First drive: SsangYong Korando Sports DMZ

What is that!?

That ladies and gents, boys and girls, is the mighty SsangYong Korando DMZ: a special edition camo-clad double-cab pickup from South Korea.

And if you’re wondering, yes, those initials do really stand for demilitarized zone – the eerie 160-mile long, 2.5-mile buffer between North and South Korea. The marketing department was obviously feeling brave while naming this one.

Ssang-who?

We thought you’d ask. SsangYong (silent S) is a bit of a mouthful isn’t it? Well, there’s currently an internal debate within the firm about whether to change the name to something a bit more palatable for our western tongue.

Again, Ssang-who?

How about a quick pop quiz? Can you name the four biggest Korean car companies in order?

Hyundai and Kia, one–two. But then… struggling aren’t you? Well we can’t actually answer it ourselves. Primarily as South Korea is currently popping so many cars out the numbers people can’t keep up. We do know SsangYong and Samsung (who’ve started a new alliance with Renault) are fighting over third and fourth spot.

That paintjob is, um, unique.

Certainly is. Some would say, ‘military chic’. But the green camouflage pattern is the main thing that differentiates the DMZ from other top of the range ‘EX’ spec Korando Sports.

We’re not sure where the paint was applied (Balamory, perhaps?) but with a four-year-old-with-spray-paint vibe, each time we walked up to the truck we were expecting Neil Buchanan to jump out of the two-metre squared bed screaming “Art Attack!”

Who’s it aimed at?

People who like camouflage, trips to the tip, saving money on company car tax and don’t give two hoots about what badge is stuck on their steering wheel.

What’s it like?

The one-tonne load-lugging pick-up truck market is a bit of an, ahem, warzone of big hitters. With the Toyota Hilux, VW Amarok, Nissan Navara, Mitsubishi L200, Ford Ranger and, er, Great Wall Steed to compete against, it’s a sturdy, tribal landscape where buyers have strong allegiances. Luckily, the Ssangyong is perfectly acceptable and has two tricks up its sleeve: 1. Price 2. A monster five-year, unlimited mileage warranty.

How much is it?

The range starts at £14,995 excluding VAT. But for the full bells and whistles DMZ version you’re looking at £19,195 excluding VAT. That’s cheaper than everything else, apart from the Steed – which is a league below in quality and drivability.

And how does it drive?

There’s only one engine on offer: an in-house 2.0-litre diesel that generates 153bhp and 360Nm of torque between 1,500 and 2,800rpm. It’s actually very refined for this utilitarian market, yet offers enough grunt to haul whatever you need to transport in the back.

It’s connected to a six-speed automatic gearbox that’s sluggish but up to the job. Unusually, if you do want control over the cogs, there’s a flimsy plastic flicker switch that operates the gears manually. It’s not exactly the first word in responsiveness, but does let you hold gears if you need to chug heavy stuff up a hill.

All Korando Sports are built on an archaic ladder-frame chassis that dates back to the original Actyon from 2005. There’s also a proper switchable four-wheel drive system that offers rear-wheel-drive, four-wheel-drive and an off-road focused low range four-wheel-drive mode.

How does it ride?

Instead of the traditional single beam axle, the DMZ has car-like multi-link rear suspension so it doesn’t clatter around like a potato cart. However, it is quite roll-y – something that may be exacerbated with a heavy load in the back.

And then we get to the steering. It's very poor: wayward and has the responsiveness and feel of a pair of elastic reins.

Does it actually do pick-uppy stuff?

With a two-metre squared bed (big enough for a pallet), 1,000kg payload (to qualify it as a commercial vehicle for tax purposes) and a class-leading 2.7 tonne towing capacity, it sure does. You can even pimp out your DMZ with an aluminum checker plate tonneau cover to be the envy of people at the builder’s yard.

What’s the interior like?

Nothing to leave Mercedes running away scared when they enter the pick-up market later this year. Decked out in cheap (albeit wipeable) plastics, it’s a well-appointed and simple landscape of grey.

However, with heated and electronically adjustable front seats, air-con, tinted glass, leather, central-locking, USB and Bluetooth, it’s well-equipped. There’s also enough room in the back for medium-sized humans. But they won’t like being trapped back there for very long. 

Will I be seeing more of SsangYong?

With a generous five-year, unlimited mileage warranty, plus an exponential growth and quality plan, it’s all rather reminiscent of the rise of Kia and Hyundai from lowly companies to household names. Ssangyong is treading a very similar path – especially as they’re now getting into TV marketing campaigns, motorsport and potential sports sponsorship deals.

Last year it sold 3,600 cars in the UK, and the aim is 20,000 cars by 2020. Big intent. And you can’t say the Koreans have a bad record for this kind of thing. SsangYong might well be the second wave of Korea’s mega industrial movement, but hopefully there’ll be less suspect-spec military-themed paintjobs in the future.