torres stands out with handy use of the space. There is a huge void under a floating centre console that gives you a space to store larger items, a small shelf on the lower dash, and some more holes to hold your belongings in place around the slide-button gear selector (no bulky gear shifter here).
Uniquely, you get divided door pockets that can hold multiple bottles, tablet holders in the back of the front seat head rests, and the seat pockets on the front of the back seats also score a smaller pocket on top. But oddly, there is no wireless phone charging pad.
In terms of actual space around you, there is ample legroom, headroom and shoulder space for five adults. It easily fits into the category of SUV that is big enough to travel long trips in comfort. Rear passengers are accommodated with their own air vent supply and two USB-C ports.
Further back, the boot space is generous, offering 465 litres or 1526 litres when the rear seats are folded down. Though, there are larger boots in this category if size here is important to you. The boot floor appears fairly wide as the walls mould around the wheel arches. We also like the handy troughs behind the wheel arches that hold smaller items in place, and the removable and retractable privacy blind at headrest level.
But when you look deeper and start to use the Torres, you realise KGM SsangYong has missed the mark on some basic features and functions that we now expect from vehicles in all segments. First up, the screens. Yes, they present stunningly in clarity and size – 12.3-inches for both the touch-screen and the instrument cluster. But the content they show is sadly not up to scratch. There is no digital radio, no radio text, no wireless app connection, and reception – even on popular FM stations in the city – is weak. We also found that the infotainment system takes an eternity to boot up, which is a bit annoying when you’re hopping in and out of the car regularly.
Looking through what is a beefy feature-listing on the rest of the Torres, it’s a strange juxtaposition against the fundamental misses mentioned above. The Torres Ultimate scores surprising items like a power tailgate with smart auto-opening and closing, tyre pressure monitoring, heated front and rear outer seats, a power sunroof, electric and ventilated front seats, 3D 360-degree camera view, and a heated leather steering wheel.
Blind-spot warning, lane-change collision warning, rear cross-traffic warning, adaptive cruise, and centre lane keeping assist are standard, however, ANCAP hasn’t yet tested the Torres to provide a safety rating.
Judging the exterior design, its rather quirky – in line with SsangYong’s characteristics historically. You can see that the brand was trying hard to make the Torres appear rugged. There are chunky silver handles on the bonnet that don’t really have a practical use, a random bulge on the tailgate to imitate the look of a spare wheel on the back, and an almost Jeep-like six prong front grille design where the lights are set in closer together.
The contrasting black and silver centre bumper section, black front and rear pillars that give a floating roof appearance, wide silver C-pillars, built-in roof racks, and black lower surrounds all add to its robust presence. It’s looks interesting and unique, with a rugged edge.
2025 KGM SsangYong Torres: Powertrain & handling
Powering the South Korean-built Torres is a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine that produces 120kW and 280Nm. It’s a peppy engine that pulls away with a solid amount of torque behind it from a low 1500rpm. From a standstill, it seems it’s been calibrated with a touchy throttle in first gear, as it can throw you back on initial take off. Our testing of the Adventure shows it can get from 0-100km/h in 9.46 seconds. The figures are decent for a tiny engine like this. But you can’t help but think how much strain it is under when you look at the fuel usage.
Officially, the mid-sizer burns an average of 7.4L/100km in FWD form, and 7.9L/100km in top-spec AWD form. Over 1500km of testing through city and highway speeds in the AWD, we averaged a disappointing 9.5L/100km. Factor in its small 50-litre tank, and you’ll find yourself pulling into petrol stations more often than you might like.
The Torres can drink anything from 91 RON/E10, but it does recommend a minimum of 95 RON, which only adds to the cost further. To some credit, the Torres Ultimate is the only variant to come with 4×4 on-demand, which adds a little to the fuel bill. We averaged 9.1L/100km in the FWD Adventure.
That 4×4 on-demand is channelled through a six-speed conventional automatic transmission. Thankfully, no buzzy CVT autos here. Gear changes are quick and smooth. You can also toggle between Sport and Winter driving modes, and an AWD lock button in the Ultimate which boosts traction on slippery terrains by forcing power to all four wheels. But even though its external appearance makes it look otherwise, it’s not built for serious trails. If you’re looking to take part in hardcore off-roading there are more suitable options.
On the road, however, the Torres Ultimate conducts itself in a surprisingly nimble fashion. The steering is light, making it easy to shift around bends and squeeze into parking spaces. Despite that light steering, the Torres doesn’t feel too disconnected from the road either. It maintains a realistic feel, giving you enough control to enjoy the drive without feeling like you’re sailing a boat.
Meanwhile, the suspension is on the stiffer side, providing solid support through corners and keeping body roll to a minimum. But while that stiffness is great for cornering, bigger bumps can cause a mild bounce that feels more jarring than comfortable. Fortunately, the ride inside remains quiet and composed, even when you’re navigating through bumpy roads.
2025 KGM SsangYong Torres: Key attractions/reasons to buy
- Competitive pricing: As far as top-spec models go, at $47,000, the Torres Ultimate undercuts popular rivals like the Hyundai Tucson and Mazda CX-5, representing decent value for money.
- Surprising interior features included: A power sunroof, 360-degree camera, heated and ventilated front seats, heated outer rear seats, and advanced driver aids make the Torres Ultimate feel premium at its price point.
- Practical and spacious cabin: The cabin is roomy with plenty of legroom, headroom, and shoulder space for five adults. It also includes thoughtful touches like a floating centre console, split door pockets, and tablet holders behind the front seats to enhance usability.
- Warranty: Seven years at unlimited kilometres provides decent assurance. And reasonably priced fixed-price servicing is available too.
2025 KGM SsangYong Torres: Key considerations before you buy
- Tech disappointments: The slow-booting infotainment system, lack of wireless phone charging, and missing wireless app connections and digital radio are a letdown.
- Poor fuel consumption: The 1.5-litre turbo drinks more fuel than anticipated, averaging over 9L/100km during our testing. Many rivals can better this, and some offer superior performance at the same time.
- Peculiar external design: Chunky silver ‘handles’ on the bonnet, a random bulge on the tailgate to imitate a spare wheel, and an almost Jeep-like front grille design all leave you intrigued. But this can be good as well.
- Brand history: SsangYong, now KGM SsangYong, doesn’t have the best reputation for longevity. It recently edged on bankruptcy, went through an acquisition that failed, and had to pay off a big court-ordered debt. There could be some trust concerns for some customers.
2025 KGM SsangYong Torres Adventure: Video
How does it rate against its rivals?
- Price
- Quality look & feel
- Interior tech
- Powertrain performance
- Ride & handling
- X factor (does it stand out in its class?)
Final word
The 2025 KGM SsangYong Torres offers good value in its class. It’s a brand outside the mainstream players, with a unique look and a practical interior, backed up by a class-leading warranty. Just be mindful of its thirsty fuel consumption and glossy infotainment screen that is missing wireless app connect and digital radio.
