[Business Times] KGM Torres EVX review: This EV’s battery warranty is incredible

With the best battery warranty in the business, the KGM Torres EVX is built to go the distance. But its maker has some way to go

Whatever you think of the KGM Torres EVX’s styling, the electric car’s battery warranty is bound to have your eyeballs out on stalks – it’s guaranteed for one million kilometres. That’s tempered somewhat by a 10-year limit, but the fact remains that if you could bring yourself to cover 300 km a day, every day for a decade, KGM has you covered.

Inside, the Torres is pleasantly presentable. Copper-toned trim lends warmth, the cabin materials are passable, and the dashboard pairs two 12.3-inch screens in BMW fashion, down to BMW-like graphics on the driver display and, less flatteringly, occasional BMW-like lagginess.

At least the system is straightforward to navigate, unlike some of the more bewildering touchscreens arriving from China. The air-conditioning is powerful, which is never a minor consideration here, and ventilated front seats are a welcome touch.

It’s roomy in the back, which isn’t glamorous but will matter to the people in your life who complain the most about everything. The boot claims 703 litres, though it feels closer to 500 when measured to the height of the rear seats. Fold them flat and you have 1,662 litres.

There is no frunk (look under the bonnet and there’s a cover with “EV” stamped on it, as if someone at KGM put it there for anyone expecting to see an engine) but the boot floor conceals a useful organising tray, elastic straps keep small items in place, and the luggage cover has its own stowage space. Some Chinese brands have lessons to learn about small, thoughtful touches like these.

Less endearing is the wired-only smartphone pairing, the absent blind spot monitors and the missing 360-degree camera, all of which should be standard at this price. Wired Apple CarPlay makes a car seem older than it is, the way my receding hairline does to me.

Despite its rugged looks, I wouldn’t take a Torres EVX off-road, but on it, the car is a mixed bag. The acceleration is urgent enough to amuse, especially in sport mode, which also adds heft to the steering. The suspension smothers bumps well but body control feels anything but taut, and the front wheels are eager to chirp; without traction control this car would eat front tyres for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

More pertinent for daily driving is the cabin’s poor insulation from wind and road noise. The motor itself is silent, but you have to raise your voice on the highway to keep conversation going. Other minor details exemplify how the Torres lacks that final layer of polish, such as the charging flap at the front of the car, whose shonky fit with the body gives the game away.

That surprised me, because while KGM is a new brand, it’s not a new car company. Its predecessor, SsangYong, dates to 1954, but spent decades passed between owners like a hot potato, from Daewoo to SAIC to Mahindra, before filing for bankruptcy in 2020. Korean conglomerate KG Group stepped in to rescue it in 2022, and the rebranded KG Mobility has been rebuilding since, licensing platforms from Chery and sourcing batteries from BYD.

That access to Chinese tech is why the Torres EVX uses BYD’s vaunted Blade Battery, a Lithium Iron Phosphate cell design with a reputation for resistance to fire. It could also help lift KGM from respectable underdog status. Having sold 110,535 vehicles in 2025, it now wants to grow like Jack’s beanstalk, with plans to launch seven new SUVs within four years.

The killer battery warranty says something about KGM’s intention to go the distance, and the Torres EVX is a promising effort. Yet, its rough edges are a reminder that the road from capable underdog to mainstream contender is longer than a million kilometres.

Read the original article: https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/lifestyle/kgm-torres-evx-review-evs-battery-warranty-incredible