TagAZ Tager History

The TagAZ Tager entered mass production at the Taganrog plant in early 2008, built under license from SsangYong as a rebadged Korando. The agreement gave TagAZ the right to produce the model with its own badging for the Russian market, where it competed as a rugged, body-on-frame off-roader at an accessible price point.

What distinguished the Russian-built Tager from the Korean original was the addition of a five-door long-wheelbase version alongside the standard three-door body — a configuration SsangYong itself had not offered. Powertrain options carried over from the Korando: a 2.3-litre petrol (150 hp), a 3.2-litre petrol (220 hp), and diesel variants of 2.6 litres (104 hp) and 2.9 litres (120 hp), paired with a part-time 4WD transfer case.

The Tager remained in production until TagAZ was declared bankrupt on January 21, 2014, making it one of the factory's longest-running own-branded models. Its ladder-frame construction and multiple engine choices gave it a loyal following among buyers who wanted truck-like capability at a sub-premium price.