Category Archives: Manufacturer

SsangYong, SUV

SsangYong leaps ahead with Korando

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The SsangYong Koran

SsangYong Korando

By Bill McCarthy

SsangYong is not a name that readily trips off the lips. “I thought they made TVs”, said one wag. But their models, a bit like those other Koreans Hyundai and Kia of a few years ago, are beginning to make people sit up and take notice.

That’s not strictly true, people did sit up and take notice a few years ago when some of their early, weirdly designed models were spotted on the roads, but now they stand comparison, in design terms, with anything of their type on the road.

They also have ultra-competitive price tags and a market-leading seven-year, 150,000-mile warranty.

The latest  Korando is a C-segment SUV and is a big car that has been around since 1983 and is now in its fourth generation.

The latest incarnation has come on leaps and bounds, with eye-catching design, a powerful, robust profile and an upmarket feel to the interior, more akin to executive models.

It also features classy, soft-touch finish and a raft of technological aids including a comprehensive list of safety equipment. Add to this huge practicality and the option of four-wheel drive and a towing capacity of two tonnes and it’s quite a package for the money.

The design features what the firm described as a birds wing grille, striking diamond cut alloys, integral roof bars, a colour-keyed bumper and rear spoiler, while rear skid plate lends the compact SUV an air of understated sportiness.

The inside of this range topper has a high-end feel with soft-touch finish to trim, leather effect heated, powered and ventilated front seats. It also features what the firm describes as a fully digital ‘BlazeCockpit’ interface and driver assistance technologies, which includes a wrap-around dashboard with a 10.25-inch full digital cluster and nine-inch AVN unit with a colour choice of 34 mood lighting options.

The car seats five comfortably, with plenty of legroom and the versatility that you would expect from a modern SUV, with a load space of up to 1248 litres space via the 60/40 split rear seats and various other stowage areas. 

Standard kit includes a climate control system, heated steering wheel with tilt, rake and reach a host of electronic aids.

Engine choices will not keep you awake at night with a 1.5-litre petrol and 1.6-litre diesel available, but there are four trim levels to choose from, ELX, Ventura and Pioneer as well as the Ultimate driven here.

This model features the 1.5 GDI-turbo petrol engine which develops 163PS. That propels the car to 60 seconds in a decent 12 seconds, but  economy is not that great and I struggled to get near the official 35.8mpg figure. Emissions are high as well.

While all-wheel drive is aailable, this front-wheel drive automatic version offers selectable drive modes. Normal mode is for day to day driving, sport mode delivers a more engaging drive, where the gear selector paddles can be used, and for inclement conditions, winter mode starts the car in second gear to prevent tyre slippage on icy roads. 

All models feature an advanced infotainment system that includes DAB radio, Bluetooth and MP3 connectivity, while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come with the middle and top specification models, as does a rearview reversing camera. Other features include remote power tailgate on top models and electronic parking brake on automatic variants.

The Korando is big on safety with six airbags on all models and various traction, stability and driver alert systems.

Factfile

SsangYong Korando 1.5 Ultimate Auto

Price: £28,345

Mechanical: 163ps, 1,497cc, four cylinder petrol engine driving front wheels via 6-speed automatic gearbox

Max speed: 117mph

0-60mph: 12.0 seconds

Combined mpg: 35.8

Insurance group: 24

CO2 emissions: 180g/km

Warranty: 7yrs/150,000 miles

Audi, Executive, Sports and coupe

Firing up the diesel Audi

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Audi A5 Sportback

By Bill McCarthy

Firing up the Audi, (or Quattro in the case of TV detective Gene Hunt in Life on Mars), is with the press of a button these days,

So if not quite firing up the Quattro, when this Audi fired up I had to double check it was a diesel.

Diesels have had a bit of kicking in the last few years, but are still being produced by executive brands like Audi.

Almost entirely lacking in diesel clatter, but delivering in spades when it comes to economy and low CO2 emissions, they are still a serious option, certainly until 2030 when new sales are due to be phased out. That doesn’t mean you won’t be able to drive them after 2030, however, so they are still a longer term option.

The A5 has been around a few years now, a smart, coupe-Like design, disguising loads of space and challenging anything on the road for style.

When it looks that good, revisions need to be subtle and the latest incarnation still features the low, almost predatory stance of the car, but now has a honeycomb grille that is wider and flatter, and ventilation slits which reference, says Audi, the classic Audi Sport quattro from 1984.

Headlights with LED technology come as standard, with Matrix LED headlights available from S line.

The interior is real premium quality with high-end soft-touch finish, paint black inlays with contrasting brushed aluminium trim and leather seats which feature the S-line ’S’ embossed into the head restraint.

It features the 12.3-inch cockpit-style dash, which is customisable via the multi-function steering wheel to three different views while the centrepiece is the touchscreen, which controls major functions like music, navigation and connectivity via smartphone.

In fact, the steering wheel controls have largely replaced the MMI dial on the central console, operating a number of functions.

Also Audi connect infotainment services deliver numerous web-based features such as up-to-the-minute news, Google Earth mapping and Street View and flight, weather, traffic and fuel pricing information.

It is well equipped, with the S Line version offering 19in alloy wheels, Matrix LED headlights, privacy glass,  and stiffer, lowered suspension.

On the road, the car is a very able performer. The 163PS on tap from the two-litre unit propels the car to 60mph in a very respectable eight seconds, as it slips seamlessly through the seven-speed auto transmission.

The suspension in all A5 models has been tuned with an underlying emphasis on comfort but also an appropriately sporting bias, which delivers a thoroughly enjoyable driving experience, especially on tight, twisting roads. It is pretty frugal as well, with a real-world economy of around 50mpg.

It may look like a coupe, but there is still a generous amount of storage space, with 465 litres available which expands to a pretty cavernous, for the type of car, 1,300 litres with the rear seats folded.

In typical Audi style, it also boasts the latest hi-tech safety kit, from full suite of airbags to stability control, parking sensors, daytime running lights, assisted braking and pre-collision mitigation.

Quiet, powerful and frugal, the diesel is still a player.

Factfile

Audi A5 Sportback 35 TDI S tronic (163PS)

Price: £45,599

Mechanical: 163PS, 1968cc, 4-cylinder diesel engine driving front wheel via 7-speed S tronic auto transmission

Max Speed: 130mph

0-62mph: 8.2 seconds

Combined MPG: 51.4

Insurance Group: TBC

C02 emissions: 144g/km

Warranty: 3yrs/60,000 miles