KGM Torres EVX Review- A Refreshing Newcomer to the EV Market?

KGM’s all-new Torres can be had with electric propulsion, but is it any good?

Overview

The all-new Torres is an important car for KGM (formerly SsangYong) as it bolsters the company’s UK offerings sitting aside the brilliant Rexton, Musso, Korando, Tivoli and the newly released Actyon. It’s positioning within the lineup puts it above the Korando but below the all-singing, all-dancing Rexton.

So, with that in mind, the Torres needs to be good to earn its place, and the EV version needs to be bloody good to have a cemented slot for its future. Thankfully, we’ve had the EVX version to try out in all sorts of environments – and we mean all sorts!

So what we have is the top-spec, front-wheel drive only electric Torres K40. With that you get a whole host of safety features (more on that later), a redesigned front grille which favours a handsome light bar across the front, some large mono-block style alloys and a very, very nice interior.

The interior we’ll focus later on in the article, but at this stage, we’ll continue to talk about the outside. To put it bluntly, I think this is a bloody good looking car, I liked it when it was announced and when I first saw it, which surprisingly was when the lovely people at KGM dropped it off to me. That part did shock me, as I have seen just one Torres on the road that wasn’t this specific car.

It’s a brilliantly unapologetic hark back to proper, rugged, dependable 4x4s that gives you a sense of adventure. You want to pack this thing up and head somewhere off the beaten track just from looking at it. The design and cues taken are amazing, I wish more manufacturers were as bold as KGM when it comes to design rather than making everything look like a cloud.

Performance

We’ll start with the headline figures about this car, because this is not a car built for performance so this section may not be overly relevant. However, like me, you appreciate cars and therefore appreciate every performance aspect of every single car out there.

So, to kick off, we have a 152.2 kW motor which equates to around 204 bhp, this is aided by a fairly hefty 339 Nm of torque which propels the EVX from 0-60 in just under 8 seconds and on to a top speed of 109 mph. I commend KGM for not actually making this a rocket ship, because it really does not need to be one.

That motor is mated to a 73.4 kWh battery pack mounted on the floor, giving it a pretty low centre of gravity. Power is dispatched by a single-speed ‘gearbox’ that drives the front-wheels only (boo).

Power is sharp and quick as we’ve come to expect from EV’s as of late. There is a slight hesitation when putting your foot down from a standstill to it actually moving, it really isn’t much but feels noticeable when pulling onto a busy roundabout. Other than that, you can barely tell.

Overtaking is effortless thanks to the surge in torque, but at higher speeds you’ll need a bit more of a gap to be able to do it. Contrary to other journos, I’ve found the handling to be pretty good from the near 2-tonne Torres. Yes, its heavy, yes its high up, but the low-centre of gravity aids it into going around the corners sensibly.

Economy

So this is where this car needs to come into its own, and thankfully, it’s actually good news. The KGM Torres EVX is designed to offer impressive efficiency, making it a strong contender in the EV market. It is equipped with a 73.4 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery from BYD, which provides an estimated range of up to 311 miles according to WLTP estimates.

As with an EV range claim, they always seem to be way off what’s quoted, so with 311 miles I was a bit dubious at first to see if it would actually do it. However, after using it exclusively for a week and charging it every couple of days, the range estimation was pretty bang on and some quick maths regarding battery percentage etc it seemed to be as near as damn it correct.

Of course you then have the regenerative braking which uses the paddles behind the steering wheel to adjust, so you can have more braking when you let off the throttle or just let it glide. I found myself using these far more than I thought they would, because the on-the-fly adjustment was great for various road/traffic conditions. Nice one, KGM.

Regarding charging, I don’t have a proper wall charger at home, just a 3 kW charger that came with my C350e PHEV. However, as I was charging it overnight then it didn’t really matter to me as it would be charged in the mornings.

To put it bluntly, this is one of very few EV’s that actually seems to mirror the range it tells you, even with all of the creature comforts switched on. It’s a refreshing and comforting feeling to drive an EV and actually trust the information it tells you. Plus, the range is actually decent and benefits from the usual fast charging capabilities!

Comfort

With a car with such competitive pricing as this, you’d expect KGM to skimp on materials and quality where they can. But to be honest, I have never had an issue with the inside of any of their range, even down to the little Tivoli. So the Torres and its position in their range needs be good.

We’ll start off with the materials, in this K40 spec we have some nice faux-leather seats, steering wheel and door cards. There’s a properly funky metal-feeling bronze panel that adorns the entirety of the dashboard and centre console which adds a really lovely contrast to where you’re sitting. There’s some squidgy bits of rubber/foam on the lower portions of the door cards and centre console which adds a premium feeling. All of the areas you touch are of good quality and the stitching is arrow straight on all of the parts I could see.

But I hear you asking, what is it like to actually sit in? How is it to drive on a long journey? Well, I travelled some decent mileage in this, clocking up around 500 miles in the week I had it and used it for all sorts – from job visits to shopping and even a spot of off-roading! The vast majority of my travels were around 1 hour long down twisty Welsh A-roads so I had some intimate time with the EVX.

But this is a review and as such I need to tell you what it was actually like. Well the seats are brilliantly comfortable and there is a good amount of adjustment in both them and the steering wheel so you can get into your driving position easily.

I didn’t find any issues with it and didn’t feel remotely on the ‘budget-side’ so to speak, on all roads it was a delight. I never stepped out of the EVX feeling like I had just been dragged behind the car instead, it was pleasant, it was comfortable and all of the materials felt perfectly placed for this car.

However, this point I believe should come under the comfort section. Every time I got in the car I had to turn off the speed limit warning and the lane keeping assist. Sure, you could argue that if I drove properly then I wouldn’t need to turn the speed limit warning off, and to those who say that, I say “shut up”. However, the lane keep assist which is actually a very good system in its own right, was not suitable for navigating the sheep-ridden roads of Wales. You see, the is an open common right next to Auto House HQ which means there are sheep ambling across the road, and occasionally they like to stand in the middle or at the side of the road, meaning your have to stray onto the other side of the road at which point the Torres pulls you back into the lane, hurtling you towards somebodies Sunday Roast centre-piece. Not great, but you can fight with the car to make it do what you want.

Practicality

Now, let’s talk about how the KGM Torres EVX K40 fits into daily life. When it comes to practicality, I think it’s fair to say that a car needs to serve more than just a pretty face, right? Luckily, this one does.

The EVX offers a boot capacity of 703 litres with the rear seats up, expanding to 1,662 litres when the seats are folded down. That’s more than enough for the weekly shop, a couple of suitcases, or even a trip to the DIY store with some supplies (or of course two very cute doggos). Fold the rear seats down, and you’ve got that full 1662 litres to play with, whether you’re shoving camping gear or a few large boxes in there. The low lip makes loading and unloading easy, which is always a bonus if you’ve got your hands full. What’s worth noting is that the EVX does not compromise on boot capacity over it’s petrol counterpart – which is nice.

Inside the cabin, there’s plenty of space up front. Being on the shorter side, I didn’t have any issues with legroom or headroom – there’s good seat and steering wheel adjustability, so finding a comfortable driving position is never a problem. The cabin also boasts decent storage options – generous door pockets, a handy centre cubby, and cupholders that actually keep your drinks in place.

Backseat passengers won’t feel cramped either. With a rear legroom of 950mm, adults can sit comfortably without their knees being in their chest. And yes, you can get a child seat in the back without needing to get creative with the space.

Backseat passengers won’t feel cramped either. With a rear legroom of 950mm, adults can sit comfortably without their knees being in their chest. And yes, you can get a child seat in the back without needing to get creative with the space.

Reliability

When it comes to a car like the Torres EVX, reliability is one of those key factors that often gets overlooked in the excitement of new tech and features. But it’s something you’ll certainly want to know about, especially if you’re considering an electric SUV.

While the Torres is a newer model in the UK market, KGM’s reputation for building solid, dependable vehicles holds strong here. The K40 comes with a 7-year/150,000-mile warranty, which is pretty standard for electric vehicles and gives you peace of mind knowing the manufacturer has confidence in its longevity.

Since KGM is relatively new to the electric vehicle market, the long-term reliability of the EVX K40 is still being proven, but early reports suggest that the electric powertrain, like those found in many other modern EVs, is robust and built to last. The absence of a traditional combustion engine means fewer moving parts, which generally results in less wear and tear.

KGM also uses a high-quality battery with a long lifespan and offers the standard 8-year warranty on the battery, which is becoming the norm for EVs. This gives you extra assurance that the battery won’t lose its ability to hold charge too quickly, which can sometimes be a concern with other electric models.

So, while we’re still in the early stages of seeing how the Torres EVX performs over the long haul, everything points towards it being a reliable and low-maintenance option for those looking to make the switch to electric without sacrificing durability.

Verdict?

So, with all that to bare in mind, did it actually do well and crucially, how did it manage in the middle of Wales where there are very little public chargers or charging infrastructure for that matter?

Well, it was good, actually. I’m not one to ram electric cars down your throat, I see the benefits and I see the drawbacks. I don’t live in a city where I could happily walk everywhere to get my supplies and a car is simply a commodity. I live somewhere that requires you to drive to get even the smallest of supplies and cars are a necessity.

But, get to the point, Jordan. In short, I liked it. Far more than I was expecting to, and what is even more surprising is that I had the EVX and the petrol derivative back to back and do you know something? For the first time, I preferred the electric version over the one that uses recycled dinosaur juice. It’s something I never thought would happen but it is a properly well-sorted car, especially for the price.

Sure, it carries a premium over the ICE version but that is expected from any manufacturer that offers two variants of the same car. However, I believe it is worth it, because it is really good. To fully cement it into my life I would need to see a AWD or 4×4 version come out and potentially a lift kit on those – for a genuine rugged, capable little soft-roader that can get you out of a pickle if needed. We did take it sort of off-road but wasn’t enough to make the car squirm in any way – so we’ll keep our fingers crossed to see that come out.

Simply put, if I was forced to take the Torres EVX, I would not at all be disappointed by the prospect and prefer it over the petrol version. To quote Horace Slughorn “these are mad times we live in, mad!” (And for those who don’t understand that reference, have a quick watch of Harry Potter).

Once again, KGM, you’ve done exactly what you set out to do.

Oh and a quick note, the EVX is actually a hell of a lot cheaper now than it was when I reviewed it, so grab a bargain!

Price [tested]	From £41,995 [£47,495]
Power	204bhp
Torque	339Nm
0-60	8.1s
Top speed	109mph
Weight	1915kg
Fuel capacity	N/A
Road tax	£165