KGM Actyon (2025 - )

The five-door Actyon is the first all-new model to be launched from the KGM stable, the company that acquired SsangYong. 
Available with a 1.5-litre petrol engine and in just a single generously-equipped trim level, the Actyon is a five-door coupe-SUV that is very easy on the eye.
It boasts rakish good looks, comes fully loaded with a wealth of technology, covers any practical needs and drives beautifully. And the price-tag of just shy of £37k is another winning feature of this car.
 

The KGM Actyon is most certainly a head turner for all the right reasons with strong kerb appeal. It’s a mid-sized, five-door, coupe-SUV that looks good from any approach.
There are even Korean-inspired daytime running lights which is nod to the car’s heritage, along with upright taillights, black roof rails, privacy glass on the rear doors, quarter and tailgate, plus striking 20-inch alloy wheels. At launch, the Actyon is available in five shades called Space Black, Dandy Blue, Iron Metal, Forest Green and Grand White. 
Inside, the eight-way power-adjustable seats are upholstered in a luxurious mix of Nappa leather and suede. Finding the perfect driving position is effortless, thanks to the wide range of adjustments available on the all-new hexagonal-shaped leather-wrapped steering wheel, a first for KGM. The seats offer both heating and ventilation, and for added comfort, the outer rear seats and steering wheel can also be warmed to combat the winter chill.
It has an elegant and premium feel thanks to a black and red theme throughout, with the main focal point being a pair of 12.3-inch screens that merge seamlessly behind a curved glass pane. The left screen is where all the on-board tech is located including the navigation system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, Bluetooth, the rearview camera, heating controls and access to the ambient lighting set-up.
For added convenience, a favourites button located on the steering wheel allows the driver to customise which features are used most frequently for quick access. This avoids the irritation of navigating touchscreen menus on the fly. Behind the steering wheel is the other display which clearly shows all the vital driving data.
The only downside for me in this otherwise premium cockpit, was the piano black trim which would likely show signs of fingerprint smudges after a while.
 

KGM is launching its Actyon with a four-cylinder, 1.5-litre petrol engine matched to a six-speed automatic gearbox. With 161bhp and 280Nm of torque, it can sprint to 62mph from a standing start in 10.8 seconds (it feels much quicker) and maxes out at 119mph.
When it comes to performance, the front-wheel drive Actyon is deceptively quick off the mark and there is a constant stream of power on tap. I thought the engine might start protesting under heavy throttle pressure, but it responded instantly with ample acceleration.
The six-speed automatic gearbox is well-timed and there are steering wheel-mounted paddles for added driver engagement. These are complimented by the three drive modes called Normal, Sport and Winter that alter the car’s handling accordingly, with Sport sharpening up the reactions considerably.
The Actyon handles twisting B roads with confidence, offering strong grip and showing little-to-no sign of body roll through sharp bends.
The cabin is well-insulated, keeping outside noise at bay, while the suspension effectively smooths out most uneven road surfaces for a more comfortable ride.
Its agility makes the Actyon a dream to drive in busier town centres with the light steering feel, 360-degree camera and impressive 10.9-metre turning circle all enhancing its manoeuvrability.  
Driver visibility is another plus point generally, although the wide pillars do obscure the over-the-shoulder view slightly.
 

The KGM Actyon boasts a strong road presence which is essential in the competitive compact SUV sector. It stretches 4,740mm in length, is 1,910mm across (including mirrors), 1,680mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,680mm.
The cabin is neatly designed and deceptively spacious. Up front, a couple of six footers can sit comfortably, and with 939mm of legroom, there is room in the back for another two adults, or ideally, a trio of youngsters. For added comfort, the rear seats can recline up to 32.5 degrees
The boot, accessed via a powered tailgate, is also generously sized and can accommodate 668 litres of kit, increasing to 1,568 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat. There is a kick motion sensor to open the boot hands-free by waving your foot beneath the rear bumper. This is really handy if you’re approaching the car laden down with shopping.
Elsewhere, there is a good-sized glovebox, a wireless charging pad, front and rear cup holders, door bins with partitions for bottles, seat back pockets with mobile phone holder, hangers, a cubby box, a large storage area beneath the centre console, trays and plenty of USB-C ports to keep devices charged on the move.
Despite being front-wheel drive only, the KGM Actyon can tow a braked trailer or caravan weighing up to 1,500kg (750kg unbraked). It can wade through water up to 300mm deep and has impressive approach and departure angles of 17.6 and 21.4 degrees respectively.
 

With only one model available—the K50—the pricing is refreshingly straightforward. At £36,995, it’s an impressive price for a well-equipped family car, especially when compared to many of its premium compact SUV rivals, which often come with much higher price tags.

When it comes to the day-to-day running costs, the Actyon is not exactly frugal with WLTP-tested combined fuel efficiency of 33.1mpg and carbon emissions of 194g/km.

This CO2 output would lead to a high first-year road tax (Vehicle Excise Duty) charge of £1,650 dropping to the standard annual 2024/25 fee of £190 after 12 months.

But there is some good news on the money-saving front. As the KGM Actyon is priced below £40k, owners will not face the additional premium car tax which adds a further £410 to the annual tax bill from years two to six.

With the Actyon being all-new, it’s impossible to say how reliable it will be, but KGM has every confidence in the vehicle. So, for added peace of mind, the car comes with a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty. And there are some attractive service plans available via KGM from £35 per month.

The Actyon sits in insurance group 25A.

We are experiencing a flood of new brands in the industry at the moment, the majority of which are coming out of China. But KGM is anything but new. It has been around for 70 years and, more recently, took over the more familiar SsangYong company. 

And if you are wondering about the Actyon name, it’s a blend of ‘Act Young’ and ‘Act On’ which the Koreans believe is an invitation to live life to the full.

And that perfectly sums up this newcomer. It’s boasts robust, stylish good looks, is packed with the latest technology, drives beautifully, covers all the practicality bases and features a comprehensive range of safety systems and driver assistance aids, while still carrying a very attractive price-tag.

However, it is competing in a highly competitive sector with a plethora of established rivals and that quite poor fuel efficiency may prove a slight deterrent. But, if you can distance yourself from the ‘KGM-who?’ brand snobbery, we would highly recommend a test drive. You may be pleasantly surprised.

Our press launch was certainly action packed with a blockbuster movie theme – Lights, Camera, Actyon! And while this new model may not be on the red carpet come Oscar nominations time, it will certainly put this Korean carmaker on the map, and could well scoop some industry-led awards along the way too.