KGM ACTYON

To succeed in the packed mid-sized SUV segment, the KGM Actyon needs to be able to challenge more premium rivals

- Steve Walker

IF you're looking for a cheap new car, your options aren't what they used to be. The legislative bar has been raised to a level where manufacturers can't seem to deliver models that are clean and safe enough at prices that dramatically undercut rivals. We've also seen a scramble by established brands to vacate the cheaper end of the market and avoid going head-to-head on price with Chinese newcomers. All that puts the KGM Actyon in an interesting place and makes it a perfect candidate for a long-term test.

The brand formerly known as SsangYong has always had value-for-money at its heart in the UK, but with new cars like the Actyon mid-size SUV, it too is trying to shift itself a bit further upmarket.

A list price of £36,995 looks tempting for a car of this size that's as well equipped as the Actyon, but it's not a deal that will see you raise your eyebrows in that way that some SsangYong models did in the past.

Instead, the Korean brand is banking on the Actyon's interior space, specification levels and design to allow it to compete on close to level terms with the likes of the Kia Sportage, Peugeot 3008 and Volkswagen T-Roc. We're keen to find out if that's misplaced confidence or a realistic possibility, and six months of living with the car should be a foolproof way of doing exactly that.