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KGM continues to modernise its SsangYong-derived product range with new models. Here's another, the Actyon, a sleek Coupe-SUV version of the mid-sized Torres crossover. It's a car with its own distinct look and feel and its BYD-sourced Dual Tech Hybrid drive set-up aims to offer diesel-style running costs. Plus there's all the space and equipment you could want for the money.
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Detailed ratings
Medium-Sized Family Hatch-Based SUVs
Background
If you're searching for a family-sized SUV, it could be that what you ideally want is a car that's EV-like but not actually an EV. If so, then Korean maker KGM (formally SsangYong) hopes that its new breed of Hybrid models for this segment might interest you. There are two - the practical Torres Hybrid and the car we look at here, the slightly more style-orientated Actyon Hybrid.
The Actyon may be a car that slipped under your radar. Launched in early 2025 with an old-tech 1.5-litre petrol engine, it didn't really stand out in its segment. But in this Hybrid form, it is a much better chance of doing just that.
At first glance, the Actyon is merely a sleeker Coupe-SUV version of the Torres, but the brand is promoting it as a separate flagship model, despite the fact that (unlike the Torres) it can't be had as a full-EV. The Actyon name is supposed to be a combination of 'active young' and 'act on'. It was first used by former brand SsangYong for a model that lasted two generations from 2005 to 2018 and was, KGM rather controversially reckons, the world's first Coupe-SUV. The sales numbers targeted for this modern Actyon will be small; should you consider it? Let's take a look.
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Range data
| Min | Max |
| Price | 38995 | 38995 |
| CO2 (g/km) | 138 | 138 |
| Max Speed (mph) | 109 | 109 |
| 0-62 mph (s) | 9 | 9 |
| Min | Max |
| Length (mm) | 4740 | 4740 |
| Width (mm) | 1910 | 1910 |
| Height (mm) | 1680 | 1680 |
| Boot Capacity (l) | 668 | 668 |
Driving experience
Unlike its Torres showroom stablemate, the Actyon can't be had as an EV - though presumably in future it could be because underneath the bodywork, the two models are exactly the same. The single Actyon variant offered here is front-driven full-Hybrid and uses the same 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol/electric unit as the Torres, offering 177PS. That powerplant is in almost every way a huge improvement over the un-electrified 161PS 1.5-litre SsangYong-derived unit originally offered in early Actyons imported here, but there is the disadvantage that the Hybrid can't be configured with all-wheel drive.
The front-driven petrol/electric engineering here is quite complex, though unusually for a Hybrid powertrain sourced (as this one is) from BYD, you can't plug it in. It works with two electric motors and a six-speed e-DHT automatic gearbox which marshals 300Nm torque figure (30Nm up on that old conventionally-engined Actyon). Despite that, compared to that old un-electrified variant, braked towing capacity has fallen 200kg to 1.3-tonnes.
Still, there's otherwise lots to like about this Hybrid unit. The powertrain has no fewer than nine built-in different driving modes able to alter it for differing scenarios, none of them driver-selectable. Unless you're in the engine-only setting that preserves charge in the battery, most of your driving in town will be done without the aid of combustion power. In fact, KGM claims that the Actyon Hybrid can do 95% of its city driving on battery power alone and all-electric driving in EV mode is possible at speeds of up to 62mph. 0-62mph takes 10.8s en route to 109mph. And there's a paddleshift-activated three-setting regenerative braking set-up to recharge the batteries as you drive. Which most of the time will be in the HEV mode that combines both electric and petrol driving.
The suspension has been tweaked over the Torres, though you're still likely to feel speed humps and potholes rather too keenly. More effective has been the work done on refinement, which is near best in class. That's courtesy of sound absorbing materials and foam pads built into the chassis, plus laminated glass door sills and special noise cancelling Michelin tyres. As with other KGM models, there's not much reward for throwing this car through the bends - nor is there much steering feedback, but most customers aren't likely to be much bothered by that. As with so many new cars these days, the lane keeping assist and speed limit warning systems are over-intrusive and you'll quickly want to use the screen short-cut menu to turn them off.
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Design and build
KGM thinks correctly that this car will primarily be bought because the way it looks. Much of the styling is inspired by its Torres showroom stablemate, but at 4740mm long, 1910mm wide and 1680mm tall, it's 35mm lengthier, 20mm wider and 40mm taller than that car. The Korean maker wants to position this as an SUV-Coupe, hence the swept-back profile perspective emphasised by a rear accent line on the C-pillar and roofline silver design elements. At the front, narrow daytime running lights flank a thin grille incorporating shapes said to be inspired by the Korean flag. As with the Torres, there are pointless SUV grab handles on the bonnet and the car sits on big 20-inch wheels.
The front of cabin experience is designed around what the brand calls 'horizontal simplicity'. Primarily, that means two 12.3-inch screens in a single unit, the instrument part of the panel viewed through a squarical KGM-branded wheel. Your left hand falls across a large floating centre console that contains a crystal-style gear selector, a premium touch amongst various others, including black Nappa leather upholstery, red stitching trim, carbon fibre-style graining and a mid-level wood veneer-style inlay strip. Predictably, it's still not quite enough to make the cabin feel properly premium though.
At least the swept-back roofline doesn't unduly hamper rearward vision. Nor is there much of a headroom downside for rear seat passengers, who enjoy palatial standards of legroom helped by the generous 2,680mm wheelbase length. There's a large boot too, though at 668-litres, capacity is 35-litres less then you'd get in the boxier Torres (but 138-litres more than can be offered by a comparably priced Coupe-SUV rival like the Audi Q3 Sportback). It's 1,568-litres with the rear bench folded.
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Market and model
Only one (fully-specced) trim level is offered to Actyon Hybrid customers - 'K50'. From launch, KGM was requiring £39,000 for it. Which perhaps is not quite as cheap as you might have hoped for a petrol-powered mid-sized Hybrid SUV with 177bhp in this segment. To give you some perspective, the price is somewhere between a Kia Sportage Hybrid (from around £35,000) and a Volkswagen Tiguan eHybrid (from around £43,000). But you'd pay more for a Sportage with an equivalent trim level to this Actyon; and obviously an awful lot more for an equivalently-specced Tiguan eHybrid.
So let's get to equipment given that this is a major reason why you might want this car. In true Korean style, you certainly get plenty of kit for the money. Including 20-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and tail lamps, keyless entry, power-folding mirrors, a kick-motion powered tailgate, rear privacy glass and electronic cruise control.
Inside, there's leather and suede upholstery, a 12.3-inch LCD instrument cluster, a 360-degree Around View monitoring system, heated front and rear seats, front seat ventilation and a heated leather steering wheel. Media connectivity is taking care of by a 12.3-inch centre screen which incorporates TomTom navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a six-speaker audio system.
Safety kit includes autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic warning, blind spot detection, lane departure warning, driver attention alert, front vehicle start alert, lane keeping assist, trailer sway control and a smart high beam system for the headlights.
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Cost of ownership
For this Actyon Hybrid, KGM quotes a 46.4mpg figure on the combined cycle, which isn't anything to write home about when a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid can regularly achieve over 50mpg and a Nissan Qashqai e-POWER over 62mpg. The same could be said of the Actyon Hybrid's 138g/km CO2 emissions figure - the class norm from something like a Kia Sportage Hybrid would be something like 130g/km. But comparably-equipped versions of all the rivals just mentioned would cost you significantly more. At least the returns of this petrol/electric Actyon are a big step forward from those of the old conventional petrol Actyon, which could only manage a dismal 33.1mpg and 194g/km.
As usual with the brand, perhaps the best bit is the peace of mind that comes as standard with this car thanks to KGM's impressively complete five year 100,000 mile warranty. KGM's paintwork and anti-corrosion warranty covers the car for 3 and 6-years respectively, regardless of mileage. Any defects in the paintwork caused during the manufacturing process will be repaired by an authorised KGM approved body shop at any time during those 3-years, and any corrosion at any time up to 6-years. Service intervals are needed every year or 10,000 miles (though an initial garage visit is also needed at 6,000 miles). The insurance group is 24A (for some reason way below the 35D grouping applied to the equivalent Torres Hybrid).
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Summary
To even be considering this car, you're clearly someone prepared to look past the obvious class contenders and think about something different. And if that's you, then you might find that there's plenty to like about an Actyon; principally smart looks, but also refinement and generous amounts of rear seat and boot space. You get lots of kit too - though that would be more notable if KGM were offering this car more cheaply. As it is, the Actyon will find a small but perhaps loyal band of buyers who want something defiantly different.
True, the drive dynamics aren't particularly engaging, but few contenders in the sector can offer that. More significant might be the fact that some Hybrid class rivals are notably cleaner and more economic. But if you're looking at them with the kind of top-spec trim you get here, you'll pay a lot more. If you can't justify that premium, you might find yourself able to justify one of these.
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