Following in the footsteps of Volkswagen and Isuzu, SsangYong is bringing out a special-edition pickup truck of its own in the new SsangYong Korando Sports DMZ. The South Korean manufacturer has also upgraded its existing UK trims, the S, SX and EX, and prices now start at an affordable £14,495 plus VAT.
The new trim levels
The sub-£15,000 list price for the S grade makes it the cheapest double-cab pickup on sale in the UK. It still packs quite a lot of equipment as standard, including air-conditioning, remote-control central locking, front and rear foglights, CD and radio player with steering wheel-mounted control and auxiliary and Bluetooth connectivity.
Moving up to the SX spec (£15,395 plus VAT), customers receive 18-inch alloy wheels, tinted glass and a leather-covered steering wheel. The top-of-the-range EX grade is a big step up with leather seats, (which are heated and electrically adjustable for the driver), electrically adjustable and heated, power-folding door mirrors and rear parking sensors.
The EX grade also comes with the option of Merc’s veteran five-speed automatic transmission with cruise control (£18,195 plus VAT), which is offered alongside the standard six-speed manual (£16,995). All Korando Sports are powered by SsangYong’s own 2-litre diesel unit, which produces 153bhp and 360Nm of torque.
Demilitarised Zone (DMZ)
The SsangYong Korando DMZ gets its name from the demilitarised zone between North and South Korea, an area where vehicles need to be low-profile and tough. SsangYong CEO Paul Williams spotted a couple on a recent trip to the country, and decided to replicate the design and offer them as a special edition.
“The DMZ is a bit of fun”, explained Williams. “We ordered a short run initially but they were instantly snapped-up by our dealers, so we think it could prove particularly popular with owner drivers.”
Based on the EX grade with the automatic transmission, the DMZ also comes with full camouflage paintwork, roof rails and 18-inch alloy wheels. It’s priced at £19,195, which is just £1,000 more than the equivalent EX grade.
The SsangYong Korando Sports isn’t the most practical pickup, with a very small 2 cubic metre load area and a 2.7-tonne towing capacity. However, it does offer good value for money and, with the rear independent coil suspension, offers great ride and handling.
Read the full SsangYong Korando Sports review.
