IT might spark a bit of a love-hate ‘marmite’ moment, but there’s no denying the KGM Torres gets people talking.

Park it in the golf club car park and pretty soon you can see the surreptitious glances and before long there are people sidling up to take a closer look.

Its presence can’t help spark comment – some good, some not so – but what can’t be denied is the fact it offers a lot of car for not a lot of money.It’s a car of illusions. Yes, there is a beefy looking handle on the back that hints the rear tailgate opens from right to left but in fact it’s electrically operated and opens just as any other tailgate does. And the handles on both sides of the rear edge of the bonnet are not to lift it up – they serve no discernible purpose and are merely cosmetic.

But be under no illusion the Torres lacks substance. In K40 trim here at £38,080 (prices start around £35,000 for the K30 and there’s also a 4×4 variant available) you get premium leather seats that are electrically adjustable and ventilated too; dual zone air con; a 12.3 inch instrument cluster and a 12.3 inch smart screen that sweep across the dash and curve towards the driver; privacy glass; 20 inch diamond cut alloys; full LED headlights; and a raft of up to the minute smart safety features – lots of beeps and buzzes to keep you alert. There’s a lot of car for the money.
The interior has a dark roof lining but the ambiance of the large cabin is lifted a bit by the copper coloured finishing across the dashboard and the neat stitching across the dash.

Under the big bonnet the power comes from a 1.5 litre petrol engine, linked to a six speed automatic gearbox. With a kerbweight of 1528kgs that might on the face of it sound potentially wheezy, but Torres is surprisingly responsive off the mark and the gearbox makes shifts that won’t upset the comfort of those aboard.

Overall noise levels are well subdued even with big wheels at each corner and it romps along at a decent pace on motorways. And to be honest it’s just as accomplished on country roads too.
KGM UK managing director Kevin Griffin says Torres is the first model to reinterpret their future design vision, filling a gap between semi/medium sized SUVs like their Korando and large SUVs in the  Rexton mould.

KGM Global (formerly SsangYong Motor Company) specialises in 4x4s, SUVs, MPVs and pick- up trucks. Initially established in 1954, the company produced trucks, buses, and special purpose vehicles for the export market.

The headquarters for KG Mobility is in the Gangnam district of Korea’s capital, Seoul, and its principal vehicle manufacturing plant is currently at Pyungtaek, which has the capacity and latest technology to produce 240,000 cars a year. There’s an 80 strong dealer network in the UK so tracking one down shouldn’t be too difficult.

KGM Torres K40 1.5 ICE

Price: £38,080
Engine: 1.5 litre, four cylinder, petrol
Power: 161bhp
Torque: 207lb/ft
Transmission: six speed automatic
Top speed: 118mph
0-62mph: 10.8 seconds
Economy: 33.2mpg
CO2 emissions: 194g/km

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