Is KGM the Same as SsangYong? The 2026 Guide for Buyers and Owners in Kent

The short answer

Yes. KGM and SsangYong are the same car company. SsangYong was bought out of receivership by the Korean KG Group and renamed KG Mobility in March 2023. The UK arm changed its name from SsangYong Motors UK to KGM Motors UK on 19 December 2023, and all 73 UK dealerships were rebranded by the middle of 2024. The cars, the factories in South Korea and the dealer network are the same. If you own a SsangYong, nothing changes for you: your warranty is still valid, your car is still serviced by the same dealers, and you do not need to rebadge anything.

If you are in Kent and want to see the current range in person, you can visit our KGM dealership in West Malling or browse the KGM cars we have in stock.

What happened to SsangYong?

SsangYong had a difficult few years. The company entered receivership in 2020 after a long period of financial pressure. In 2022 it was acquired by KG Group, a South Korean industrial conglomerate with interests in chemicals, steel and finance, and in March 2023 the parent company was formally renamed KG Mobility.

The original plan was to use "KG Mobility" as the consumer brand name in Europe too. The company changed course fairly quickly and settled on the shorter "KGM" for the UK and European markets, keeping the full KG Mobility name in Korea. The UK announcement came on 19 December 2023, and the brand adopted the global slogan "Go Different."

This matters because it was a rescue that worked. Plenty of car brands that enter receivership simply disappear from the UK, leaving owners chasing parts through independent specialists. SsangYong did not. It came out the other side with an owner that has actually invested in new product, which is why the 2026 range looks nothing like the 2020 one.

Is KGM the same as SsangYong?

KGM is the same company as SsangYong, under new ownership and a new name. It is not a new manufacturer, and it is not a company that has bought the rights to old SsangYong designs. It is the same business, building the same model lines, in the same South Korean plants, sold through the same UK dealer network.

The clearest way to think about it is that SsangYong changed its name, in the same way a person might. The badge on the bonnet evolved, but the model names carried straight over. A Musso is still a Musso. A Rexton is still a Rexton. A Tivoli is still a Tivoli.

Which SsangYong models became KGM models?

Most of the range carried over directly. A few changed, and one was dropped from the new car line-up entirely, which is worth knowing before you go looking for one.

• Musso → Musso, Musso Rhino, Musso EV — Same pickup, heavily updated. The Rhino is an all-new 2026 version, and the Musso EV is the first electric pickup in the range.
• Rexton → Rexton, Rexton Commercial — Same seven-seat 4x4; name and format unchanged.
• Tivoli → Tivoli — Unchanged, still the entry point to the range.
• Torres → Torres Hybrid, Torres EVX — New model launched under the SsangYong name, now the core of the KGM SUV range.
• Korando → no direct new equivalent — The Korando is no longer part of the KGM new-car range in the UK; available used only.
• Korando e-Motion → withdrawn — Replaced in the range by the Torres EVX.

If you have been searching for a Korando, that last row is the one to note. It is a used purchase now, not a new one. We can usually source one, so it is worth asking our sales team rather than assuming it is unavailable.

What is in the KGM range in 2026?

The current UK line-up is nine vehicles, weighted heavily towards SUVs and pickups. These are KGM UK list prices at the time of writing.

Prices change and manufacturer offers move quarterly, so check the current figure with us before you order.

Why the Musso is the range's genuinely interesting car

Here is the detail most buying guides miss. The Musso Rhino is, at the time of writing, the only pickup on sale in the UK that can carry its full payload and tow its maximum 3.5 tonnes at the same time. Most rivals quote a headline payload and a headline towing figure that you cannot use simultaneously without exceeding the gross train weight.

The Rhino carries 1,090kg and tows 3.5 tonnes, from a 2.2 litre turbodiesel making 198bhp and 400Nm. There is a Rhino+ version with a 310mm longer load bed and a 1,200kg payload for about £1,000 more. It starts from £38,995 excluding VAT, which undercuts a comparably specified Ford Ranger or Toyota Hilux by a meaningful margin.

If you are cross shopping pickups, it is worth reading our guide to the Mitsubishi L200's return to the UK alongside this, because we sell both and the two trucks suit different buyers.

What happens to my SsangYong warranty now it is KGM?

Your warranty is unaffected. The rebrand was a change of name and ownership, not a change of legal entity's obligations to customers.

KGM's current warranty position, per KGM Motors UK, is:

• 5 years or 100,000 miles comprehensive warranty across the range, whichever comes first

• 7 years or 90,000 miles on the Torres EVX and the Korando e-Motion

• 10 years or 1 million kilometres battery warranty on the Musso EV and Torres EVX

• 3 years paintwork warranty and 6 years anti-corrosion warranty, regardless of mileage

The warranty is transferable if you sell the car privately, which is a genuine value point when it comes to resale. A three year old KGM still has two years of manufacturer cover left for the next owner.

You also do not need to do anything to your car. It was manufactured and registered as a SsangYong and it can keep that name and those badges indefinitely.

Can I still get SsangYong parts and servicing in Kent?

Yes. Any KGM dealer can service, repair and supply parts for a SsangYong badged car, and can carry out warranty work on vehicles still in cover.

One honest caveat. Routine service items, filters, brakes, oils and common wear parts are readily available. Unusual body panels, interior trim or electrical components for older SsangYongs can take longer to source, particularly on models that were low volume in the UK. If you have an older car and something specific has failed, give us the registration and we will check availability before you book in rather than leaving your car on a ramp waiting for a part.

You can book a service or MOT with our workshop or order KGM parts and accessories directly through us.

Is a KGM worth buying in 2026?

It depends what you want from a car, and we would rather be straight about that than sell you the wrong thing.

KGM makes sense if you want a lot of physical vehicle for the money, you tow, you need a proper body on frame 4x4 or pickup, or you want a hybrid or electric SUV at a price below the mainstream equivalents. The 5 year warranty and the 10 year battery cover on the EVs are genuinely competitive and take a lot of the risk out of a less familiar badge.

KGM makes less sense if residual values are your priority. A less established brand in the UK typically depreciates faster than a Toyota or a Kia, which matters on PCP where the guaranteed future value drives your monthly payment. On hire purchase, where you are buying the car outright, that same depreciation works in your favour because the purchase price was lower to begin with. This is exactly the trade off we cover in our guide to PCP vs HP car finance, and it is worth ten minutes of reading before you commit either way.

The 2026 range also runs on diesel and petrol hybrids more than most rivals, with official combined figures for the 2025 range spanning 30.1 to 39.6mpg and CO2 from 162 to 246g/km. If you do high urban mileage, look hard at the Torres EVX or the Torres Hybrid rather than the Rexton or Musso.

Where can I buy or service a KGM in Kent?

Humphries & Parks is a KGM dealer based on London Road, West Malling, just off the A20 between Maidstone and the M20. We have been selling and servicing cars from this part of Kent since 1947 and took on our first manufacturer franchise in 1977, so we have been through a few brand changes before.

Alongside new KGM we hold around 70 used cars of all makes, every one given a 120 point inspection, a six month warranty and a minimum six month MOT as standard. We are also Electric Vehicle Approved by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles, which matters if you are considering the Torres EVX or the Musso EV and want a dealer that actually understands charging and battery health.

If you are changing cars, we will value your current one at the same time. You can get a free valuation on your existing car whether or not you buy from us, and if you are weighing up used options more broadly, our guide to the best used cars for sale in Maidstone is a good starting point.

Come and see us: London Road, West Malling, Maidstone, Kent, ME19 5AN. Call 01732 870711 or book a test drive online. Sales are open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 6pm and Saturday 8:30am to 5pm.

Frequently asked questions

Is KGM the same as SsangYong? Yes. SsangYong was acquired by South Korea's KG Group and renamed KG Mobility in March 2023. The UK arm became KGM Motors UK in December 2023. It is the same company, the same factories and the same dealer network under a new name.

Why did SsangYong change its name to KGM? The name change followed the company's acquisition out of receivership by KG Group. KGM stands for KG Mobility, the parent company's new name, and was chosen as a shorter version for the UK and European markets.

Is my SsangYong warranty still valid under KGM? Yes. Existing SsangYong warranties remain valid and are honoured at KGM dealers. Cover is 5 years or 100,000 miles across most of the range, and the warranty is transferable if you sell the car privately.

Can KGM dealers service a SsangYong? Yes. Any KGM dealer, including Humphries & Parks in West Malling, can service, repair and supply parts for SsangYong badged vehicles.

Do I need to rebadge my SsangYong as a KGM? No. Your vehicle was manufactured and registered as a SsangYong and can keep that name and badging. There is no requirement or benefit to changing it.

Is the SsangYong Korando still available? Not as a new car. The Korando is no longer part of the KGM new car range in the UK. It is available used, and we can often source one on request.

Where is the nearest KGM dealer to me in Kent? Humphries & Parks on London Road, West Malling, Maidstone, ME19 5AN, is a KGM dealer serving Maidstone, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks, Medway and the wider Kent area. Call 01732 870711.

Are KGM cars reliable? KGM vehicles are built in South Korea and carry a 5 year or 100,000 mile manufacturer warranty as standard, rising to 7 years or 90,000 miles on the Torres EVX. The EV batteries are covered for 10 years or 1 million kilometres.