[AUTOAPP] KGM Torres EVX 80.6 kWh Review

The name might not ring a bell immediately. That is because KGM is essentially the new face of SsangYong. So it’s a rebrand? Yep, but also a reset.

Honestly, it was needed (I’m sure you would agree).

SsangYong always had a bit of a reputation. Tough, capable, but never quite polished. Yes, some might also say, ‘fugly’. The Torres EVX, however, feels like a clear attempt to move past that. Cleaner design, better execution, and a product that feels far more in tune with what buyers expect today.

After spending some time with it, I’m happy to report that this feels like a step in the right direction.

This is a good-looking SUV. A bit of Jeep, dashes of Toyota RAV4, and a sprinkling of KIA on the inside and voila, the Torres EVX.

There is a real presence here. Strong proportions, upright stance, and a design that feels confident without trying too hard. It looks modern, but not overly styled.

Compared to older SsangYong models, this is night and day. You can tell the brand has taken a step back, rethought things, and come back with something far more cohesive. It’s got a sleek yet angular front and a really well-chiselled profile.

The rugged SUV body with plastic cladding and bulging fenders is headlined by its distinct horizontal LED daytime running lights broken up by seven slats, reminding of cars like the Hummer EV, and Jeep’s iconic grille elements. The actual head lights are the rectangular units on either side of the front bumper.

The Torres EVX keeps things straightforward. A single front-mounted motor pushing out 204 bhp, with 339 Nm of torque. It does 0 to 100 km/h in 8.2 seconds and tops out at 175 km/h.

On paper, it’s nothing extraordinary, but on the road, it does feel better than that.

There is a nice punch when you need it, especially in Sport mode. It picks up pace confidently, and for daily driving, there is more than enough performance on tap.

However, let’s be clear, this is not a performance SUV. There are hints of body roll when pushed hard into a corner, and aggressive throttle inputs can unsettle the car slightly if you are not pointing it straight down the road. But otherwise, it is a responsive and easy car to manage for most purposes.

The 80.6 kWh battery delivers a claimed range of 503 km, which puts it right where it needs to be. We think that anything above 500 km, in real-world terms, feels reassuring. At least you’re not constantly thinking about where the next charger is.

Step in, and this is where the Torres EVX pleasantly surprises.

The interior feels well put together. The brown leather and bronze trim give it a slightly more premium feel than you might expect at this price point. It is warm, inviting, and a nice change from the usual sea of black interiors.

The layout is simple, almost refreshingly so.

There is less tech here compared to some of the newer Chinese competitors, and that actually works in its favour. You are not overwhelmed with screens or buried menus. Everything feels a bit more… simple.

So yes, it is a car you can get into and understand within minutes.

KGM has clearly thought about usability.

The boot is large, properly usable, and comes with a clever concealed deck. It neatly stores the tonneau cover and other items, keeping things organised without eating into your cargo space.

It is a small detail, but one that makes a difference if you actually have a life (sorry, but it’s true, real people have things, y’know).

There are also subtle design touches that hint at the brand’s identity. The use of the four trigrams from the Korean flag: geon (sky), ri (fire), gam (water), and gon (earth), all worked into the exterior trim, tail lights and interior elements, is a nice touch.

It is understated, but rather cool and meaningful.

Again, the Torres EVX feels composed and easy to drive.

It is comfortable enough for daily use, with a driving character that leans more towards calm than sporty. That said, switch it into Sport mode and it wakes up just enough to keep things interesting. Over time, you’ll learn to modulate the throttle and manage the balance of the car, and you need to be a bit of a power-hungry nut to want more than what the EVX has to offer.

Grip, however, could be better.

The NEXEN tyres struggle a bit on damp roads, and you can feel the limits earlier than expected. It is especially noticeable in wet conditions. A tyre upgrade would likely transform this aspect quite easily.

So, it’s a huge improvement overall, but not everything is polished.

Some of the buttons feel a little plasticky. It is not a dealbreaker, but it does remind you where the cost savings are.

The gear selector is another area that could use refinement. It is small, slightly awkward, and occasionally requires a second attempt to engage the intended gear (it keeps going into Neutral between shifts during parking).

Then there is the infotainment.

Wired Apple CarPlay feels dated in 2026. Even more so when it does not always connect properly. In a car that otherwise feels quite current, this stands out more than it should.

Sure. The Torres EVX is a good (and honest) piece of kit.

It does not try to out-tech the competition. Neither does it overwhelm you with features you may never use. Instead, it focuses on getting the basics right.

There are a few rough edges, but nothing that fundamentally breaks the experience.

It looks nice, drives well enough, offers strong practicality, and comes in at a price point that makes sense at around $202,000 in today’s market (bargain a bit, and maybe can get it at sub-200k?) for a Cat B EV SUV. Plus, KGM is offering a 10-year (or 200,000 km) warranty, free servicing, and 10-year (or 1,000,000 km) coverage for the Blade battery.

More importantly, it shows that the brand is rebuilding and is taking the right steps. Sometimes, that’s good enough, and the Torres EVX certainly is good enough.

Read the original article: https://www.autoapp.sg/kgm-torres-evx/