Ssangyong Actyon

SSangYong has introduced a compact SUV that is more at home in the country than the city.

The South Korean car-maker says the Actyon is pitched against soft-roaders like the Honda CR-V, Nissan X-Trail, Toyota RAV4 and the Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute twins, with a starting price of $29,990.

It might have a similar price to those models, but the Actyon is more of an off-road warrior than any of these suburban machines.

While its rivals use a monocoque bodies, the Actyon runs a rugged ladder frame, like workhorses including the Nissan Patrol and Toyota LandCruiser.

It also comes standard with a lockable four-wheel-drive system equipped with low-range for rock crawling.

Those who like to travel further into the bush will appreciate the Actyon’s limited-slip rear differential. When not running in 4WD mode, the Actyon is rear-wheel drive.

It is available with both petrol and diesel engines, available with either a standard manual or optional automatic transmission.

The petrol SsangYong uses a 2.3-litre four-cylinder picked out of the Mercedes-Benz leftovers bin. A previous-generation Benz engine that never made it to Australia, the in-line powerplant develops a modest 110kW at 5500rpm and 214Nm at 3500rpm.

Like the diesel engine, the four-cylinder petrol unit uses an engine block produced by Mercedes in South Africa. The diesel is also based on a common-rail Mercedes engine, but has been re-engineered as a 2.0-litre and now produces 104kW at 4000rpm and 310Nm at 1800rpm.

Towing capacity is 2300kg (as long as whatever you tow has brakes) for both the petrol and diesel models.

Standard equipment for the base petrol and diesel Actyon includes air-conditioning, electric windows and mirrors, 18-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, front and rear foglights and steering wheel-mounted audio controls.

Stepping up to the Limited adds electrically-adjustable heated leather seats, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights, sunroof and folding wing mirrors.

The Actyon’s styling is bound to polarize, with a steeply raked rear hatch and front-end that incorporates several different lines.

Many of the brand’s weirder looking models, including the Stavic people-mover, were shaped by Brit Ken Greenley, but the SSangYong design team shaped the Actyon all by itself.