Ssangyong Korando E-Motion 2023 long-term test

This means I will from now on avoid the most aggressive of the four driving modes, which are named Eco, Eco Plus, Comfort and Sport.

Charging capabilities aren’t spectacular: the Korando E-motion can accept rates of up to 100kW, which should get it from 0-80% in around 33 minutes, and on a 7kW home charger expect an 11-hour charge time from empty to 100%.

Pricing is fairly attractive, starting at £32,695 for VLX trim. That puts the Korando E-motion a smidge above the Mazda MX-30 (from £31,250 but with a dismally short range of 125 miles), although it’s eclipsed by the trio of big-selling affordable electric cars from MG, most troublingly the similarly sized ZS EV crossover.

Equipment is where the Korando excels, though. Even the entry-level car is fitted with automatic wipers, a 12.3in digital instrument display, a reversing camera, dual-zone climate control and cruise control, while mid-range Ventura trim adds LED headlights, heated front seats, a 9.0in touchscreen infotainment system and sat-nav.

Our car is a range-topping Ultimate, which is priced almost the same as the Volkswagen ID 4 in its most basic form, at £38,695. Yikes: suddenly this Ssangyong doesn’t seem so cheap, after all.

Still, it gets even more standard equipment thrown in, including heated and ventilated front and rear seats with electric adjustment, a powered tailgate, wireless smartphone charging, front and rear parking sensors, privacy glass, a heated steering wheel and a heat pump for improved efficiency.

You might have some concerns about material quality, going by Ssangyong’s value shtick, but everything about this car as far as the interior is concerned right now strikes me as quite impressive.

The driver’s seat, while firm, is endlessly adjustable, while the leather steering wheel feels plush. Soft-touch materials dominate the cabin, with little gloss plastic to be seen. And the dial display is very clear and offers several customisable presentations

What’s more, there isn’t a single touchpad to be found – a relief for this former Volkswagen EV custodian. Instead, everything is controllable via buttons, either on the centre console or on the steering wheel. These even extend to features like the lane-keeping assistance, which can be switched off with one press of a button just to the right behind the wheel, instead of after a trawl through endless menus. The second row is also good enough, with room for three people to sit comfortably. Boot space stands at 551 litres, which roundly beats that of the ZS EV (470) and ID 4 (543).

First driving impressions are that the ride is soft and comfortable and that the motor delivers power smoothly enough. It’s not the most dynamic in the corners, but wouldn’t you know the sky is blue? What could prove more of an issue when travelling at higher speeds is the Korando’s drag coefficient of 0.36, rather higher than key EV rivals and something that could harm our chances of getting close to that 212-mile range.