Is the KGM Torres Hybrid a good family SUV?

The Torres Hybrid is worth a look if you want a large five-seat load area and petrol-hybrid convenience. Its official 703-litre seats-up boot figure is a stronger everyday selling point than its rugged appearance. Buyers who tow should pay particular attention to the 1,300kg braked limit.

Some SUVs sell an outdoors lifestyle; others need to carry a week's worth of family clutter without complaint. The Torres looks as though it wants both jobs. I would judge it first on the second one, because that is where most owners will discover whether they bought well.

The hybrid also gives KGM a useful middle route for buyers who are interested in electrification but do not have a practical charging arrangement.

How does it differ from the electric Torres EVX?

The Hybrid uses a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine with an electric motor and does not require external charging. The Torres EVX is the separate fully electric model. They should not share an ownership calculation just because they share a name.

I would choose between them by looking at parking and charging first. If the car can charge conveniently while parked, the EVX deserves a comparison. If most charging would involve a special trip, the Hybrid may fit your routine more naturally.

Do not add the petrol engine's output to the motor's rating to invent a combined figure. Hybrid components do not necessarily reach their maximums together. The official acceleration and consumption figures are more useful here than an improvised power total.

What do the UK figures tell us?

KGM lists the Hybrid from £35,995, with 46.1mpg combined consumption and a nine-second 0–62mph time. These are manufacturer figures. They suggest an everyday family brief, not a performance model.

My interest would be how smoothly the system responds in normal traffic and whether the engine stays unobtrusive when the car is loaded. A short demonstration without passengers or luggage will not answer every question about a car bought for family use.

Is the luggage space genuinely useful?

The UK specification lists five seats, 703 litres with them upright and 1,662 litres folded. That is a promising starting point for bulky family belongings, but the opening and floor shape are still worth checking with your actual equipment.

I would try the usual pushchair, dog crate or sports bags and see what remains accessible. A large total is less helpful if the item you need every day only fits with a seat folded. Likewise, check the rear bench with the front seats in their normal positions.

There is no third row here. If seven seats are a genuine requirement, start with a car designed to provide them rather than hoping a very large boot will somehow cover the gap.

Can it tow a caravan?

The published braked towing limit is 1,300kg. That is a maximum vehicle figure, not a blanket approval for any caravan or trailer below it. The loaded combination, nose weight, payload and applicable limits still need to match.

I would establish the real loaded trailer weight before choosing the car. The square styling cannot tell you its towing capability, and figures for a different KGM model or powertrain are not interchangeable.

What about warranty and alternatives?

KGM lists five years or 100,000 miles for the vehicle and eight years or 100,000 miles for the high-voltage battery, subject to terms. Locate your servicing point and read the coverage conditions alongside the sales quotation.

Compare the Geely Starray EM-i if plugging in is realistic, the Dacia Duster if a smaller, less expensive SUV can do the job, and the MG S9 if additional seating is central to the brief.

What is my verdict?

The Torres Hybrid makes most sense as a spacious five-seat family car. That is where I would focus the viewing and the comparison, rather than treating it as an all-purpose workhorse on appearance alone.

If the load area solves a real problem and the hybrid fits your routine, it earns a shortlist place. If you need seven seats or substantial towing capacity, let those requirements lead you elsewhere.

Sources and author

By Ben Freakley. Editorial assessment using KGM UK's technical specification and model information, checked 21 October 2026. Official KGM image. More KGM coverage; the brand was previously known as SsangYong.