2024 SsangYong Torres EVX detailed: Meet the latest Hyundai Kona, Kia Niro, and MG ZS EV rival that could be a perfectly sized electric SUV

KG Mobility - the company formerly known as SsangYong - has detailed its latest fully electric SUV in its home market of South Korea.

The Torres EVX is the anticipated next-generation EV from the brand, which has undergone a significant overhaul in the last few years.

Slightly larger than its direct rivals like the Hyundai Kona, Kia Niro, and MG ZS EV, the Torres looks to compete with cars in the same size-bracket as the Honda ZR-V and Nissan Qashqai, with total dimensions coming in at 4715mm long, 1890mm wide, and 1735mm tall.

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After a long teaser campaign, the brand’s Korean division has released details of the model.

The Torres EVX will pack a 73.4kWh battery pack good for a 433km combined driving range, and interestingly, will use BYD-style ‘blade battery’ LFP cells in its construction.

It is front-wheel drive only, powered by a 152kW/340Nm electric motor. Combined efficiency lands at 20kWh/100km.

On the outside, the EVX has a completely different look from its combustion equivalent, with a filled-in bumper and an integrated set of LED DRLs to replicate the look of a slotted grille in reference to the earlier-generation SsangYong Korando models from where it descends. These are matched by a set of LED headlights and LED fog lights.

What sets the Torres apart is how it sits in a size bracket between a small SUV and a mid-sizer.

Square lines end in upright LED fittings at the rear and a bump on the tailgate to reference where a full-size spare might once have been. Meanwhile, the EVX swaps out the standard wheels for a more sleek set of aerodynamic alloys.

Inside the EVX features a “panoramic display” consisting of two large widescreens for the digital instruments and multimedia panel, while a standard shift-lever has been swapped for a small shift-by-wire toggle. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connections are available via cable.

A floating centre console design frees up storage space in the cabin, while the Torres makes use of the brand’s latest multi-function steering wheel design. In the rear, the EVX features integrated window shades, tablet holders in the backs of the front seats, and heated seating is standard in all but the centre rear position.

Boot space is a claimed 839-litres although this appears to be to the more lenient SAE standard rather than the more widely-accepted VDA standard, making it difficult to compare to rivals.

Regardless, KG Mobility says the EVX is designed to “satisfy all areas of daily life, and expanded outdoor life” and features 175mm of ground clearance to go with its chunky, almost Subaru-like styling.

It also features vehicle-to-load tech, allowing owners to power external devices via its charging port, thanks to an included V2L adaptor.

Safety features include a suite of eight airbags including a centre airbag, auto emergency braking, lane keep tech, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, as well as adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree surround monitoring system for parking.

The EVX is said to charge from 20 to 80 per cent in about 37 minutes on a 200kW connection, nine hours from zero to 100 per cent on an 11kW AC connection, or about 30 hours on a home wall socket.

It is unclear whether Australia will see the fully electric version of the Torres, although the combustion version, powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder unit (125kW/280Nm), has been confirmed for an Australian arrival toward the end of 2023, or early 2024.

KG Mobility has also previewed an expanded electric range including a ute, large SUV, and small off-roader at the Seoul Mobility show, and is reportedly looking to deepen its ties with BYD by building a new battery factory in Korea together with the Chinese EV giant.