Ssangyong makes Actyon for active buyers

Ssangyong breaks all the rules for its standalone new Actyon range which doesn't resemble its rivals above or below the skin.

What costs $29,990, leaps across tall buildings without breaking anything, offers a choice of petrol or diesel engines of Mercedes-Benz origins, in a rakish hatch or a sporty twincab ute, has rear-drive and a proper dual-range four-wheel-drive system, full chassis construction and adequate ground clearance for any Aussie road or track?

The answer is Ssangyong Actyon. In a new precedent, Ssangyong's aversion to the mainstream may have finally produced a vehicle range that delivers a fresh and better solution for active and working Australians.

Even if the name sounds like an overzealous student impressing an elocution teacher with the pronunciation of action, it's not as bad as some Ssangyong monikers. And if the styling looks like it emerged from a World War II bunker whose occupants hadn't seen a vehicle since the 1938 Willys, local Ssangyong management are upbeat about its distinctive looks. 

Asked whether Toyota would ever deliver a RAV4 looking like an Actyon, they quipped that Ssangyong doesn't supply cardigans with the Actyon. The shape is described by Ssangyong as "aerodynamic with a shark-like grille and eagle-eyed headlights."

"It's certainly not a typically boxy 4WD and will stand out for all the right reasons," said Brad Larkham, Ssangyong's local general manager, sales and marketing.

Get past the unusual styling, and the Actyon does tear up the rules for a compact $30,000 SUV hatch and twincab ute. It starts with the inverted model names where the twincab ute is called the Actyon Sports and the sporty SUV hatch is just Actyon.

The relationship between the two body styles is identical to the current Nissan Pathfinder/Navara where the Navara now shares its front styling and cabin with the Pathfinder wagon. There is one significant difference. The Actyon hatch and ute share the same rear suspension leaving the Sports ute with the best located live rear axle in its class.

Although a 2WD/rear-drive Actyon SUV has been previewed as a possibility, all local SUV Actyon models are fitted with this part-time 4WD system as standard which allows the vehicle to be driven in rear-drive when 4WD is not required.

Hefty at over 1800kg, the Actyon delivers a towing capacity of 2300kg in a compact and sporty-looking package. It is also the first to offer a choice of powerful four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines at this level.

The Actyon power plants which are shared with the Sports ute are both derived from proven Mercedes-Benz units. The A230 features a 2.3-litre four-cylinder petrol, already familiar to Mercedes-Benz E230 drivers, with a solid 110kW/5500 and 214Nm/3500. It is offered with a choice of the rugged Australian DSI four-speed auto, shared with the local Falcon, or a Korean-made five-speed manual that is a development of the earlier Australian T5 gearbox.

The A200Xdi is a new Ssangyong common rail, variable turbo diesel built around a 2-litre Mercedes-Benz block with a punchy 104kW/4000 and a stump-pulling 310Nm/1800rpm. Transmission options are the same as for the petrol engine.

Combined fuel figures for the petrol engine SUV are 11.3 and 11.9 lt/100km for the manual and auto respectively. These compare to 7.8 and 8.5 for the diesel versions.

The Actyon sits on a long wheelbase with short overhangs that deliver outstanding ramp and departure angles for a compact SUV. A turning circle of 11.2 metres is reasonable for the class-leading 1880mm wide body. Robust double wishbone front suspension with separate coil spring mounting links and a live rear axle with four locating links, Panhard rod and coil springs are also unusual in this category. Where rivals carry the promise of a rugged getaway vehicle but are best left on the highway, the Actyon appears to have been engineered for both.

Actyon Sports Ute
The Actyon Sports ute shares the same suspension and mechanical package with an extended chassis and a propeller shaft lengthened by 320mm. Unlike the SUV hatch, it is offered only as a diesel but with a choice of 2WD/rear-drive and 4WD/rear-drive models.

This combination delivers one of the most refined dual cabs in terms of space, rear seat backrest angle and rear passenger ride comfort. The Actyon's rear disc brakes are swapped for rear drums on the base level Sports utes.

The Actyon Sports' pick-up bed is 100mm longer, 135 mm wider and 20mm deeper than the previous Musso Sports for a 20 per cent increase in load volume. The carrying capacity has been boosted to 830kg, a 200kg increase over the Musso equivalent. The dropside tray top is the widest in its class by around 60mm.

These boosts in load area and capacity now place the Actyon Sports right in the middle of rival one tonners. Fuel consumption is slightly higher than the Actyon SUV with the diesel manual delivering 8.0lt/100km and 8.7 for the auto, a product of the extra size and weight which spans 1803-1986 kg depending on equipment, 4WD and auto transmission.

The base SUV Hatch models feature all-wheel disc brakes, ABS, 18 inch alloy wheels, front airbags, centre rear lap-sash seat belt, immobiliser, keyless entry, air-conditioning, front and rear fog lamps, reverse parking sensors, electric windows, cloth seat trim, leather covered steering wheel, full driver's seat adjustment and remote steering wheel controls for the six-speaker sound system.

The Actyon Limited adds Electronic Stability Program, Traction and Hill Descent Control, power folding mirrors, automatic headlights and wipers, front and rear side curtain airbags, climate control, full leather trim, front seat electric adjustment and seat warmers and electric sunroof.

The Actyon SUV is available as a $29,990 petrol and $33,990 diesel entry model plus a fully-equipped $36,990 Limited petrol but there is no Limited diesel. Automatic is a $2000 option.

The Actyon Sports ute comes as a value-packed base model with four coil suspension, 16-inch steel wheels, poly tray liner, front and rear mudflaps, front and rear fog lights, dual front reading lights, dual airbags, internal load tie-down points, full-size spare wheel, electric windows, power mirrors, woven cloth trim, air-conditioning and four speaker sound. Cruise control is standard on all auto models.

The Limited version adds rear disc brakes, ABS, 18-inch alloys, reverse parking sensors, climate control, power folding mirrors, automatic headlights and wipers, front seat electric adjustment, leather-covered steering wheel and headlight levelling device.

Prices for the all-diesel Actyon Sports start at $29,990 for the 4X2 entry level, $32,990 for the 4X4 entry, $36,990 for the 4X2 Limited and $39,990 for the top 4X4 Limited.

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