There is nothing new about taking the back seats out of a small SUV to create a 4×4 van. However most manufacturers start the process with a very expensive car, which can result in a costly compact van. SsangYong’s Korando CSX commercial will set you back just £15,995 plus VAT, and unlike the firm’s Korando Sport pick-up, you will be able to reclaim the VAT on the van. For that you get a smart all-wheel drive LCV capable of carrying a 433kg payload or towing a 2,000kg trailer.
The conversion follows the usual format – the rear seats are gone, replaced by a flat cargo platform with a half-height steel bulkhead and mesh upper section. That bulkhead is a £345 option but is a box that we would certainly tick for occupant safety.
That said, the bulkhead could have been fitted much closer to the front seats, increasing the load volume considerably, without restricting legroom for taller drivers. As it is, you could easily keep coats and soft bags behindthe seats, but out of the load area.
The CSX is powered by a 2.0-litre Euro5 diesel, delivering a healthy 149hp, backed up by a strong 360Nm of torque. SsangYong claims up to 45.6mpg is achievable, and we had no trouble hitting 42mpg in mixed driving. Emissions are pegged at 157g/km of CO2. Most of the time the Korando is front-wheeldrive. If the wheel sensors detect slip, they will automatically pull the rear wheels into action, without the driver needing to do anything.
However if you know that things are going to get slippery, there is a lock button that will continuously split the drive equally between front and rear wheels. The CSX also comes with Hill Start Assist and ESC with active rollover protection.
Based on the SX trim level, the Korando comes with manual air conditioning, a leather steering wheel and gear lever covering, 16” alloys, roof rails and rear parking sensors. You also get electric windows and mirrors, cruise control and steering wheel-mounted audio controls. The £999 Kenwood touch-screen sat-nav with Bluetooth is an option.
The compact Korando drives very well, with remarkably strong performance from the 2.0- litre engine. It is quiet and comfortable, with light controls. There is a bit of body roll, but the CSX holds the road well and coped with the UK’s continuing winter weather.
If you have plenty of miles to cover between construction sites or other off-road destinations, it’s a far more comfortable option than many of its 4×4 commercial rivals. Certainly the SsangYong is a more comfortable ride than most 4×4 pick-ups.
Off-road performance is equally impressive, and should be more than enough for the majority of users. It’s no Defender of course, but the compact SsangYong can handle wet and muddy conditions, as well as snow, with ease. Service intervals for the Korando are set at 12,500 miles or annually, while the van sits in a relatively low insurance group, 7E. The CSX gets SsangYong’s five-year, limitless mileage warranty for total peace of mind.
The 4×4 light commercial market is relatively small, with the likes of Land Rover’s Defender and Mitsubishi’s Shogun and Outlander commercials among the front-runners. But all those vehicles start at well over £20,000 and will incur much higher running costs than the compact SsangYong.
Verdict
If you need an LCV with on-road manners and occasional off-road performance, the Korando CSX delivers, with an attractive price and appealing interior.
Specification
MODEL SsangYong Korando SX
BASIC PRICE £15,995
ENGINE 4-cyl/1,998cc
FUEL INJECTION Common-rail
POWER 149hp @ 4,000rpm
TORQUE 360Nm @ 2,000 – 3,000rpm
GVW 2,180kg
KERB WEIGHT 1,747kg
PAYLOAD 433kg
MAX TRAILER WEIGHT 2,000kg
LOAD SPACE LENGTH 1,525mm
LOAD SPACE WIDTH 1,350mm
LOAD SPACE HEIGHT 900mm
LOAD HEIGHT (unladen) 760mm
LOAD VOLUME 1.31m3
Cost considerations
FUEL TANK CAPACITY 57 litres
COMBINED MPG 45.6mpg
CO2 EMISSIONS 157g/km
OIL CHANGE 1 yr/12,500 miles
WARRANTY 5 yr/limitless miles