MOTORING MARCH: KGM Actyon K50 SUV

George Loveridge driving Around for Travel News Update

Just launched (and TNU was loaned one of the first press cars) the KGM Actyon hopes to rival giants such as the Kia Sportage. Not in terms of sales, but in value and usability. Let’s see what this new Korean Coupe SUV has to offer.

First, a brief history lesson.

KG Global bought the Korean car manufacturer, SsangYong back in late 2022. After SsangYong had been haemorrhaging cash for 16 years, KGM now hopes to go into the black with their latest endeavours.

The Actyon is so significant as it is the first entirely new model under the new name.

Performance wise, things start off looking pretty disappointing. On the road, it is different though!



Powering this 2,080kg vehicle is a 1.5 litre turbocharged petrol engine. Producing 161bhp and 280Nm, it just about manages to return reasonable performance. Upon planting your right foot, the 6-speed third generation Aisin gearbox is initially hesitant to return a different gear, but after it does you do feel a genuine turbo kick once it gets going. The power plant feels somewhat stressed and as a result, the fuel economy suffers across typical town and country driving. There is a towing capacity of 1.5 tonnes which feels to be an industry standard across vehicles of this size, I just worry about the longevity of the feeble engine over time.

Strictly FWD, you still get a wading depth of 30cm and impressive ground clearance. For a car with so much turbo torque going through the front wheels, the handling is admirable. A reassuring lack of torque steer when at speed, and a back end that settles in correspondence with the front of the car. Although, when accelerating hard from a standstill, the Actyon does like to spin up, which is translated through the steering wheel causing a momentary lack of control.

However, KGM have gone to increased lengths to ensure that the Actyon is as comfortable as possible. Such as with double glazed front windows, thicker A pillars and noise cancelling tyres. Overall, this makes the Actyon a very quiet cruiser. Usually, these SUVs with 20-inch wheels make a good amount of noise. This time, it is quite the opposite. What I would say though is that although they are quiet, the special tyres do not have the same amount of grip and control as perhaps a typical all season would have done. Forward visibility is fantastic, although the steering does get a bit heavy at slower speeds.

The interior is where the Actyon takes a leap ahead of its competitors. Generally, the inside of this car feels like it is at the £50k point, not £36k.

We have got a beautiful floating centre console that houses the gear selector and handbrake control. From here, there is a two-step dashboard, one of which is wooden and the other is topped in KGM’s lovely Nappa leather. We get twin digital displays joined together to make one large screen. The infotainment system is easy to reach, but it does house everything within, leaving no buttons anywhere else. Except from the button fest on the steering wheel. It is clearly laid out, but perhaps a bit heavy on buttons. You will also find ambient mood lighting.

This aids a sporty feel which is continued with the half suede, half leather seats which are red and black in colour. Where the Actyon really excels is with space. Rear passengers get their own heated seats, along with a huge amount of leg room. Typically, these C-Segment SUVs do not have this luxury. Moreover, there is a ginormous 668-litre boot as standard which is without folding the seats down or removing the false floor. Very impressive.

The George Loveridge Verdict

I really like the Actyon. It is stylish, contemporary and good value. Plus, it only comes in one trim level which in old money, translates to ‘fully loaded’. As standard, every option box has been ticked for you. There are elements which could have been thought out a bit more though. Such as the rear screen wash, the jet nozzle does not actually spray where the wiper reaches. Therefore, you are left with a very wet corner of your rear window, and a streaky mess where a dry wiper has been. Also, because of the design, rear visibility is poor as you look over your left shoulder from behind the driver’s seat. Luckily, there is an impeccably clear 360-degree camera to utilise. My final comment relates to the high body line in the back, meaning the children or shorter passengers may struggle to see out. Otherwise, for a ‘budget’ family SUV, you could do far worse for a lot more.

Lead in price: £36,995
Average fuel consumption: 25.9mpg
Range (petrol): 300 miles
Engine size: 1497cc
0-60: 10.8 seconds

Performance 7
Handling 8
Transmission 5
Noise 10
Economy 3
Ride and Comfort 8
Accommodation 7
Styling 7
Brakes 8
Finish 7
TOTAL = 70%

www.kgm-motors.co.uk/actyon

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