SsangYong Korando: Which Version to Buy and Why
The version to choose depends first on the kind of Korando you want. The first generation, produced from March 1983 to January 1996, and the second generation, produced from January 1996 to January 2006, are SUV 3-doors with longitudinal engines and older chassis specifications.
The version to choose depends first on the kind of Korando you want. The first generation, produced from March 1983 to January 1996, and the second generation, produced from January 1996 to January 2006, are SUV 3-doors with longitudinal engines and older chassis specifications. The third generation and its restylings, spanning November 2010 to January 2019, are SUV 5-doors with transverse engines, while the fourth generation, introduced in February 2019, is also an SUV 5-doors and offers Gasoline, Diesel, and Electro versions. Across the model’s six catalogue entries—four generations plus two third-generation restylings—the most economical measured choice is the third-generation second-restyling 2.2 MT with FWD, at 5.3 l/100 km combined. The highest-output version is the second-generation 3.2 MT with 220 hp, while the fourth-generation e-Motion combines 190 hp, 360 Nm, FWD, and 0 g/km CO₂.
SsangYong Korando generations: what changed?
The first-generation Korando ran from March 1983 to January 1996 as an SUV 3-doors. Its single listed version, 2.2 MT, has a 2,238 cc Diesel inline 4-cylinder engine producing 75 hp, a 4-speed Manual gearbox, and AWD. Both axles use dependent leaf-spring suspension, and both ends have Drum brakes. This is the least powerful Korando in the data and the only generation represented by just one version.
The second generation ran from January 1996 to January 2006, retained the SUV 3-doors body, and includes 24 versions, of which 12 are shown in the supplied specifications. Engine choices shown here range from the 80 hp 2.3 MT Diesel to the 220 hp 3.2 MT Gasoline. Gearboxes have either 4 or 5 speeds, and the drive choices include RWD and AWD. Compared with the first generation, the listed chassis changes to independent torsion front suspension and dependent spring rear suspension, with Disc brakes front and rear.
The third generation ran from November 2010 to July 2013 as an SUV 5-doors and has 7 versions. Its listed engines are the 149 hp 2.0 Gasoline and the 175 hp 2.0 Diesel, paired with 6-speed Manual or Automatic transmissions and FWD or AWD. Independent spring suspension is fitted at both ends, with Ventilated disc front brakes and Disc rear brakes. The move from the second generation’s longitudinal engine layout to a transverse one accompanies the change from SUV 3-doors to SUV 5-doors.
The third-generation restyling ran from August 2013 to December 2016 and contains 8 versions, still using the SUV 5-doors body. It retains 149 hp 2.0 Gasoline and 175 hp 2.0 Diesel choices, 6-speed Manual and Automatic gearboxes, and both FWD and AWD. The measured performance and economy vary substantially by configuration: combined consumption ranges from 6.0 l/100 km for the 175 hp 2.0 MT Diesel with FWD to 8.9 l/100 km for both 149 hp 2.0 AT Gasoline versions.
The second restyling of the third generation ran from January 2017 to January 2019 as an SUV 5-doors. It has 15 versions, with 12 shown in the supplied data. Alongside the 149 hp 2.0 Gasoline and 149 hp or 175 hp 2.0 Diesel choices, it adds the 178 hp 2.2 MT Diesel. The 2.2 MT produces 400 Nm, which is 40 Nm more than the listed 2.0 Diesel versions, and its FWD form records the lowest combined consumption in this restyling at 5.3 l/100 km.
The fourth generation began in February 2019 as an SUV 5-doors and has 3 listed versions: e-Motion, 1.5 AT, and 1.6 L. The e-Motion started in December 2021 and remains listed without a stop date; it produces 190 hp and 360 Nm. The 1.5 AT Gasoline ran from February 2019 to June 2022 with 163 hp and 285 Nm. The continuing 1.6 L Diesel produces 136 hp and 330 Nm. All three are FWD and Automatic, although e-Motion uses 1 speed while the combustion versions use 6.
SsangYong Korando engine and specs
Repeated version names below are separated by generation, fuel, power, transmission, or drive so that every exact database name remains identifiable.
| Generation and version | Power | Torque | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders/layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First generation 2.2 MT | 75 hp | not measured | 2,238 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | not measured | Manual, 4-speed | AWD |
| Second generation 2.0 MT | 126 hp | 177 Nm | 1,998 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | Manual, 5-speed | AWD |
| Second generation 2.3 MT, 140 hp | 140 hp | 204 Nm | 2,295 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | Manual, 5-speed | RWD |
| Second generation 2.3 AT, 140 hp | 140 hp | 204 Nm | 2,295 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | Automatic, 4-speed | AWD |
| Second generation 2.3 MT, 140 hp AWD | 140 hp | 204 Nm | 2,295 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | Manual, 5-speed | AWD |
| Second generation 3.2 AT, 210 hp AWD | 210 hp | 297 Nm | 3,199 cc | Gasoline | 6, V-shaped | No | Automatic, 4-speed | AWD |
| Second generation 3.2 AT, 210 hp RWD | 210 hp | 297 Nm | 3,199 cc | Gasoline | 6, V-shaped | No | Automatic, 4-speed | RWD |
| Second generation 3.2 MT, 220 hp | 220 hp | 295 Nm | 3,199 cc | Gasoline | 6, Inline | No | Manual, 5-speed | AWD |
| Second generation 3.2 AT, 220 hp | 220 hp | 295 Nm | 3,199 cc | Gasoline | 6, Inline | No | Automatic, 4-speed | AWD |
| Second generation 2.3 MT, 80 hp | 80 hp | 150 Nm | 2,299 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | Manual, 5-speed | AWD |
| Second generation 2.3 MT, 101 hp | 101 hp | 205 Nm | 2,299 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | Manual, 5-speed | AWD |
| Second generation 2.3 AT, 101 hp | 101 hp | 205 Nm | 2,299 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | Automatic, 4-speed | AWD |
| Second generation 2.9 MT | 95 hp | 190 Nm | 2,874 cc | Diesel | 5, Inline | No | Manual, 5-speed | RWD |
| Third generation 2.0 MT, 149 hp FWD | 149 hp | 197 Nm | 1,998 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | Manual, 6-speed | FWD |
| Third generation 2.0 MT, 149 hp AWD | 149 hp | 197 Nm | 1,998 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | Manual, 6-speed | AWD |
| Third generation 2.0 AT, 149 hp AWD | 149 hp | 197 Nm | 1,998 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | Automatic, 6-speed | AWD |
| Third generation 2.0 MT, 175 hp FWD | 175 hp | 360 Nm | 1,998 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | Manual, 6-speed | FWD |
| Third generation 2.0 MT, 175 hp AWD | 175 hp | 360 Nm | 1,998 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | Manual, 6-speed | AWD |
| Third generation 2.0 AT, 175 hp AWD | 175 hp | 360 Nm | 1,998 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | Automatic, 6-speed | AWD |
| Third generation 2.0 AT, 175 hp FWD | 175 hp | 360 Nm | 1,998 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | Automatic, 6-speed | FWD |
| Third-generation restyling 2.0 MT, 149 hp FWD | 149 hp | 197 Nm | 1,998 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | Manual, 6-speed | FWD |
| Third-generation restyling 2.0 AT, 149 hp FWD | 149 hp | 197 Nm | 1,998 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | Automatic, 6-speed | FWD |
| Third-generation restyling 2.0 MT, 149 hp AWD | 149 hp | 197 Nm | 1,998 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | Manual, 6-speed | AWD |
| Third-generation restyling 2.0 AT, 149 hp AWD | 149 hp | 197 Nm | 1,998 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | Automatic, 6-speed | AWD |
| Third-generation restyling 2.0 MT, 175 hp FWD | 175 hp | 360 Nm | 1,998 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | Manual, 6-speed | FWD |
| Third-generation restyling 2.0 AT, 175 hp FWD | 175 hp | 360 Nm | 1,998 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | Automatic, 6-speed | FWD |
| Third-generation restyling 2.0 MT, 175 hp AWD | 175 hp | 360 Nm | 1,998 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | Manual, 6-speed | AWD |
| Third-generation restyling 2.0 AT, 175 hp AWD | 175 hp | 360 Nm | 1,998 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | Automatic, 6-speed | AWD |
| Third-generation second restyling 2.0 MT, 149 hp Gasoline FWD | 149 hp | 197 Nm | 1,998 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | Manual, 6-speed | FWD |
| Third-generation second restyling 2.0 MT, 149 hp Gasoline AWD | 149 hp | 197 Nm | 1,998 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | Manual, 6-speed | AWD |
| Third-generation second restyling 2.0 AT, 149 hp Gasoline FWD | 149 hp | 197 Nm | 1,998 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | Automatic, 6-speed | FWD |
| Third-generation second restyling 2.0 AT, 149 hp Gasoline AWD | 149 hp | 197 Nm | 1,998 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | No | Automatic, 6-speed | AWD |
| Third-generation second restyling 2.0 MT, 149 hp Diesel FWD | 149 hp | 360 Nm | 1,998 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | Manual, 6-speed | FWD |
| Third-generation second restyling 2.0 MT, 149 hp Diesel AWD | 149 hp | 360 Nm | 1,998 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | Manual, 6-speed | AWD |
| Third-generation second restyling 2.0 AT, 149 hp Diesel FWD | 149 hp | 360 Nm | 1,998 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | Automatic, 6-speed | FWD |
| Third-generation second restyling 2.0 AT, 149 hp Diesel AWD | 149 hp | 360 Nm | 1,998 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | Automatic, 6-speed | AWD |
| Third-generation second restyling 2.0 MT, 175 hp Diesel FWD | 175 hp | 360 Nm | 1,998 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | Manual, 6-speed | FWD |
| Third-generation second restyling 2.0 MT, 175 hp Diesel AWD | 175 hp | 360 Nm | 1,998 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | Manual, 6-speed | AWD |
| Third-generation second restyling 2.2 MT, 178 hp FWD | 178 hp | 400 Nm | 2,157 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | Manual, 6-speed | FWD |
| Third-generation second restyling 2.2 MT, 178 hp AWD | 178 hp | 400 Nm | 2,157 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | Manual, 6-speed | AWD |
| Fourth generation e-Motion | 190 hp | 360 Nm | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | Automatic, 1-speed | FWD |
| Fourth generation 1.5 AT | 163 hp | 285 Nm | 1,497 cc | Gasoline | 4, Inline | Turbo | Automatic, 6-speed | FWD |
| Fourth generation 1.6 L | 136 hp | 330 Nm | 1,597 cc | Diesel | 4, Inline | Turbo | Automatic, 6-speed | FWD |
Among combustion versions, the 1.5 AT has the highest calculated specific output at about 109 hp per litre. The second-restyling 2.2 MT develops about 83 hp per litre, while its advantage is torque: 400 Nm against 285 Nm in the 1.5 AT. The second-generation 3.2 MT produces about 69 hp per litre but has the highest absolute output at 220 hp.
Performance, fuel economy, and mpg comparison
For the first-generation 2.2 MT, 0–100 km/h, top speed, and fuel consumption are not measured. In the second generation, acceleration ranges from 10.2 seconds for the 220 hp 3.2 MT and 3.2 AT to 25 seconds for the 80 hp 2.3 MT. The 210 hp 3.2 AT reaches 182 km/h and uses 17.3 l/100 km in the city, 10.1 l/100 km on the highway, and 12.4 l/100 km combined. The 220 hp 3.2 MT reaches 176 km/h, but its fuel consumption is not measured. For the 101 hp 2.3 AT, acceleration, top speed, and consumption are not measured.
In the original third generation, the 149 hp 2.0 MT with FWD reaches 100 km/h in 10.8 seconds and 173 km/h, using 8.1 l/100 km combined. Adding AWD to the same 2.0 MT changes acceleration to 11 seconds and combined consumption to 8.4 l/100 km. The 175 hp Diesel versions return 6.0 l/100 km combined with 2.0 MT FWD, 6.9 l/100 km with 2.0 AT FWD, and 7.5 l/100 km with the listed AWD Manual or Automatic configurations.
In the third-generation restyling, the 175 hp 2.0 MT Diesel with FWD is the quickest measured version at 10 seconds to 100 km/h and uses 6.0 l/100 km combined. The 149 hp 2.0 MT Gasoline with FWD takes 10.8 seconds and uses 8.1 l/100 km combined. Choosing the 149 hp 2.0 AT Gasoline with FWD changes those figures to 11.2 seconds and 8.9 l/100 km.
Acceleration for every second-restyling third-generation version is not measured. Top speed ranges from 163 km/h for the 149 hp 2.0 MT Gasoline to 185 km/h for both 178 hp 2.2 MT versions. The 2.2 MT FWD uses 5.3 l/100 km combined, while the 2.2 MT AWD uses 5.8 l/100 km. The AWD penalty is therefore 0.5 l/100 km combined. Among the 149 hp 2.0 Gasoline versions, combined consumption ranges from 7.6 l/100 km for Manual FWD to 8.6 l/100 km for Automatic AWD.
All three fourth-generation versions take 12 seconds to reach 100 km/h. The e-Motion and 1.5 AT both reach 193 km/h, while the 1.6 L reaches 181 km/h. Fuel consumption for e-Motion is not measured, and its CO₂ figure is 0 g/km. The 1.5 AT uses 7.1 l/100 km combined and emits 162 g/km, while the 1.6 L uses 5.5 l/100 km and emits 144 g/km.
SsangYong Korando weight, clearance, tank, and wheel sizes
The first-generation 2.2 MT has a 70-litre tank; kerb weight, gross weight, ground clearance, and wheel sizes are not measured. The shown second-generation versions use a 70-litre tank and have a gross weight of 2,515 kg. Measured kerb weight ranges from 1,740 kg for the 80 hp 2.3 MT Diesel to 1,905 kg for the 210 hp 3.2 AT. Ground clearance is 190 mm where measured, while wheel sizes are not measured.
The original third generation uses a 57-litre tank and 180 mm of ground clearance. Its measured kerb weights range from 1,512 kg to 1,767 kg, and gross weights range from 2,100 kg to 2,260 kg. Listed Gasoline wheel sizes are 215/65 R16, 225/60 R17, and 225/55 R18; the 175 hp 2.0 AT AWD lists 215/65 R16 and 225/60 R17, while wheel sizes for the other Diesel configurations are not measured.
The third-generation restyling also uses a 57-litre tank and 180 mm of clearance. Kerb weight ranges from 1,512 kg to 1,767 kg, with gross weight from 2,100 kg to 2,260 kg. The second restyling reduces tank capacity to 50 litres while retaining 180 mm of clearance. Its kerb weights range from 1,537 kg to 1,745 kg, and gross weights range from 2,100 kg to 2,300 kg.
Fourth-generation tank capacity is 47 litres for 1.5 AT and 1.6 L; e-Motion tank capacity is not measured. The e-Motion and 1.5 AT each weigh 1,435 kg kerb and 2,040 kg gross, with 182 mm clearance. The 1.6 L weighs 1,610 kg kerb and 2,160 kg gross, with 170 mm clearance. All three list 225/60 R17 and 235/55 R18 wheels.
Weight per horsepower highlights the difference between eras. The first-generation 2.2 MT cannot be calculated because kerb weight is not measured. The second-generation 80 hp 2.3 MT carries about 21.8 kg per hp, while the 210 hp 3.2 AT carries about 9.1 kg per hp. The fourth-generation 1.5 AT carries about 8.8 kg per hp, and e-Motion carries about 7.6 kg per hp, the lowest calculated figure among versions with both power and kerb weight supplied.
Which SsangYong Korando version should you buy?
For the lowest measured combined fuel consumption, choose the second-restyling 2.2 MT with 178 hp and FWD. It records 5.3 l/100 km, produces 400 Nm, and reaches 185 km/h. Its AWD counterpart adds 81 kg of kerb weight, moving from 1,598 kg to 1,679 kg, while combined consumption rises by 0.5 l/100 km and CO₂ rises from 139 to 152 g/km. AWD is therefore a clearly quantified trade: the same output and top speed, but more weight and fuel use.
For a third-generation Gasoline Korando, the 149 hp 2.0 MT FWD is the economy choice. In the second restyling it uses 7.6 l/100 km combined. The Automatic FWD uses 8.0 l/100 km, the Manual AWD uses 8.3 l/100 km, and the Automatic AWD uses 8.6 l/100 km. Moving from Manual FWD to Automatic AWD adds 88 kg and 1.0 l/100 km while retaining 149 hp and 197 Nm.
For the strongest measured power-to-weight result, choose fourth-generation e-Motion: 190 hp at 1,435 kg equals about 7.6 kg per hp. It also has 360 Nm and 0 g/km CO₂. Its fuel consumption is not measured, however, so the data cannot establish an energy-cost comparison with the combustion versions.
For a fourth-generation combustion Korando, 1.5 AT is the power choice and 1.6 L is the economy choice. The 1.5 AT has 27 hp more than 1.6 L and reaches a top speed 12 km/h higher, while 1.6 L has 45 Nm more torque and consumes 1.6 l/100 km less on the combined cycle. The 1.6 L is 175 kg heavier and has 12 mm less ground clearance.
For maximum output among the older SUV 3-doors models, the second-generation 3.2 MT provides 220 hp, 295 Nm, AWD, and a measured 10.2-second 0–100 km/h time. For buyers prioritizing measured fuel economy, the later SUV 5-doors generations provide the clearer case: their best listed combined figures fall between 5.3 and 6.0 l/100 km, whereas many second-generation consumption figures are not measured.
The supplied catalogue does not include reliability records, engine-problem histories, engine-oil capacity, boot dimensions, towing weight, interior equipment, or prices. Those items are not measured here, so they cannot support a version recommendation. Based strictly on the available specifications, the 2.2 MT FWD is the strongest economy-and-torque choice, e-Motion has the best calculated weight-to-power figure, 1.5 AT is the highest-specific-output combustion engine, and the second-generation 3.2 MT is the highest-horsepower Korando listed.