KGM Torres: Brakes a deal breaker

What is it?

The newly-landed Torres SUV has gone for the full box and dice with its first foray into the petrol/electric hybrid jungle.

The South Korean Torres (aka Tower) is manufacturer KGM’s start of a new electric era with a full hybrid system with impressive performance and  welcome fuel efficiency.

At the heart of the pair are two electric motors, working with a hybrid-specific transmission, performing separate functions, seamlessly combining both series and parallel operations.

This enables the car to be driven by the electric motor, the engine, or both at the same time as charging the battery.

What’s it cost?

Two models are available at launch – the K30 and K40 – both scraping under the $50k mark before on-road costs – $45,000 and $48,000 respectively. The latter was on test.

The stylish looks of the ICE sibling have been retained by the Torres, while adding subtle touches setting the siblings apart.

The Hybrid runs on new alloy wheels, while sporting a ‘HYBRID’ emblem on the tailgate and a black panel over the C-pillar.

But that’s not all. In fading light, a three-quarter view of the Torres test car, the dark green duco, with contrasting black C-pillar panel and window sunshades, gave the impression with canopy not of a modern SUV but a workman-like dual cabin ute. No kidding.

However, in full illumination, the rest of the vehicle had all the contemporary styling of the modern-day SUV.

Standard features are an integrated panoramic display with 12.3-inch component consisting of instrument cluster and touch-screen information. Included in the set-up are Apple CarPlay and Android Auto plug-in only.

Standard safety gear across both models begins with eight airbags and includes adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assist and lane departure warning.

Electronic stability control and driver attention alert are joined in the K40 by rear cross traffic alert, blind spot warning and lane change collision warning. Pretty much a ‘full house’.

The MY26 Torres Hybrids are covered by a seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty, with the high-voltage battery good for seven years, or 150,000km.

What’s it go like?

Ride comfort has been upgraded with reinforcement of sound absorbing and insulating materials in key noisy areas such as the engine compartment cover and wheel arches, cutting both road and engine noise.

As with many of the latest vehicles the cabin is awash with black surroundings, but in this case punctuated by copper highlights.

Leather-look seats are heated up front, as is the steering wheel.

The hot sun can be kept at bay in the rear by pull-up sun blinds.

465 litres of cargo can be carried in the back with all seats up.

This extends to 1526 litres with all seat backs folded flat.

Rear storage is also worth a mention with expansive bottle holders in the doors, pockets in the seatbacks, a retractable armrest with cupholders, and a tray in the centre console.

The ‘fossil fuel department’ runs on a 1.5 litre direct injection turbocharged engine putting out 110kW of power at 5500 rpm and 220Nm of torque between 2200 and 4200 revs.

Electric power is offered up by a pair of permanent magnet synchronous motors pushing combined power to 150kW.

An e-DHT dedicated hybrid transmission passes this on to the front wheels.

The Torres Hybrid’s architecture allows the vehicle to be driven as a town car primarily in EV mode at speeds of up to 100km/h.

When the battery charge is low the engine automatically starts up to function as a generator in series mode, while the vehicle continues to drive smoothly in electric mode.

When extra power is called upon under hard acceleration or an uphill climb the engine connects directly with the wheels, in parallel with the electric drive unit.

The system features a spread of hybrid driving modes, needing no driver input, automatically engaging the optimal set-up for performance and efficiency.

With the high-capacity 130kW motor close to the drive shaft and 300Nm torque, acceleration is instantaneous, smooth and quiet.

The feeling is of an EV with long-range hybrid reliability.

The test K40 kept pretty much to its claimed fuel consumption of 5.6L/100km over a week’s work of varying conditions.

Backing this up are advanced suspension dynamics incorporating new shock absorbers with ‘smart’ damping allowing precise control of body movements, at the same time, providing more compliant damping over rough surfaces.

Ride comfort is a beneficiary, as is handling.

Braking can be a bind. The brake pedal response is ‘iffy’ and can be hard to judge.

The car can halt faster than expected, or slower, to finish too close to something in front.

Audible driver alerts are all but silent, which is a boon — but the absence of a 360-degree all-round camera is unusual in this style of car these days.

A pity.

What we like?

• Strong value: hybrid SUV pricing stays under the $50k mark
• Clever full-hybrid system delivers smooth, quiet EV-like driving
• Good real-world economy, with the test car close to its claimed 5.6L/100km
• Spacious, practical cabin with a big boot and plenty of storage

What we don’t like?

• Brake pedal feel is inconsistent and hard to judge
• No 360-degree camera, which feels like a miss
• Cabin design is dominated by black trim, despite copper accents
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are plug-in only

The bottom line?

The Torres K40 makes a competent start to the commitment to combining advanced hybrid technology and modern good looks at a reasonable price to the KMG brand.

 

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