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!
The Dacia Duster, a well-liked small SUV in Europe, has been available in overseas markets for about 15 years and it’s now here, albeit rebadged as the Renault Duster.
At a time when people increasingly want to escape the modern-day rat race, vehicles such as the Duster offer a family- and budget-friendly way of achieving just that.
A new small 4x4 that actually might be somewhat capable off-road and with a manual gearbox? How refreshing.
But is the Duster a legitimate rival for something like the Suzuki Jimny?
Read on.
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.
The Renault Duster 4x4 Evolution (manual) is a driver’s car. Lots of fun for day-to-day duties and a real visceral experience if you like to have a few laughs on loose-dirt and gravel tracks. And it’s adequately capable for off-roading adventures. It also has more than its fair share of cheeky charm.
Obviously it’s not anywhere near the most capable off-road vehicle available. That’s not what it’s intended to be. But it’s one of the most fun to drive on- and off-road.
And for $36,490 (excluding on-road costs), you’ll still have cash enough for a set of all-terrain tyres and some accessories.