Vehicle Tests > Bold and the (not so) Beautiful: SsangYong Kyron 2.0Xdi

Inside the Kyron is a pleasant surprise (after you've taken in the outside). The fit, feel and finish of the materials used on the interior are better than we've come to expect from Korean vehicles and everything was easy to reach and use. The centre dash stack where the heating, ventilation and audio controls (HVAC) are located is an unusual assortment of odd lines and angles that reminds us of the old Ettamogah Pub, with no parallel or square lines. Despite the unique look it all worked well enough. Giving negative comments on the interior might seem a bit picky but the lack of a driver's left footrest and the uncovered vanity mirror in the driver's sun visor were annoying.

The cabin is well insulated from outside NVH and despite the fact that the driving position feels more like that of a people mover than a proper 4WD, there's not much to protest about the interior.

Something we will always gripe about is the lack of a full-size spare wheel and tyre, especially when we got a flat while on test. Our puncture came as a slow leak on the highway and we were able to stop the vehicle before destroying the tyre. The way the space saver is mounted under the back of the Kyron leaves a lot to be desired. The cradle carrying the spare looks like something Blind Freddy welded up in his backyard. When lowering the cradle and spare you need to support its weight while undoing a bolt and the thread on the bolt on this car was stripped making it a particularly arduous exercise. And then of course the cradle won't accommodate your dirty, flat full-size tyre so it has to go in the cabin; providing it's not already full of luggage and passengers. Space saver spare tyres are not good enough for Australian road conditions on any vehicle let alone a 4WD. 16-inch wheels and 255/65R16 tyres would not only be a better option on the vehicle but they should even allow a full size spare to be carried in a better designed cradle. The smaller wheels won't look as good on the Kyron though but what is more important to drivers?

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The Kyron was one of those vehicles that we liked the more that we drove it but that was up until we got the flat tyre. While it's moving the Kyron isn't such a bad drive. The relatively cheap price and great fuel economy should help many buyers get past the odd exterior looks and the fit and feel of the cabin will win over some more. But that low-rpm engine lag and space saver spare need rectifying and until then the Terracan could be a better option.

SsangYong is planning to make the Kyron available with the 2.7L turbodiesel currently in the Rexton and this may rectify the engine problem but we expect this will be more expensive. There's also a petrol engined variant to come soon too and that will appeal to more buyers.

SPECS

SSANGYONG KYRON Xdi
RRP: $37,490 (auto)
Body & Chassis: 5-door, 5-seat, body on chassis
Engine Type: Common-rail, intercooled turbodiesel I4, DOHC, 16-valves.
Capacity: 1998cc
Bore x Stroke: 86.2 x 85.6mm
Compression Ratio: 18.0:1
Max. Power (claimed): 104kW @ 4000rpm
Max. Torque (claimed): 310Nm @ 1800-2750rpm
Specific output (claimed): 51.47kW/161.76Nm/litre
Power to Weight: 17.7kg/kW

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