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IF WE WERE to mock up the spectrum of unusually styled cars, you could start with, say, something like the Chrysler PT Cruiser at the 'tame' end, and have the automotive equivalent of a Jackson Pollock painting on the other.
Where then, would SsangYong's current model line-up fit in this spectrum? The answer is probably not at all. The company has made name for itself in recent years by churning out a whole string of cars with looks that not only fly in the face of convention, but give it a vigorous slapping for good measure.
The latest model to hit local showrooms is the Actyon, which SsangYong bills as a compact SUV coupe. Slightly bewildering as the nomenclature may be, you can sort of see where SsangYong is coming from. But it is best to look at the pictures and judge for yourself, as I can't quite describe the car's looks without referring to things that used to frighten me as a small child.
The Actyon boasts a ladder frame chassis, which is the sort of construction that all old-school off-road vehicles use. Two versions of the car are available, one with two-wheel drive and the other with part-time four-wheel drive.
The four-wheel drive versions normally function in two-wheel drive mode. You can manually select four-wheel drive if the situation calls for more traction. There?s also an electronic differential locking mode if you really do feel like going off-road.
Where then, would SsangYong's current model line-up fit in this spectrum? The answer is probably not at all. The company has made name for itself in recent years by churning out a whole string of cars with looks that not only fly in the face of convention, but give it a vigorous slapping for good measure.
The latest model to hit local showrooms is the Actyon, which SsangYong bills as a compact SUV coupe. Slightly bewildering as the nomenclature may be, you can sort of see where SsangYong is coming from. But it is best to look at the pictures and judge for yourself, as I can't quite describe the car's looks without referring to things that used to frighten me as a small child.
The Actyon boasts a ladder frame chassis, which is the sort of construction that all old-school off-road vehicles use. Two versions of the car are available, one with two-wheel drive and the other with part-time four-wheel drive.
The four-wheel drive versions normally function in two-wheel drive mode. You can manually select four-wheel drive if the situation calls for more traction. There?s also an electronic differential locking mode if you really do feel like going off-road.
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DRIVING IT
The 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine is a licensed Mercedes-Benz design, albeit a rather old one. It musters 150bhp and 240Nm of torque, and comes with a four-speed automatic gearbox of identical provenance. On the move, the engine goes about its business surprisingly quietly. The gearbox works well, too, slurring shifts quite expertly, and it even comes with winter and power settings, although it does seem to work best in normal mode.
What's it like on the road? If you've seen that energy drink commercial that shows a runner trying to make headway with a fully-deployed parachute strapped to his back, you'll have some idea of the performance.
The engine and gearbox are both fine. But the problem is that, thanks to its hefty ladder-frame construction, the Actyon weighs as much as a small planet. In fact, the highly-specced four-wheel drive version tested here tips the scales at well over 1,900 kilogrammes, which is roughly about the weight of a BMW 730Li.
The Actyon's engine makes over 100bhp less than the Beemer's, so this coupled with the car's sheer heft means far less than scintillating off-the-line performance.
SsangYong appears coy about including the Actyon's time for the 0-100km/h sprint in its brochures, probably for good reason. Acceleration at pretty much any speed is best described as glacial, so you're constantly standing on the throttle, which can't be good for fuel consumption.
The Actyon's body-on-frame construction does mean that you get a faint buzziness to the ride, making the car feel like it's on stiffly set up suspension. However, turn into a corner even vaguely quickly and you get quite a bit of body roll which quickly squashes enthusiasm.
However, if you're content to just potter about, then the Actyon works quite decently. The cabin is very well insulated from road noise and the high driving position makes for good visibility.
The 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine is a licensed Mercedes-Benz design, albeit a rather old one. It musters 150bhp and 240Nm of torque, and comes with a four-speed automatic gearbox of identical provenance. On the move, the engine goes about its business surprisingly quietly. The gearbox works well, too, slurring shifts quite expertly, and it even comes with winter and power settings, although it does seem to work best in normal mode.
What's it like on the road? If you've seen that energy drink commercial that shows a runner trying to make headway with a fully-deployed parachute strapped to his back, you'll have some idea of the performance.
The engine and gearbox are both fine. But the problem is that, thanks to its hefty ladder-frame construction, the Actyon weighs as much as a small planet. In fact, the highly-specced four-wheel drive version tested here tips the scales at well over 1,900 kilogrammes, which is roughly about the weight of a BMW 730Li.
The Actyon's engine makes over 100bhp less than the Beemer's, so this coupled with the car's sheer heft means far less than scintillating off-the-line performance.
SsangYong appears coy about including the Actyon's time for the 0-100km/h sprint in its brochures, probably for good reason. Acceleration at pretty much any speed is best described as glacial, so you're constantly standing on the throttle, which can't be good for fuel consumption.
The Actyon's body-on-frame construction does mean that you get a faint buzziness to the ride, making the car feel like it's on stiffly set up suspension. However, turn into a corner even vaguely quickly and you get quite a bit of body roll which quickly squashes enthusiasm.
However, if you're content to just potter about, then the Actyon works quite decently. The cabin is very well insulated from road noise and the high driving position makes for good visibility.
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INSIDE IT
There's actually very decent amounts of room inside the cabin, both in front and in the back. The Actyon's sharply sloping rear roof section might make you think that only shorter passengers can get comfortable in the rear, but thanks to a kink in the roof on the inside of the cabin, headroom is actually very generous.
Cabin architecture is odd at best, which is very much in keeping with the exterior when you think about it. There is no symmetry to the dashboard layout whatsoever, it's all odd angles and skewed line.
There's actually very decent amounts of room inside the cabin, both in front and in the back. The Actyon's sharply sloping rear roof section might make you think that only shorter passengers can get comfortable in the rear, but thanks to a kink in the roof on the inside of the cabin, headroom is actually very generous.
Cabin architecture is odd at best, which is very much in keeping with the exterior when you think about it. There is no symmetry to the dashboard layout whatsoever, it's all odd angles and skewed line.
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Build quality is very decent, with even panel fit all round and no disconcerting rattling noises from the cabin. There's plenty of equipment, too. The high-spec version comes with steering wheel mounted audio controls, cruise control, climate control and even a reverse camera.
That said, for some reason the reverse camera refused to work unless you had the handbrake on, which gives its usefulness a bit of a knock.
The boot is average-sized with the rear seats in place, and it has one of the highest loading sills of any passenger car we've come across. About belly button level for people of medium height. This means it's far easier to take heavy things out than it is to put them in.
That said, for some reason the reverse camera refused to work unless you had the handbrake on, which gives its usefulness a bit of a knock.
The boot is average-sized with the rear seats in place, and it has one of the highest loading sills of any passenger car we've come across. About belly button level for people of medium height. This means it's far easier to take heavy things out than it is to put them in.
DOLLARS AND SENSE
You do get quite a lot for your money, Actually, all Actyons come pretty comprehensively equipped, the reverse camera for instance, is standard equipment. The high-spec XS variants come with extra goodies like sunroofs and cruise control. And if you book early, the Actyon comes with a special introductory price, with the basic, two-wheel drive model listing for $68,888 with COE. The version tested here costs $74,888 with COE.
According to SsangYong Singapore, over 20 orders have so far been taken.
CONCLUSION
If you don't mind the Actyon's unusual looks and leisurely performance, or if you want an affordable way to be noticed, it definitely makes for a big value for money proposition.
NEED TO KNOW
Engine 2,295cc, 16V in-line 4
Max Power 150bhp at 5,500rpm
Max Torque 214Nm at 3,500rpm
Gearbox 4-speed automatic
Top Speed 164km/h
0-100 km/h NA
Price $74,888 with COE
Warranty 3 years/ 100,000km
Contact Ssangyong Motors (S) Pte Ltd 6383-0036
AT A GLANCE
-2.3-litre Mercedes-licensed engine is quite smooth and quiet
-Interior may be unusually styled but build quality is very good
-Actyon's smallish boot gets help from folding rear seats
PLUSES
Plenty of equipment, decently refined
MINUSES
Leisurely performance, thirsty, also looks like nothing else on this planet
VERDICT
If you want to get noticed, there's no more affordable way to do so than in an Actyon
-Interior may be unusually styled but build quality is very good
-Actyon's smallish boot gets help from folding rear seats
PLUSES
Plenty of equipment, decently refined
MINUSES
Leisurely performance, thirsty, also looks like nothing else on this planet
VERDICT
If you want to get noticed, there's no more affordable way to do so than in an Actyon
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