2008 Ssangyong Actyon Sports review
13 Dec, 2007
24 Comments 
The ultimate expression of this idea is the SsangYong Stavic people mover, which has generated much more vitriolic ink than its modest sales could ever justify. Motoring writers love it because it gives them license to give their nasty side full throttle. Writing for another publication I once said the Stavic was so ugly owners should be careful not to leave it parked on the street on council clean-up day.
The Actyon provokes similar responses. While the overall silhouette and proportions are fine, to some eyes the clash of angles in its front styling makes it look like one of those unfortunate vehicles you sometimes see on their way to the panel beater after rear-ending the car in front.
I see an avian influence. It looks like a giant – and not very happy – bird of prey with its beady eyes and massive beak. But get over it – or stick a bullbar on it if you live in the country - because the surprising news is that the Actyon Sports is not all bad.
The Actyon Sports is a ute version of the Actyon SUV and like that vehicle is available with petrol and diesel engines in two and four-wheel drive. CarAdvice drove the top model in the ute range, the diesel Limited automatic, priced at $39,990.
Utes are not known for their generous standard equipment but the Actyon Sports Limited is equipped to something approaching luxury car levels. It has ABS, rear disc brakes (rare in this class), a quite appealing set of 18-inch alloys, climate control air conditioning with rear ducting, electrically-adjustable heated front seats, reverse parking sensors, power-folding mirrors, rain sensitive wipers, manual headlight levelling and a leather-trimmed steering wheel. The Actyon’s front airbags were rare in any 4WD ute until recently - but it missed the chance to up the ante by having side airbags.
The range begins at $29,990, for the basic two-wheel-drive model with rear drum brakes and 16-inch steel wheels. But even it has a standard plastic tray liner, immobiliser, keyless entry, alarm, front and rear mudflaps, front and rear fog lamps, electric windows, power mirrors, a four-speaker CD sound system with steering wheel controls and air-conditioning, not bad in a sector where some manufacturers will charge you more than $50,000 for a vehicle with no internal mirror adjustment.
Cabin fit and finish are fine but some of the plastics are hard and brittle in feel. Control layout is a little eccentric, with large circular clusters of buttons for minor functions, although all the major systems are more-or-less where you’d expect to find them. The handbrake is on the left of the transmission and the indicators are on the left of the steering column. Anyone familiar with Korean cars will recognise the tobaccoey interior smell and over-tanned steering wheel leather of the Actyon as common with most cars from that part of the world.
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(14 votes, average: 3.5 out of 5)
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December 13th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Wow.
100kw ute? hahahahaha
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December 13th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
butt ugly in and out, underpowered and not cheap enough.
if i was in the market i’d be getting a couple year old hilux, navara etc
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December 13th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
U.G.L.Y. mother, I vomit all over the place ever time I see one of these ssanyyongy’s..
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December 13th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Better than the “Musso Sports Ute” Ssang Yong use to make. But it still looks very ugly specialy from the front! Id rather spend a few extra $1000 for a rodeo etc.
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December 13th, 2007 at 8:17 pm
It doesn’t matter how good or how powerful a ute is if it is that ugly. Surely no one will buy it anyway.
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December 13th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
I tell you what if Ssang Yong reduced the car cost(amount) by about $5000 id think about buying it! But then i’ll still be miserable with everybody laughing at me and saying how ugly my car is!
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December 13th, 2007 at 11:13 pm
Agreed, you’d be better buying something second hand like a Toyota that will never die, has some street-cred for said reliability, and doesn’t look like it ran into a towbar before it made it to the dealership.
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December 14th, 2007 at 9:08 am
2300 punters plonked down coin for this brand in 07′.
P.T.Barnum was 100% correct!:-)
Cheers
F-0
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December 14th, 2007 at 9:41 am
Even if it was a sexy Aston, at 100kw it is not a ute.
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December 14th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
How can any carmaker get it so wrong?!
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December 14th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
i reckon if it has the rextons front on it it might look half decent…. i have to say i have driven one and its quite a good thing
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December 14th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
It would be good as a farm work hack. its that ugly and cheap you wouldnt care if you backed into a few fence post
buy it for a song and drive it to the ground
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December 28th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
We drove past one of these crap-ssangs and i just pointed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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January 11th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Poor Ssanger, no pretty face, just solid value for money. I’ve owned a HiLux and wouldn’t have another one - overpriced and not as reliable as you’d expect. I think Toyota is trading on street cred’ it gained from the old FJ series.
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January 26th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Binaround,
If TP (Toyota Paul) heard you say that he would be spewing!
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April 2nd, 2008 at 2:15 pm
I think it looks pretty “snazzy” - a bit similar to the Mitsubishi utes. Not as boxy as the holdens and toyotas. Anyway, just haggle the dealers down a few grand & it’d be worth it as it comes with a lot of features other brands charge as extras. It’s the most environmentally friendly ute around
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April 9th, 2008 at 9:52 am
^^^^^^^^^^^^^But not the prettiest! HA!
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June 12th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
I bought my Acton Sport 4X4 over a year ago and the more i drive it the more it grows on me. So what if it looks different from the rest of the crowd. it is for those that do not follow the rest. Like the sheep in Aussie. they follow one another. Ssanyong makes its own statments and those that drive them do so too.
Just drive it for a week and you will feel different from the rest believe me.
Herbert
TRUE SSANGYONG SOUTH AFRICA
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June 24th, 2008 at 4:16 am
I have owned one 9 months now and have not regretted buying it at all. Comfortable, frugal, very quiet interior, good hifi set. Good top speed 160kph is no problem at all. Worth the price I paid.
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July 21st, 2008 at 8:48 am
Those who say 100kw is not enough for a ute are not looking at the right stats. The torque and when it kicks in is what is important in the power department and over 300nm is enough. Test drove one the other day and there seems to be plenty of power.
However what is holding me back from buying is concern about parts and service availability, durability of the tray (if it will rust like other Korean steel) and real world fuel consumption. Would love to hear from owners about those issues.
A crash test rating might reassure my partner.
A three year old Toyota costs about the same but I would have to replace the seats and live with being as unoriginal as everyone else. ;p
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November 10th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
It’s no more ugly than the new bloated whale looking HiLux or the wierd jellybean looking Triton.
I can live with the styling, but the tray overhand is enormous. Totally useless for carrying a heavy load. But then again every other twin cab on the market has the same problem - no space forward of the rear axle.
I think manufacturers have lost the plot. No tradie would buy one of the new crop. They are aimed dead on at the weekend family recreational brigade.
The grill on the Sport looks a lot like the front of an old Ford or Willys Overlander. OK by me.
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November 16th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
95% GOOD BAD CARRYING CAPACITY SUSPENSION SITS ON BUMP STOPS WITH 300KG NUDGE BAR COSMETIC & VERY FLIMSY SERVICE PERSONEL VERY GOOD BUT UPPER MANAGMENT DO NOT WANT TO HELP DAVE
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November 17th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Got one a few months ago. The breaks are of concern to me as a result of a near accident. Is the pedal supposed to hit the floor in a emergency situation or if i were to put some pressure on it for 20 seconds?. My dealer seems to think its normal but cant find anyone else to say that’s o.k. Where can i get help?
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January 4th, 2009 at 8:33 am
Ssangyong. Yes I laughed too, until we traveled over 10,000ks in outback NT in a Musso towing a 2 tonne trailer. Handled everything the toyotas did and used half as much fuel. So I bought a Sports ute which has just done a highway trip from Canberra to Newcastle and used around half a tank (around 34lts for 560ks, you do the sums). As far as the looks go they grow on you. Michael I have not had that problem with mine.( 6 months and going strong) Has it got drum or disc rear brakes? Try the roadside assist hotline. It may be a warrentee issue.
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