BMW X1 vs Ssangyong Korando

What's the difference?

BMW’s X1 has changed. In a good way. Especially if you’re thinking about buying one as a family car.

Yep, last year the third-generation X1 arrived and after 13 years and three different attempts on a design, BMW has nailed it. And by ‘it’ I mean built a super practical and spacious small SUV that’s great to drive. 

See, as a dad of two kids, when it comes to cars and my family ‘it’ means something totally different to what ‘it’ meant 10 years ago.

And that’s what this review is about: does the BMW X1, and specifically this xDrive20i M Sport variant we’ve tested here, make a good family car?

If you're thinking of buying it for your family then you need to read this and also consider the likes of Audi’s Q3 and the Mercedes-Benz GLB.

It’s safe to say that SsangYong’s reintroduction to Australia back in late 2018 didn’t go as planned.

Since the relaunch, the world was plunged into an industry-disrupting pandemic and the brand has had to manage bankruptcy in its Korean home market.

But that has also created an opportunity, as big-name brands like Toyota, Mazda, Hyundai, Kia and Mitsubishi continue to push upmarket, it leaves price-sensitive customers with fewer and fewer options.

As a cut-price alternative alongside Chinese brands like MG, LDV and GWM Haval, SsangYong could very well carve out its niche as more Australians look to get into new wheels without breaking the bank.

And while the Musso ute and Rexton large SUV are the brand’s biggest sellers, it’s the Korando mid-size SUV that could make the biggest impact in turning SsangYong’s fortunes around as it competes in the booming mid-size SUV market.

So, does the SsangYong Korando have what it takes to steal sales away from big dogs like the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5? Or are you better off waiting months and months for a known quantity?