2026 KGM Actyon review

So long, Ssangyong. Hwan-yeong KGM!

The new auto brand that replaces the ‘other Korean automaker’ is here, with KGM launching its first model – one that bears an old name from SsangYong’s, er, heyday?

Look, if you’ve never seen an original Ssangyong Actyon, image search it and then come back to behold this new-generation model… thankfully, there’s not even a hint of a passing resemblance.

I mean, it is kind of strange that the new Actyon doesn’t have a coupe-style profile – the original one was a pioneer of the SUV-coupe genre, even beating the BMW X6 to market.

But this is KGM’s third mid-size SUV offering, sitting above the Korando and Torres, and it’s arguably the best-looking one.

And it’s also the biggest, and the most expensive. So is it really worth the money that’s being asked for a front-wheel drive mid-size petrol SUV?

Read on for our verdict.

How much does the KGM Actyon cost?

The KGM Actyon is pricey.

At a time when Chinese brands are resetting the value expectations of Australians, and Korean and Japanese brands are nervously looking over their shoulders, KGM launches in the market with a non-hybrid, non-AWD, petrol-powered, front-wheel drive model with a near-$50,000 price tag that is well above what some mainstream brands are asking for their cheapest mid-size SUVs.

Now, it has to be said that this SUV has a strong standard equipment list, but sheesh. That is a big price for a car that is unknown, from a new brand name, in the most fiercely fought segment of the market.

If you’re curious to see how the KGM Acyton compares to its rivals, check out our comparison tool

What is the KGM Actyon like on the inside?

The cabin design and treatment is very similar to the smaller Torres SUV, and in that regard it’s also pretty similar to lots of other SUVs in the segment.

By that I mean you’ve got a pair of 12.3-inch screens – one for infotainment, one for driver info – and there’s a mix of materials ranging from wood-look trim to ambient LED strip lights and some intriguing finishing on the dashboard and door cards which is like wetsuit material.

But the quirkiest part of the cabin is the steering wheel design, because it’s not a wheel at all. It’s a hexagon, and while this has been a trait in SsangYong products of years gone by, this one seems to be more out of place in this cabin, and it also makes the car harder to move around (as discussed in the driving section below).

Thankfully though, it does have a whole host of controls that fall easily at hand on the tiller, including a steering wheel heating button, adaptive cruise control management, media and volume controls, and a driver info toggle setup. Shame the buttons are piano black, and show finger prints.

The media screen is a little fiddly until you get the hang of how to use it. There are no physical dials or buttons – that’s right, no volume or tuning twirlers, and nothing to control the air-conditioning with whatsoever. All of that is done on-screen.

But I found that after just a day or so, I understood the menu layout and was able to adjust temp and fan, seat heating and cooling, and even rear seat heating, too.

What I still struggle to come to terms with is that the electric boot opening button is on the same ‘page’ as the controls for air-con, and positioned probably exactly where the recirc button should be! Don’t mistake those two while sitting in traffic!

There is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, but annoyingly they aren’t wireless – you still have to plug in with a USB-C cable.

Storage in the cabin is good, with a pair of cupholders up front, a covered centre console bin with a strange material finish on it (not great for those with sensitive elbows), and there are large bottle holders in the front doors, as well as a storage tray on the floor between the front seats.

The seats are another consideration – they are Nappa leather-trimmed with a diamond-quilted red-stitched finish, and while they are supportive, they might also fall into the uncomfortable column for some bums.

The back seat is a bit more squishy feeling, and with the driver’s seat set to my position, (at 182cm/6’0”) I had inches of room ahead of my legs and a good amount of foot wiggle space as well. Headroom is reasonable for someone my size, but taller-torsoed occupants might find it a tad tight.

Of course there are ISOFIX points and three top-tether anchors for child seats, and the seatbacks are made of a kid-kickable hard plastic. There are device and map pockets on both seatbacks, and otherwise those in the rear are treated to bottle holders in the doors and a flip-down armrest with cupholders.

Directional air-vents keep things airy in the back, and there are heated seat buttons on both doors. The panoramic glass sunroof – which has a nice thick shade and glass that can actually open – makes it feel pretty breezy in the back, too.

The boot space is generous, with a stated 688 litres of cargo capacity with the rear seats up, and that expands to 1440L with all seats folded down.

Strangely, there are recesses in the boot for a cargo cover, but none is fitted. But there are some neat touches, like the trigger switch inside the boot for the tailgate, meaning it’ll be easier for shorties to close the boot lid. And there is lighting, and a 12V port, plus additional storage boxes either side of the floor.

A nice plus is the inclusion of a space-saver spare wheel.

If you’re curious to see how the KGM Acyton compares to its rivals, check out our comparison tool

What’s under the bonnet?

This is what might prove to be a sticking point for discerning, future-focused buyers. The powertrain offered in Australia is a bit too basic at a time when there’s seemingly a war breaking out between value-focused brands like BYD, Chery, MG and GWM to offer electrification at unbeatable prices.

So, is a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with an Aisin automatic transmission and front-wheel drive really a good enough proposition in 2025 and beyond?

If you’re curious to see how the KGM Acyton compares to its rivals, check out our comparison tool

How does the KGM Actyon drive?

Don’t go expecting a game-changing drive experience in this SUV. It isn’t designed to be that kind of car.

The engine is perky enough, and offers smooth response once you’re at speed, but there’s a touch of lag to contend with from a standstill; part of that is turbo lag, part is throttle response, part is the engine idle stop/start system, and a fair whack is also the automatic gearbox.

The six-speed auto is adequate, but nothing better. In fact, it can feel a bit inadequate at times, as I found on my test, with the odd ‘why did it do that?’ style gear shift… There aren’t Mazda CX-60 levels of unpredictability, though, and the shifts are smooth for the most part.

Really, the powertrain would be perfectly fine for the majority of buyers the majority of the time. It just doesn’t do anything particularly special, nor particularly well.

Annoyingly, the gear selector action can also make you feel like a noob at times, because you really need to make sure you shift between the gears. Like, hold the shifter for at least a second to ensure it chooses R or D, otherwise you may end up in N, revving the engine and thinking you’re about to pull a sweet parking move…

Meanwhile, the steering wheel makes its odd shape known every time you consider a corner or peruse a parking spot. It is a weird shape, and honestly makes it a harder car to live with because you’re always finding the ‘edges’ of the hexagonal rim. Like, you just can’t let it naturally slide through your grip, ever.

And while the suspension isn’t the cushiest in terms of the ride comfort, it is mostly well resolved, despite offering the occasional jolt through the cabin if you hit a sharp-edged bump. That’s partly due to the low-profile Michelin rubber on 20-inch wheels, but also there is a stiffness to the springs that makes it feel a bit more assertive than other SUVs.

There’s a bit of road noise intrusion and engine noise to contend with at times, but it is generally cruisy enough for highway commuting. And while there is a lane-keeping assistance function that turns on each time you restart the car, there’s a simple ‘switch off’ procedure if you don’t like it; just push down the button on the steering wheel.

Lovably, there is no frustrating speed limit warning/overspeed beeping tech, and nor is there a driver monitoring camera. That might be off-putting for some but, honestly, it’s actually a big part of the reason this car feels a touch more liveable than it otherwise would.

If you’re curious to see how the KGM Acyton compares to its rivals, check out our comparison tool

What do you get?

As we said, there is a strong standard kit list. But that’s the norm these days from challenger brands. Even so, here’s a rundown of the standard equipment in the Actyon lineup.

2025 KGM Actyon K50 equipment highlights:

• 20-inch alloy wheels
• LED headlights
• Automatic high-beam
• Hands-free power tailgate
• Heated, power-folding exterior mirrors
• Rear privacy glass
• Electric park brake with auto hold
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Heated steering wheel
• Customisable favourite button
• Quilted Nappa leather upholstery
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• 8-way power-adjustable front seats with power driver’s lumbar
• Heated outboard rear seats
• Reclining rear seats (up to 32.5°)
• 32-colour ambient lighting
• Dual-zone climate control
• Carbon-fibre and woodgrain trim
• 2 x rear USB outlets

The K60 adds:

• Panoramic sunroof
• Rear door sun blinds
• Wireless phone charger
• Surround-view camera system

If you’re curious to see how the KGM Acyton compares to its rivals, check out our comparison tool

Is the KGM Actyon safe?

The KGM Actyon has yet to be tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP. If it were tested, under the current criteria, it isn’t a surefire thing to get five stars due to lacking some of the advanced technology required to appease the Gods of Safety Ratings.

However, the fact it is missing some items actually makes it a nicer – and, arguably, safer! – thing to drive.

There is no driver attention monitoring system to get it wrong and tell you you’re distracted when you’re not, and nor is there a speed sign recognition and warning system, meaning there’s no bing-bong distractions, and that’ll make your daily commute less of a chore.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• Adaptive cruise control
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane-keep assist
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Reversing camera
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Tyre pressure monitoring

K60 adds:

There are eight airbags fitted to the Actyon – dual front, driver’s knee, front centre, front side-thorax, and window-curtain coverage for both rows of outboard seats.

If you’re curious to see how the KGM Acyton compares to its rivals, check out our comparison tool

How much does the KGM Actyon cost to run?

KGM is continuing on with the existing SsangYong offering when it comes to aftersales provisions… well, almost. There’s still a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, which is competitive for the class – and just as it was with SsangYong, the same warranty covers private and commercial buyers.

There’s also a seven-year/105,000km capped price servicing program, and the intervals are good at 12 months/15,000km. The average service cost over the period is competitive, too, at $382 per visit.

KGM has dialled back the roadside assistance program a smidge – buyers now get five years of roadside assistance included at no cost, whereas SsangYong offered seven years.

If you’re curious to see how the KGM Acyton compares to its rivals, check out our comparison tool

CarExpert’s Take on the KGM Actyon

This feels like a car that would have been a standout option if it had launched two or three years ago.

And while there is plenty of merit here, there is also an unbelievable amount of competition in the mid-size SUV segment, with many rivals offering more high-tech powertrains and better drivetrain choices for similar or less money.

There is no denying there is a heap of great kit as standard here, and for some people the cost will be justifiable. But in context of the current market, it feels like it’s about $10,000 over the odds for a front-drive petrol mid-size SUV.

Interested in buying a KGM Actyon? Let CarExpert find you the best dealhere

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MORE:Explore the KGM Actyon showroom