What's the difference?
“Actyon!”
Any car with a name that sounds like the first word sung by Alicia Bridges on The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert soundtrack version of the ‘70s disco classic, I Love the Nightlife, is crying out for attention.
But does the KGM Actyon, from the carmaker formerly known as SsangYong (from 1987, and Dong-A-Motor for 33 years before that) deserve to get the attention of medium SUV buyers against best-sellers like the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan X-Trail and Toyota RAV4?
Keep reading, because the latest offering from this intriguing new/70-plus year-old brand from South Korea is presented, priced and packaged like a pro ready for action, so let’s go!
BYD, Chery, GWM and MG - one of these Chinese car brands is not like the others.
While the first three all enjoyed major growth in 2025, MG had a year to forget. A flood of new models, rushed into the market with little or no fanfare, resulted in a nearly 20 per cent sales decline, when the brand should have been basking in the same growth as its rivals.
So, the old management has been swept away and MG Australia is attacking 2026 with a fresh outlook and a renewed purpose, fully aware that launching an affordable car and hoping the buyers come is not a sound strategy.
Which is why the brand is making a far more concerted effort with this all-new MGS6 (all one word, likely to avoid copyright issues with Audi). It’s an important model to get right, too, as the electric mid-size SUV is becoming an increasingly popular choice for Australian buyers, as witnessed by the success of the BYD Sealion 7 and Tesla Model Y.
But with those two, plus many more mid-size EV SUVs, including the Kia EV5, GAC Aion V, Geely EX5 and Zeekr 7X (to name a few), to compete with, MG will need to put its best foot forward to give the MGS6 its best chance of success.
This one model alone won’t determine the fortunes of MG in the final reckoning of the year, but if MG wants to turn around its sales numbers and enjoy the same growth as its Chinese rivals, having the MGS6 succeed would be an important step.
Is all of the above enough to spur you into Actyon? It should be, or at least make your medium-SUV shortlist.
Bold styling, keen pricing, an inviting cabin, loads of space and an involving driving experience make the new KGM everything we wanted from but never really got from the old SsangYong.
A bit more torque, a little less thirst and a softer ride would make a surprisingly good family-friendly medium SUV a real crowd pleaser.
We’re looking forward to what else KGM has coming in the future.
It’s probably a bit much to place the future success or failure of MG as a brand solely on the shoulders of the MGS6. A lot more work behind-the-scenes and customer facing will need to happen to ensure the brand doesn’t repeat its 2025 sales performance.
However, the MGS6 is a step forward and something of a return to form for the brand. It’s a good value, well-equipped and spacious electric SUV, so if that’s what you’re looking for, it should be on your short list.
However, the challenge for MG is that there are several other very similar offerings that have emerged in recent times, namely the BYD Sealion 7, while hybrids like the Toyota RAV4 remain family favourites. Not to mention the other options from GAC, Geely, Hyundai, Kia, Subaru etc as the electric SUV segment continues to grow.
It won’t be easy for MG to recover lost ground but the MGS6 is a good start.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with accommodation and meals provided.