We road test the all-new KGM Actyon, a striking SUV from the company formerly known as SsangYong…
Thanks to the huge success of Hyundai and Kia, it’s often forgotten that South Korea is also the home of KGM.
To cut a long story short, SsangYong Motor UK rebranded to KGM Motors in the UK in 2024 after the acquisition of the SsangYong Motor Company in Korea by the KG Group in 2022.
Even though the company can trace its heritage back to 1954, it’s fair to say that its cars haven’t exactly set the world on fire.
What’s more, its current bestseller isn’t a car at all – it’s the award-winning Musso pick-up – most recently 4×4 Magazine’s Best Value Pick-Up for 2024, no less.
The Actyon (pronounced act-e-yon) is marketed as a “coupe SUV” by KGM, though it doesn’t have a fastback-style sloping rear roofline like others in that category.
The first new KGM model, the Actyon is based on the same platform as the slightly smaller Torres SUV, and it has the big-selling Kia Sportage in its sights.
Other possible rivals include the Toyota RAV4, Vauxhall Grandland, Skoda Kodiaq, MG HS, Honda CR-V, Nissan X-Trail and Hyundai Tucson.
The KGM Actyon certainly has kerb appeal. It has a rakish profile with a chunky C-pillar and big 20-inch wheels, a distinctive front end featuring slim lights and a grille that’s supposed to evoke the lines of the South Korean flag, plus a rear with hints of the Range Rover Velar.
If the exterior is a pleasant surprise, the interior continues to impress. The Actyon is more upmarket than you might have expected, with hand-stitched black Nappa leather seats and classy materials such as suede and wood-effect trim.
There are 12.3-inch dashboard screens side-by-side – a central infotainment featuring TomTom navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, media and climate controls, plus a driver’s display with the essentials.
Thankfully, KGM hasn’t done a Tesla and gone all minimalist, and there’s a big shortcut button on the almost-hexagonal steering wheel, which can be configured. The infotainment screen graphics are not top-notch, but work well enough. As with all touchscreen-based infotainment, there’s just a tad too much prodding and swiping.
Then there’s the massive sense of space inside the cabin. There’s no seven-seat option, but rear passengers can stretch out and headroom is no issue either. With a large 668-litre boot, which expands to 1,568 litres with the 60:40 rear seats folded down, it ticks lots of boxes.
Priced from just £36,995, it represents a lot of car for your money. KGM have kept it simple too, because there’s just one full-loaded trim level. So, goodies such as a hands-free kick-motion power tailgate, front and rear heated seats, ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel and remote rear-seat heating control are all standard.
The only engine option is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol turbo which develops 161bhp and is paired with a six-speed automatic gearbox, while drive is via the front wheels.
It’s packed with safety and driver assistance tech too, so you’ll find everything from adaptive cruise control to lane-keeping assist and autonomous emergency braking (AEB).
The KGM Actyon is a bit of a revelation on the road. There’s a commanding view over the chunky bonnet thanks to the high driving position and visibility is generally good. Those big rear pillars can result in a bit of blind spot when reversing, but the 360-degree 3D surround view camera system takes care of that.
The Actyon feels substantial and the ride is a tad firm, but not uncomfortably so. On the plus side, when it’s pushed in faster corners it stays remarkably flat.
The steering is nicely weighted and it bowls along nicely with good grip and decent traction for a front-wheel drive SUV.
The engine may seem small for a big car, but it’s gutsy and the Actyon feels faster than its 10.8-second 0-62mph time would suggest. It’s refined too for the most part, only becoming harsh under aggressive acceleration.
In-cabin refinement is helped by a set of Michelin noise-cancelling tyres, laminated front door glass and all-round solid build quality.
There are three driving modes – Normal, Sport and Winter. Normal was just fine, Sport sharpened up the throttle response, while Winter seemed to add a little traction on my wet grass test.
It’s a shame that there isn’t a four-wheel drive option because it has built-in off-road capability thanks to an approach angle of 17.6 degrees and a departure angle of 21.4 degrees, and it has a wading depth of up to 300mm at speeds below 18mph.
For the record, it also has a useful towing capacity of up to 1.5 tonnes braked (750kg unbraked), plus the Actyon comes with a five-year/100,000 mileage warranty and 12-month RAC Roadside Assistance.
Pretty much all good so far, but no car is perfect and the KGM Actyon is no exception.
You see, that petrol engine doesn’t have a whiff of electrification – it’s not even a mild hybrid, which is unusual for a brand-new model these days.
The result is a car with poor official WLTP figures – that’s 33.1mpg and CO2 emissions of 194g/km (thus incurring a hefty first-year VED payment).
What’s more, in the real-world you’ll only get close to that kind of economy on a long, steady run. I only achieved around 27mpg during my road test.
Maybe there will be an EV version, like the Torres EVX, at some stage, but for now it is what it is.
Ultimately, the Actyon is great value for money and a real step-up for KGM in terms of quality, but its poor fuel efficiency is a big, black mark..
Verdict: If you’re looking for a classy, spacious SUV that’s well made, safe, stands out from the crowd and drives well, then the all-new KGM Actyon should be on your shortlist. Just check out the running costs before you sign on the dotted line.
