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Motoring

Get a slice of the action in new SUV

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KGM Actyon K50

By Bill McCarthy

  • KGM launches the new SUV, Actyon, with bold marketing and film premiere-style promotion.
  • Positioned in the competitive C+ segment, priced at £36,995, undercutting key rivals by £2,300.
  • Features a spacious cabin, economical 1.5 G-DI turbo-charged engine, and a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty.
  • Premium quality design with high-end fixtures, advanced safety features, and a stylish exterior inspired by the Korean flag.
  • Interior boasts dual 12.3-inch displays, extensive multimedia connectivity, and customizable favorites control.
  • Performance: 163PS engine, 0-60mph in about 10.5 seconds, decent handling but modest economy of around 33mpg.
  • Good refinement with minimal cabin noise and vibration; equipped with advanced safety and convenience features.
  • Overall, a strong contender in the SUV market with impressive specifications, though it has high CO2 emissions.

When it comes to introducing new cars, effective marketing is essential for attracting potential buyers. This new SUV from KGM, formerly SsangYong, launched with the excitement of a film premiere. Camera, lights, action etc.

Initial impressions of the Actyon are positive, but it enters a competitive C+ segment dominated by the Kia Sportage. With a single high-level specification, the K50, it is priced at £36,995 – £2,300 less than the market leader – which is appealing.

The Actyon offers a spacious cabin, a lively and economical 1.5 G-DI turbocharged engine, and a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty. Its design features bold styling inspired by the Korean flag, with daytime running lights and 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels adding to its premium appeal. 

Inside, the spacious interior includes high-quality finishes, ambient lighting, and features like heated and ventilated seats. A dual 12.3-inch digital display controls infotainment functions, with easy access to navigation, Bluetooth, and smartphone connectivity.

On the road, the 163PS engine provides lively performance, reaching 60 mph in around 10.5 seconds. While fuel economy is average at roughly 33 mpg, handling is solid, and the ride quality is firm yet comfortable. The Actyon is quiet, thanks to sound-deadening materials and Michelin noise-cancelling tyres.


With one well-equipped model, the Actyon includes a 360-degree camera, parking sensors, and adaptive cruise control, claiming best-in-class load capacity and safety features. With 668 litres of cargo space that expands to 1,568 litres with the rear seats folded, it offers convenient storage options.

Safety features include multiple airbags, emergency braking, lane assist, and more.

Overall, the Actyon is a promising first SUV from KGM, with an attractive price and comprehensive warranty, making it a serious contender in the competitive SUV market.

AWD, Motoring, Subaru, SUV/4X4

Still going strong…with more to come

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Subaru Forester e-Boxer

By Bill McCarthy

When discussing the many pros, and yes a couple of cons of Subaru models, the word Sport rarely comes into the equation. With the exception, of course, of the firecracker rally star the Impreza WRX.

‘Sport’ is a regular description in the lexicon of motor manufacturers, and usually suggests an upgrade in performance, which is not the case on Subaru’s versatile, go virtually anywhere SUV.

The Forester, due to be upgraded in a couple of months, offers superb off-road capability, excellent practicality and bulletproof reliability. 

A car much favoured in the rural community it is built on the firm’s Global Platform and features the two litre eBoxer self-charging hybrid power unit.

Its boxy and robust styling remains, although the rougher edges have been smoothed out and this Sport version offers various cosmetic changes.

Including splashes of colour, aluminium pedals, sport upholstery with coloured stitching and  flashes, smart 18-inch alloy wheels, and body-colour folding side mirrors with integrated turn signals.

It features red (some say orange, but it looks red to me) flashes, contrasting with the blue colour on this model, below the doors, roof bars, grille and to the rear and yes, it does give it a more sporty profile. 

The theme continues inside with red trim to the steering wheel  and transmission selector, while the sports seats add the red (or orange) stitching.

Sport also features steering wheel paddle shifters, and there are upgraded LED lights.

The driver’s seat is electrically operated and provides a commanding view through spacious glass areas, creating a comfortable atmosphere.

So cosmetic changes really and yes an aesthetic improvement, but the Forester is more about practicality, its off-road capability and offering something more traditional.

The interior remains functional, slightly dated, but for many, including me, that works. Fancy Dan touch screens with haptic buttons and sometimes distracting graphics deliver a hi-tech feel, but the solid, non-nonsense rotary dials and stalks are still favoured by Subaru drivers.

But there are still enough hi-tech gizmos, with  a central eight inch display controlling major functions like infotainment, navigation and smartphone connectivity, plus a 6.3-inch real time driver display.

There’s a wealth of standard features, including  the usual electrical aids a high-quality sound system, a reversing camera, and a standard full-length sunroof. 

The large, very large, stowage area, accessible via a powered tailgate, and becomes cavernous The 60/40-split folding seats can be laid flat.

Its off-road capability has few peers and while it’s not always put to the test in extreme conditions, it is well-suited for tasks like towing a horse box through muddy fields or working on a farm or giving extra grip and  stability in poor weather conditions

The e-Boxer hybrid setup has improved, (slightly) fuel efficiency although it is still quite thirsty for hybrid. This system pairs a compact electric motor with a two-litre e-Boxer petrol engine, functioning like a conventional hybrid with automatic assistance from the electric motor when needed.

Sport does not apply to performance, with the vehicle offers a decent driving experience, but a relatively sedate 0-60 mph time of just under 12 seconds. However, once reaching speed, it provides a comfortable ride, offering decent stability for its type, with only minimal body roll during corners.

Loaded with safety features, it includes the firm’s Eyesight technology, which, as the name suggests, acts as an additional set of ‘eyes’—or cameras—that monitor the road ahead for potential hazards, including other cars, motorbikes, bicycles, or pedestrians. While it may not be the most sophisticated vehicle available, this simplicity might be its main appeal to loyal customers. Coupled with a five-year/100,000-mile warranty, it presents a compelling package.

Factfile 

Subaru Forester e-Boxer 2.0i Sport AWD

  • Price: £40,195
  • Mechanical: 147bhp, 1,998cc, four cylinder petrol engine and electric motor driving all wheels via CVT gearbox.
  • Max speed: 118mph
  • 0-62mph: 11.8 seconds
  • Combined mpg: 34.7
  • Insurance group: 23E
  • CO2 emissions: 185g/km
  • BIK rating: 37%
  • Warranty: 5yrs/100,000 miles