KGM Torres EVX Review: Doing Things Differently

Not every SUV buyer dreams of clipping apexes or chasing the latest technology. Some simply want to throw camping gear into the boot, point the car towards Malaysia on a Friday evening, and see where the weekend leads.

The KGM Torres EVX feels like it was built exactly for those people.

Formerly known as SsangYong, KGM was responsible for wonderfully unconventional cars like the Chairman and the Stavic. They were never the obvious choice, but there was always something rather charming about a brand that refused to follow the crowd. Fast forward to today and, despite a new majority owner and a new name, that anti-establishment streak still feels very much alive.

Only now, it's wrapped in a far more convincing package.

Exterior

In a market where many electric SUVs are beginning to resemble enlarged hatchbacks, the Torres EVX proudly goes the other way.

Its upright proportions, squared-off shoulders and muscular wheel arches give it genuine presence on the road. The linear daytime running lights, pronounced roofline and even the decorative side handle on the tailgate - which amusingly still opens upwards electronically rather than sideways - all reinforce its rugged personality.

There are thoughtful touches, too. Look closely, and you'll spot the four trigrams from the South Korean flag worked discreetly into various parts of the exterior, a subtle reminder that while the technology beneath may be global, the identity remains proudly Korean.

It might catch the eye of someone who has always admired the look of a Land Rover without ever intending to tackle Bukit Timah Hill. And frankly, that's perfectly okay.

The Inside Story

Inside, KGM has resisted the temptation to replace every button with another submenu: The steering wheel retains proper physical controls, seat adjustments remain exactly where your hands expect them to be, and even the key fob is reassuringly full-featured. Rather than asking owners to relearn how a car should work, the Torres EVX simply modernizes what they already know.

The cabin itself is spacious, while the boot is even more impressive. Clever storage beneath the load floor, dedicated stowage for the tonneau cover, thoughtful hooks behind the front headrests, and neatly designed USB-C cable channels are the sort of details you'll appreciate long after the novelty of a giant touchscreen wears off.

Our test car relied on a wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay dongle rather than built-in connectivity, but once connected, it worked just as you'd expect.

Driving It

The Torres EVX isn't interested in winning traffic light drag races.

Its 204 bhp front-mounted motor delivers more than enough performance for everyday driving, while Sport mode adds just enough urgency when overtaking or joining the expressway.

The ride remains comfortably composed over broken roads, making long journeys genuinely relaxing. Our drive returned an average consumption of 18.6 kWh/100 km (after 119 km covered, it showed 283 km range remaining).

On a separate note, the Nexen Roadian GTX tyres that were fitted on the test car offer a worryingly low level of grip, abruptly spinning the front wheels from traffic lights on multiple occasions, and even understeering appallingly when making a U-turn on a wet day.

It’s by far the weakest point of the car - arguably the most important part as well.

In A Nutshell

The Torres EVX enters one of Singapore's most fiercely contested EV segments, going up against established favourites with deeper pockets and bigger marketing budgets.

Yet, it carves out its own niche surprisingly well.

For families making the jump from a petrol or hybrid SUV, this feels like one of the most natural transitions into electric motoring. It isn't trying to overwhelm you with gimmicks or claim class-leading performance - instead, it focuses on practicality, comfort, and the confidence that comes from simply getting the fundamentals right.

That confidence extends to ownership, too. Beneath the rugged styling sits BYD's well-regarded Blade Battery, allowing KGM to back the Torres EVX with an extraordinary 10-year or one-million-kilometre battery warranty. It's a statement that says as much about the company's belief in its product as it does about the technology itself.

The Torres EVX succeeds not by being the fastest or the most technologically advanced EV on the market, but by being a masterclass in smart compromise. Spacious, comfortable, and ready for the next weekend adventure, it feels like a company that's finally comfortable in its own skin.

And perhaps that's fitting. KGM may have changed its name, but thankfully, it hasn't abandoned its willingness to do things differently.

Photos by Azfar Hashim (@azfar.talks).

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