KGM Actyon (J120)

Long before the BMW X6, there was the Actyon. Launched in the autumn of 2005, the Actyon is the world's first sports utility coupe. Hot on the heels of its 20th anniversary, the Actyon returns as the coupe version of the Torres.

2025 KGM Actyon

Starting at 33.95 Million Won plus additional costs, the Actyon is back as the coupe version of the Torres, the crossover that made Ssangyong born again as KGM.

2025 KGM Actyon

Beginning with the design, the Actyon is nearly identical to the Torres but with an illuminating front grille reminiscent of the lines from the South Korean flag, showing its nationalism on four wheels. Although the Torres-esque looks is the tip of the iceberg, the rear view can be broadly mistaken for today's Range Rover Evoque. Can't blame them.

2025 KGM Actyon interior

The all-new Actyon's interior, like the exterior itself, is also a resemblance of the Torres but the differences are the steering wheel and the center console. On the driver's side, you are greeted with a panoramic wide screen with two 12.3 inch screens with the first half as the cluster and the latter half a touchscreen with INFOCONN that takes charge of the car in terms of airconditioning, telematics, entertainment, smartphone connectivity, and so on. It can be nerve-wracking for first-timers but it takes time to get used to it.

With the rear seats folded down, the all-new Actyon has up to 1,568 liters of boot space, which is less than the Torres because of its coupe formation.

2025 KGM Actyon

The all-new Actyon is powered by the same 1.5L T-GDi engine from the Torres mated to an Aisin 6-speed AT. This engine produces 170PS of power and 28.6kg-m of torque. It even comes with an ISG system that shuts the engine off when stopped at the red light and then restarts when set off. In FF configurations, it has a combined fuel economy of 11kmpl while AWD variants get 10.1kmpl.

The all-new Actyon has front MacPherson struts and rear multilink suspension. The front brakes are ventilated discs and the rear brakes are discs.

Sturdy bodywork and eight airbags aside, the all-new Actyon features DeepControl, a suite of ADAS such as Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Detection warning, Blind Spot Detection Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Assist, and Safety Exit Warning.

The all-new Actyon is no longer the one you've been familiar with since your high school days. It's now a muscular sports utility coupe that blends its Korean nationalism, the KGM way. After all, isn't what KGM's slogan is all about? Korea Great Mobility. Although not as great as the X6 and the Evoque, it's the bargain of the season.

Available Colors: Royal Copper, Royal Copper 2 Tone, Grand White, Grand White 2 Tone, Latte Greige, Latte Greige 2 Tone, Iron Metal, Iron Metal 2 Tone, Forest Green, Forest Green 2 Tone, Dandy Blue, and Space Black.

Photo: KGM

Ssangyong Korando C meets Sistar - It's C style!

The Ssangyong Korando C has been around since it was launched last year but the Mahindra-owned Korean carmaker really want to cut a mustard some more. We bumped to some latest TV ads for the Ssangyong Korando C featuring none other than Sistar, a K-POP female idol group that every K-POP fans are familiar of...

Yes I know, Korean cars and K-Pop don't mix, almost...

15-second version:


30-second version:

Ssangyong Korando C

2012 Ssangyong Korando C

The rebirth of Ssangyong is the time to rebirth a legendary name in the form of its new crossover look. The Korando name, stands for Korean Can Do, is now reborn and it's no longer a jeep form, it's now evolved into a Classy Utility Vehicle, designed and enhanced to topple against the Korean crossovers like the Hyundai Tucson iX, Kia Sportage R, and GM Korea's Chevrolet Orlando ALV. Don't call the new Korando C sexy nor smart. The C in the Korando C naming means "Classy", giving the concept term Classy Utility Vehicle come alive.

On its new look, the Korando C boasts a luxurious design that looks somewhat similar to Hyundai's Tucson iX and Kia's Sportage R, but its Classy detail is fit enough for the "classian" to get in. I'm impressed to see that the Korando C is no longer an ugly Korando in the past and now made even more stylish to meet the demands of style-worthy customers. On the inside, the new Korando C looks stylish, but it's pretty much more like the aging Super Rexton SUV. Despite that, this 21st Century Korando garnered some of the appeals from legendary designer, Giorgietto Giugiaro, making this reborn Korean crossover a world-class touch everyone deserves.

The new Korando C is powered with the new e-XDi200 engine. This new engine has a power output of either 175PS (manual variant) or 181 PS (auto variant), torque output of 36.7kg-m, and the class no. 1 fuel economy of 17.6km/L (2WD MT variant). With this fuel economy, I'm sure this will put the sexy Tucson and the smart Sportage to shambles. The reborn Korando made it more economical and finally garnered a status of being a Korean eco-car. Depending on the variant, two transmission types are offered to the Korando C; a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed E-tronic. The E-tronic variant uses shift-like dials on the steering wheel instead of paddle shifters. To shift down, press the "D-" button and to shift up, hit the "D+" button. First timers may find it hard to master this different E-tronic variant from the Korando C, but if they get a hang of it, it can be somewhat enjoyable. However, I still prefer the 6MT variant of the Korando C because with the 2WD and 6MT combined, this has the class-leading fuel economy.

The new Korando C comes in three types; Chic, Clubby, and Classy. Depending on the type, customers can choose either the 2.0L 2WD 6MT, 2.0L 2WD 6AT, 2.0L 4WD 6AT, or the 2.0L 4WD 6MT variant. It comes with seven exterior colors;

1) Space Black
2) Grand White
3) Silent Silver
4) Tonic Grey
5) Ice Blue
6) Vitamin Red
7) Sable Gray

My thoughts about the Korando C:
First encountered this 21st century Korando as the C200 concept in the past, debuted in February 22, 2011, and sales start early next month, the 21st century Korando marks the rebirth of Ssangyong Motor Company, after brinks of bankruptcy and now under Mahindra and Mahindra's control. It's good to say that if the Hyundai Tucson iX is sexy, and the Kia Sportage R is smart, the new Ssangyong Korando C is classy, as in "Classy Utility Vehicle" and its made for the upperclassmen who are in search for perfect crossovers. With class-leading fuel economy of 17.6km/L, the Ssangyong Korando's grand comeback staged victorious against those but is it worth the challenge? I hope someone compares these trio of Korean crossovers and decide if sexy, smart, or classy is the right thing when it comes to decide which Korean crossover will prevail, and with the Korando C, what new challenges will take on?

Photo: http://www.ajnews.co.kr/