New Fully-Electric KGM Torres EVX SUV is ‘Powered by Toughness’.
New KGM Torres EVX SUV is ‘Powered by Toughness’.
KG Mobility (abbreviated as KGM) is the South Korean automobile manufacturer which acquired the struggling SsangYong brand in 2022 and adopted its present name in March 2023. The company’s main focus is on SUVs and crossover SUVs, and it is transitioning its focus to electric cars going forward. In order to show European car buyers how serious they are about achieving an escalating market share across the EU, KGM established a sales subsidiary in Germany in August 2024, with a view to strengthening its operations in the European market.
All-New, All-Electric.
KGM is clearly aiming for EV adopters with an all-electric version of its new family SUV, the Torres EVX. Named after the Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, and measuring in at 4.7-metres in length, there is no denying that the EVX is a substantial SUV in every respect. While the EVX is a completely new electric car, it is also the second car from KGM to be offered for sale here in Ireland, the first being the all-electric Korando E-Motion SUV which I previously reviewed. From the outside, the Torres EVX is big enough to trick you into thinking that it may have 7 seats on board, but what it does have is an abundance of space for up to five occupants, along with an enormous 703-litre boot capacity behind the rear seats and a further space beneath the floor for cable storage. The front of the EVX features a fared-in nose with a rugged bumper element below and a row of six animated LED daytime running lights above that launch into a strobing light show upon unlocking the car doors. With strong design details, such as the hexagonal trim resembling the boot-mounted spare wheel cover of a traditional SUV, the design of the car’s rear view perfectly complements the front.
Safe & Durable ‘Blade Battery’.
The powertrain in the EVX consists of a 73.4kWh battery that powers the 152kW permanent magnet synchronous motor. The battery has a range of up to 462kms between charges and, with a maximum charge rate of 145kW, it can be charged from 10-80% in 37 minutes. Alternatively, owners with access to a 11kW wallbox charger can charge the battery from 0-100% in around 9 hours. The EVX features a vehicle-to-load (V2L) connector which means you can power-up outdoor domestic appliances straight from the car’s battery when you are off-grid and want to enjoy your leisure activities to the full. The electric motor produces 207PS (204bhp) and 339Nm of instant torque, and this is good enough to achieve a 0-100km/h sprint time of 8.1-seconds, on its way to an electronically-limited top speed of 175km/h (where permitted), with power sent to the cars’ front wheels via a single-speed automatic transmission. In order to speed up the process of bringing the EVX to market, KGM turned to renowned Chinese battery and electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD and negotiated a joint venture to produce batteries in Korea for use in KGM EVs now, and into the future. As a result, the Torres EVX features BYD’s ‘blade battery’ with cell-to-pack construction. The blade battery is a single-cell battery with a special design, which can be placed in an array and inserted into a battery pack like a blade. The space utilisation of the battery pack is increased by over 50% compared to most conventional lithium-ion phosphate block batteries, and it holds advantages in safety, range, longevity, strength and power. Recognised as one of the world’s safest EV batteries, the blade battery has passed rigorous safety tests, including the nail penetration test, without emitting fire or smoke.
Super-Spacious Cabin & Boot.
The spacious cabin is dominated by a sleek curved digital panel that incorporates a large 12.5” colour touchscreen and a similarly-sized driver information display with easy-to-read graphics. The multi-adjustable steering wheel contains a plethora of buttons for a variety of functions, and a smattering of copper-effect trim on the dashboard and around the gear selector adds a distinctive, classy look to the interior. The EVX features a comprehensive suite of digital features to make driving safer and travelling more relaxed. Parking is made safe and easy with the 3D 360-degree ‘surround view’ monitoring system, while the driver can talk more comfortably with rear seat passengers thanks to an ‘aided conversation’ mode. Those in the back can also take a rest during a long journey by using the ‘sleeper mode’ to prevent music emitting from the speakers.
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems.
The Torres EVX incorporates Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) safety technology and Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control. A radar positioned on the front bumper, and four Blind Spot Detection radars on each corner, monitor every angle of the area surrounding the car to help actively control it and prevent the risk of an accident at crossroads, with oncoming vehicles, as well as vehicles approaching from the rear and side when overtaking. A host of additional safety features and driver assist systems also come as standard for enhanced peace-of-mind motoring.
Test Car Details.
My test car was a Torres EVX in Forest Green metallic paintwork with standard-fit 20” diamond-cut alloy wheels. The list of standard equipment is comprehensive, with key features such as a heat pump, Comfort/Eco/Sport/Winter drive modes, trailer hitch mounting, black roof rails, rear privacy glass, eight-way power-adjustable front seats, heated and ventilated front seats, dual-zone temperature control, 60/40 split-folding rear seats with 32.5-degree tilt, centre armrest, full LED headlights with self-levelling function, rear combination lamp with LED brake lights, automatic headlight control, navigation, HD rear-view camera, front & rear parking sensors, and a Bluetooth™ hands-free system, along with Apple CarPlay™ & Android Auto™ connectivity. The instant torque from the electric motor ensures immediate power delivery, and its carefully modulated traction control does work well for the most part, but you do need to be careful on a wet road surface not to over-exert the throttle loading in order to avoid wheelspin. Irrespective of the fact that the EVX sits on large wheels, the ride quality experienced inside the cabin is excellent. The car rounds off the edges on severe bumps and speed ramps, and it absorbs smaller road imperfections with minimum fuss. The high-set driving position and relatively large glass areas around the car allow for excellent visibility, with the standard-fit parking sensors and HD rear-view camera proving invaluable when negotiating car park spaces. The regenerative braking system in the EVX works well at doing the job it is tasked to do, and the driver can select between three levels of braking force via paddle controls behind the steering wheel.
Verdict, Price & Warranty.
The new KGM Torres EVX is an impressively spacious and well-equipped fully-electric SUV with a refreshing and distinctive design language that garners a lot of attention. Indeed, some people whom I met during my time with the EVX could see elements of Land Rover and Range Rover models from certain angles, and that is quite a complement, in fairness. Inclusive of the current €3,500 SEAI EV Grant, the new Torres EVX is priced at €47,500. All KGM passenger models are sold with a 5 year, unlimited kilometre warranty – terms and conditions apply. The Torres EVX also benefits from a 10 year/one-million kilometre warranty.
Visit www.kgm.ie for further information.
