SsangYong Korando CSX Commercial: It’s a van – sort of

SsangYong are continuing their Korando offensive with the Korando CSX Commercial, a van based on the Korando.

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We can’t knock Mahindra and Mahindra for their efforts with SsangYong. They’re working hard to position their offerings as a credible budget alternative to SUVs from mainstream makers in an effort to turn SsangYong in to another Korean force in the car market.

The Ssangyong Korando is a decent effort to take on cars like the Hyundai ix35 and Ford Kuga, and now they’re having a punt at turning the Korando in to a ‘van’.

But they haven’t exactly gone overboard with the detail and appear to have simply removed the back seats and painted out the back windows so no one can see what you’re carrying. That, apparently, turns the Korando in to a van. Well, it’s enough to convince the tax man, anyway.

So for £15,995 you can have a Korando CSX Commercial (which, if you’re paying the VAT, means a list price of £19k), with a completely flat load area, a 2 tonne towing capacity and 360Nm of torque.

Under the bonnet is a decently effective 2.0 litre diesel with emissions of 157g/km and 147bhp which manages 47mpg and will do most of what you want it to do.

Which all adds up if you want a vehicle that you can convince the tax man is a van, but is really a Korando SX without back seats for a few hundred quid more. But as a van, your BIK will be much less and you can get the vat back if it’s a business van, and you’re vat registered.

Otherwise, just buy the Korando SX and spend the few hundred quid you save on blacking out the back windows. Then, you can stick the kids in the back when you’re not working.