SsangYongs have long been renowned for their towing ability. And the company’s roots in rugged military vehicle design are still evident in the pulling power of the current range, including the all-new Korando.
What makes a good towing car?
Real towing ability comes from a combination of strength, pulling power, weight and design.
Strength
The Korando has a new monocoque body construction. Traditionally, 4x4s had a separate body and chassis, but the Korando’s design allows for great strength and rigidity without excessive weight. The big 4x4 Rexton still retains the separate chassis. It's immensely strong, but it weighs much more than a monocoque design.
Pulling power
Pulling power (or torque) is more important in daily driving – and especially towing – than maximum power or 0-60mph figures. Because most people don’t use their cars for drag racing, the amount of pull at low engine speeds is a better indication of how well the car will accelerate or pull a load.
The Korando produces a big, constant 360Nm of pulling power from 2000-3000rpm. That’s more than Kuga, Qashqai, Sportage and many other cars with much larger engines. So it’s quick when it’s not towing and unflustered when it is.
Weight
Convention states that the weight of your caravan should not exceed 85% of the weight of the towing vehicle. This is because most cars rely on their weight to help stabilize the towed mass.
The Korando can tow almost 100% of its own gross vehicle weight. This is partly thanks to the strength of the engine, but also from the Korando’s inherent stability and grip. Because it’s not relying on old-fashioned ballast to keep it on the road, all Korandos can tow a braked trailer of up to 2 tonnes.
Design
A small proportion of the towed load rests directly on the towbar, so its design, build and fitting are hugely important. The Korando's towbar is engineered to withstand up to 80kg. Believe us, that's a lot.
Meanwhile the big Rexton's towbar can carry up to 128kg. Good luck finding a caravan that's too big for it.
For more information about SsangYong and towing, call us on 0845 456 4056.