KGM, formerly known as SsangYong, is a South Korean carmaker with roots going back to 1954. Originally focused on military and commercial vehicles, it entered the SUV market in the 1990s with models like the Musso and Korando. These rugged, value-focused off-roaders built the brand’s reputation in Australia.
The company struggled through multiple ownership changes before being acquired by Korean steel and chemical group KG Group in 2022. The rebrand to KGM in 2023 signalled a fresh start. While still producing familiar SUVs and utes, KGM has turned its focus to electric vehicles, with new models already on sale in its home market.
Australian sales have been modest, but KGM continues to offer affordable 4WDs like the Rexton and Musso with long warranties and strong towing. The brand is positioning itself as a value alternative in both petrol and electric segments, especially for buyers looking beyond mainstream names.
This is a very topical issue as dual-cab utes and many SUVs now claim to be capable of towing this 3500kg load that has kind of become the industry standard. The reality is that while they may be legally allowed to do so, many of them struggle performance-wise when the full 3.5 tonnes is hitched up. The KGM with its 2.2-litre engine is one of these.
That’s not to say the Rexton won’t pull the load, but it won’t do it in a relaxed way and you’ll find you’ll be using lots of throttle lots of the time to maintain your pace. You’ll also have to plan ahead for any hills, overtaking moves and braking situations.
The old rule of thumb was that you wouldn’t hitch up any trailer that weighed more than the vehicle towing it. That advice seems to have been lost thanks to marketing departments, but perhaps it should make a return.
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