1997 SsangYong Korando 2.9L TD 5MT 4WD (120 HP)

Vehicle Overview

SsangYong introduced the second generation of the Korando to the Asian market in 1996, and in the following year, it unveiled it to European customers with specific engines and trims.

After some troublesome start, SsangYong finally started to make its way into the world car arena. It started small in the ‘60s, with offroad vehicles built under Jeep license. Later, in 1983, the Korean automaker produced a car based on the Jeep CJ5 that wore the Korando nameplate, which was an acronym for the Korean Can Do. However, things started to improve for this model in 1996 when SsangYong launched the second generation of this moniker. Unlike its predecessor, the new model was developed with Mercedes-Benz input. Besides the engines and transmissions, the German car manufacturer shared some of its experience in building offroad vehicles. Furthermore, SsangYong hired Ken Greenley, the British design professor who had made the 1989 Aston Martin Virage, to pen the car.

The 1996 SsangYong Korando had a front fascia that tried to create a connection with the previous generation of the car. It had round headlights in an era where most other vehicles sported the organic shapes of the bio-design trend. Between them, the automaker placed a grille with shaved corners. It featured horizontal or vertical slats, depending on the trim and markets. The fenders’ line sat lower than the hood, similar to older offroad vehicles from the ‘50s. A wrapped-around plastic bumper covered the lower side of the front fascia and integrated a second air intake in the apron and available fog lamps.

From its profile, the three-door bodywork had a steep windshield that started the line of the tall greenhouse. The large side windows and the vertical tailgate at the back were typical for offroad vehicles. Furthermore, Ken Greenley placed the spare wheel at the back. The 1996 SsangYong Korando was available as a three-door hard-top vehicle or as a convertible. Regardless of the passenger area, all versions featured flared fenders, emphasizing the car’s appetite for driving through remote areas over mud, roots, and sand. In addition, the car manufacturer offered an option for side steps attached below the sturdy chassis.

The 1996 SsangYong Korando offered bucket seats for the front occupants separated by a center console that housed the gear stick and the handbrake. Depending on the options, the automaker provided the car with walnut or aluminum trims on the center stack, where the standard HVAC control panel and the stereo were installed. The tall dashboard, albeit with rounded edges, looked appropriate for an offroad vehicle. Fronting the driver was an instrument cluster with a simple layout featuring large dials for the speedometer and tachometer, gauges for the coolant temperature and fuel level, and the odometer. While the front occupants enjoyed enough leg and headroom, the rear bench seat was cramped, which was suitable for two people. The trunk space behind them was minimal.

Under the hood, the 1996 SsangYong Korando was available with a choice of licensed-built Mercedes-Benz engines. The automaker offered the car with a 2.3-liter inline-four or a 3.2-liter inline-six gasoline powerhouse, while a 2.9-liter inline-five turbodiesel was also available. They were all paired with a five-speed manual transmission, while a four-speed automatic gearbox was available at extra cost for specific versions.