Ssangyong Torres 2023: Australian release likely for rugged Korean Toyota RAV4 rival

South Korean car manufacturer Ssangyong has unveiled its new Torres midsize SUV which will likely be headed to Australia.

Ssangyong previously teased its rugged-looking SUV when it released design sketches last year, with the midsize crossover previously known as ‘KR10’ appearing ready to compete with off-road rivals such as the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco, though the production model looks far more conventional.

The new design suggests a unibody chassis serves as a base and the production-version Torres will likely do battle against popular family vehicles in Australia including the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forester.

The reveal of the Torres has come despite Ssangyong’s well-publicised financial struggles which saw it secure a buy-out deal with Edison Motors, only for the deal to fall through months later, with the launch of an all-new model likely to spur some much-needed interest.

Torres to debut a more rugged design for Ssangyong

As the first all-new Ssangyong model since the second-generation Musso ute appeared in 2018, the Torres updates the brand’s styling on a number of fronts.

The Jeep-like front grille, apparent front and rear skid plate along with the bulging wheel arches all hint at its more rugged focus. The tailgate in particular echos this sentiment by incorporating a faux spare wheel design, similar to the Mitsubishi Outlander.

Ssangyong will offer the Torres with 17-inch alloy wheels on lower grades through to 20-inch wheels on higher trims, though the former could bode well for more off-road focused variants.

Official engine specifications are unclear but a turbocharged engine mated to a six-speed automatic has been promised. A likely contender is the 120kW/280Nm 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder found in the Korando, which can be had in both front- and all-wheel-drive configurations.

Modernised cabin space with a large boot

While measurements of the Torres are not yet available, Ssangyong has confirmed a large storage capacity of 703-litres when all five seats are in place, or 1662-litres when the second row is folded flat.

The front of the cabin has also been updated with an array of touchscreens including a digital driver’s display of unspecified size. Ssangyong pairs this with a huge 12.3-inch touchscreen while functions such as climate control are relegated to an additional 8.0-inch screen fitted below – similar to recent high-end Audi models, including the Q7 and E-tron.

Higher trim levels receive synthetic leather seats with heating and ventilation in the front row, along with a six-speaker stereo system and a heated leather steering wheel.