Fresh from its rebrand from the former SsangYong moniker, KGM Motors has brought its Torres five-seat SUV to the UK in both ICE and electric versions. Al Suttie tests out the petrol model for a week to give his verdict.

KGM Torres K40

List price (BiK): £35,375 (37%) CO2: 194g/km Economy: 33.2mpg Test efficiency: 32.2mpg

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Monday

SsangYong is gone and in its place is KGM, and part of this comprehensive rebrand is a new model, the Torres. It’s a mid-size SUV pitched right into the heart of this sector up against the likes of the Ford Kuga, Mazda CX-5 and Nissan Qashqai. Given its chunky looks, which I checked out with a walkaround this morning, it’s also in a good spot to give the Land Rover Discovery Sport a run for its money.

Tuesday

Getting into the Torres this morning, there is an immediate sense that KGM has moved the game on massively with the Torres. There’s a large sweeping screen that acts as the main dash display and infotainment that is easy to see, plus it displays all the information you need in a logical, clear manner. The seats are supremely comfortable and this K40 spec version has electric adjustment included, along with leather upholstery.

Wednesday

After a long-ish day in the Torres going back and forth to a couple of meetings, the only real gripe I have with the interior is the size and style of the steering wheel. It feels a tad too big and the look of it is slightly at odds with the sleek look of the rest of the cabin. I’m also not a fan of the small buttons on the wheel for the stereo and cruise control, but at least it’s easy to switch off the lane assist when required.

Thursday

A few days in and the Torres has attracted several comments from neighbours – all asking what make it is and saying how much they like it. Living in semi-rural Scotland means this sort of car is what many people need, though it’s front-wheel drive rather than a 4×4. With decent winter tyres, it would be fine for my needs, and it might also address the scrabble from the front tyres when pulling away from junctions or onto a roundabout.

Friday

A cross-country drive home this evening due to the motorway being clogged gives me a chance to see how the Torres copes. The steering is over-assisted for my liking, but that’s a common trait in most of its rivals. Put that to one side and the rest of the Torres’ dynamics are up there with the better cars in this class. It resists lean in corners, grips well and rides most bumps and yumps with calm ease.

Saturday

Final football match of the season for my son and it’s an away game, so we collect his chums and chuck their kit into the huge boot of the Torres. As it’s a five-seater only, everything goes in with plenty of room to spare. The boot floor is also at just the right height to drag it all back out without straining my spine and the tailgate provides useful cover from the rain.

Sunday

The 1.5-litre engine in the Torres does a decent job and usually remains quiet. A six-speed automatic gearbox is well matched to it and changes without any obvious shunt. Company drivers will have to think about this car’s 33.2mpg claimed combined economy and 194g/km CO2 emissions, though this is still a lot less than Discovery Sport, which also comes with a significantly higher P11D value.