One of the trends in the car market this year is the shift toward large hybrid crossovers. For several years, the Toyota RAV4 has dominated this segment without challenge, even reaching annual sales of 6,600 units last year, earning it the fifth place in the market.
This year, the Americanized models of the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage with hybrid powertrains landed in Israel, immediately leading the sales of both models at the expense of the gasoline versions. This did not prevent the RAV4 from delivering 5,600 units locally by the end of September, a higher pace than last year, despite the fact that a new generation of the model, the world’s best-selling car, was revealed a few months ago and will arrive in Israel in March 2026.
But South Korea is not just Hyundai and Kia. The small KGM is also launching a large hybrid crossover in Europe these days, which will arrive here next month. KGM is the new name of SsangYong, the company that grew from producing Jeep models for the South Korean army and has specialized for decades in off-road vehicles, like the Rexton.
After going through several transitions due to financial difficulties, it was sold to the Chinese SAIC and later to India’s Mahindra, and finally ended up two years ago in the hands of the Korean chemical conglomerate KG. The new owner changed the company’s name and injected funds into the development and launch of new models.
The Torres has already been sold in Israel for about a year with a turbo-gasoline engine, and next month it will arrive in a version much more aligned with the spirit of the times—a full hybrid. Abroad, there is also an electric version, which will not arrive here for now. This is a small manufacturer, about 120,000 units in 2024, recording significant growth abroad and also in Israel, where deliveries doubled again after a similar increase in 2023.
About 1,700 deliveries have been made in Israel since the beginning of 2025, and it is expected to exceed 2,000 units annually for the first time ever—a milestone that has never occurred in the 30 years SsangYong has been marketed in Israel.
The hybrid Torres is part of a new series of models, including the electric Musso pickup, which is set to become the cheapest pickup in Israel, the transition of the older Rexton to hybrid power, and more. Despite producing in a year what Toyota builds in a week, KGM manages to expand and even outpace the Japanese in niches such as electric pickups.
Does the RAV4 have anything to fear from the hybrid Torres?
Design: In an era when everyone copies everyone else, the Torres does not look like anyone else. SsangYong had a tradition of, let’s say, controversial designs.
The Torres, however, proves that it is possible to break the mold without giving viewers an eye strain. It looks tough and muscular, with an asymmetrical roof structure, a front full of squares, a two-tone body, and what looks like handgrips above the hood—a hint at an expedition vehicle for carrying excess cargo, something no Torres driver is likely to do, but it adds to the tough image. Not everyone will like it, but I forgive it and its designers for daring to be different.
Interior: The Torres is a large car, bigger than the RAV4 and the Korean rivals, with a length of 4.7 meters, a width of 1.89 meters, a height of 1.72 meters (including roof rails), and a wheelbase of 2.68 meters. This is 10 cm longer than the Toyota, 4 cm wider, 3 cm taller, but 1 cm shorter in wheelbase.
This is noticeable from the outside, and even more so when entering. There is plenty of space, both front and rear. The hybrid version also received the updated driver environment immediately, with the classic layout of two 12.3-inch screens, one as the instrument cluster and the other as a multimedia display.
There are plenty of physical control buttons on the door and steering wheel, but climate control is still operated from the screen. There is a shortcut for air conditioning, but physical buttons would have been better for the task. The instrument panel display tries to innovate but is not always completely clear.
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are available, but via cable and not yet wireless. The design is nice, combining light brown and black in the launch vehicles, and the material quality is good. The front seats are electrically adjustable and comfortable. The rear seat is very spacious, including legroom, width, and headroom. There is an air vent, USB ports, and large windows. Features include a huge panoramic roof with a sunshade.
The 703-liter trunk is one of the largest in its class, with a rollable cover.
Safety: Not yet tested in the European crash test. Autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping and correction, blind-spot monitoring, automatic high beams, warning for opening a door into an occupied lane. Like any modern car, there are many alerts for speed, fatigue, and minor annoyances. Lane correction can be somewhat aggressive.
Engine and Performance: When we tested the gasoline version, we enjoyed the power but less so the fuel consumption. The hybrid version is designed to fix this. It also has a 1.5-liter engine, but with 150 hp. The electric motor is stronger, with 177 hp, and combined output is 204 hp. Most of the time, especially in the city, the car runs on its electric motor.
The result is agile performance, especially if you select Sport among the driving modes instead of Eco or Normal. Acceleration is quiet as long as the gasoline engine is not engaged, and even when it is, you hear it working but it is not loud.
The hybrid system has a 1.83 kWh BYD battery, which not only sells its own cars but also batteries and electrical components to other manufacturers. On the test track, mostly suburban and driven calmly most of the time, we easily achieved 18 km/l, similar to the manufacturer’s data. The RAV4 is more economical, but the Tucson and Sportage are not.
On the roads around Frankfurt, comfort was good and grip high, but the hybrid Torres has not yet faced Israeli asphalt, which will require a follow-up test in Israel.
Bottom Line: If Telecar sticks to plans to offer the Torres in two trim levels, at NIS 180,000 and NIS 190,000, it will be about NIS 10,000 cheaper than the Hyundai duo and NIS 30,000 cheaper than the Toyota. It may not be as refined as them in every detail—a simple, unpretentious car—but with an efficient powertrain, large size, spacious interior, modernity, and fuel efficiency.
At this price, it can continue KGM’s growth in Israel and worldwide and begin to realize the huge potential of a manufacturer specializing in leisure vehicles. Finally, a new car, not Chinese, from a small but veteran Korean manufacturer proving that with proper management and sourcing components externally, it is possible to create an interesting and competitive crossover—even if your name is not Kia, Hyundai, or Toyota.
KGM Torres Hybrid | Spec
Engine: Hybrid, 1.5-liter gasoline + electric, 204 hp
Transmission: Direct drive, front-wheel drive
Performance (manufacturer): 0–100 km/h in 9 seconds, top speed 180 km/h, 18 km/l
Safety: Not tested in European crash test, full active safety
Estimated Price: NIS 180,000–190,000
Likes: Design, space, equipment, powertrain
Dislikes: RAV4 still more economical, some UX issues
Rating: 8.5/10
The author was a guest of KGM in Germany