Fast and economical: comparison of SsangYong Actyon and KIA Sportage

Modern crossovers are gradually losing the status of slow and clumsy cars, which they inherited from the SUVs of previous years. A good example is the new generation SsangYong Actyon, in which the car not only changed visually, but also lost its frame and received completely new technology that contributes to achieving better dynamic performance. It can be compared to a similar Korean crossover, which has a longer history of existence in a completely passenger class - KIA Sportage. To check which car is better suited for active drivers - SangYong Aktion or KIA Sportage, we will take modifications with the most powerful diesel engines and manual transmissions. At the same time, KIA Sportage and SsangYong Actyon will be equal in cost - the difference in the price of the most expensive configurations does not exceed 100 thousand rubles.

Go straight away!

Crossover power lines

Since the comparison includes the most powerful versions of the modern crossovers SsangYong Actyon and KIA Sportage, it is worth immediately moving on to the dynamics comparison. The car from the Korean brand SsangYong has excellent ease of control of acceleration - the damping of the pedal, which is typical for most manufacturers, is almost not felt, so the car even provokes risky maneuvers. The power unit with a capacity of 175 horsepower is enough for the Actyon in abundance - in the city the car makes it possible to be the first to leave the lane at the traffic lights, leaving behind even some “charged” coupes with gasoline engines thanks to the incredible traction of the diesel engine, which reaches its peak already at 3000 rpm ... But when trying to continue the competition, the SsangYong Actyon will inevitably lose, since the elongated gears in the manual transmission are more focused on efficiency and smoothness. But on the track, you just have to relax and use one of the Actyon step-ups, forgetting about the need to switch in order to keep up even in heavy traffic.

If we compare the KIA Sportage or SsangYong Actyon that got into testing, it turns out that the former is somewhat more powerful with a similar displacement of the power unit - performance reaches 184 horsepower. However, at the first acquaintance with the KIA car, this is not felt at all thanks to the very heavy gas pedal, which inevitably slows down acceleration when starting from a standstill. But the situation changes with a set of speed - if the SsangYong Actyon looks like a kind of bully, briskly starting from traffic lights and giving up in serious competition, then KIA Sportage with its fighting character is ready to stand to the end. In many respects, the excellent dynamic parameters are explained by the well-chosen gear ratios in the manual transmission, which allow you to constantly keep the engine in the operating speed range. And the torque limit is reached a little earlier, so the slow-starting Sportage allows you to maintain an excellent pace in the future, both in city traffic and on a free suburban road.

Passability

Since we are comparing crossovers, it is worth taking the opportunity and assessing their off-road capabilities - especially since the SsangYong Actyon of the previous generation was not inferior in this to many more serious cars. However, the miracle did not happen - in front of us is a completely different machine, designed with a different approach. The Actyon's transition from frame to monocoque body, in addition to reducing mass and lowering the center of gravity, also took away part of the ground clearance, of which only 190 mm remained. Even this figure would be good, but everything is spoiled by the stylish bumpers SsangYong Actyon, which were created with the expectation of city driving, and have very small angles of entry and exit. The Actyon's all-wheel drive transmission, which uses a viscous clutch, rarely overheats, unlike many other crossovers, but allows for a few seconds to slip before engaging - during this time you can get very deeply stuck. Before a washed-out primer on the SsangYong Actyon, the clutch can be forcibly locked - but then you are guaranteed overheating with the rear-wheel drive disengaged after 15-20 minutes of driving in this mode.

Test drive of the SsangYong Actyon car:

If we compare Sportage or Aktion with each other, then the KIA brand car will be much better equipped in terms of preparation for off-roading. The place of the traditional viscous clutch used in the SsangYong Actyon is replaced by an electro-hydraulic unit, which allows you to get almost instant responses to changing traffic conditions. In addition, the KIA Sportage is not prone to overheating of the transmission, which allows it to maintain the advantages of all-wheel drive for a long time when driving in mud or shallow snow. However, despite all the equipment, it is not recommended to drive off the asphalt on a KIA crossover - its ground clearance is only 170 mm, which means getting stuck in the very first snow-covered hole, hitting the bottom with low bumps and an unplanned stop in a muddy rut. In addition, the KIA Sportage also has bumpers that are no less fashionable than those found on the Actyon - the result is very limited obstacle clearance angles.

Test drive the car KIA Sportage:

Comfort

What can be said to be the main positive feature of the SsangYong Actyon is the tuning of its chassis, which provides excellent passenger comfort. At city speeds, the Actyon prevents knocks and vibrations even when driving through large bumps such as tram lines and speed bumps. And only with an increase in speed, SsangYong begins to annoy with unpleasant blows when driving through pits, bumps and long waves of the asphalt road surface. However, despite such features of the suspension tuning, the SsangYong Actyon does not reduce the convenience and accuracy of control - when driving through road joints and large cracks, the steering wheel does not deviate from its original position by a millimeter.

KIA engineers also wanted to make the Sportage crossover's suspension as close as possible to its powerful diesel engine - however, they chose a rather controversial path. Like all cars from this brand, the Sportage feels too stiff and lacks comfort. In any driving mode, get ready to feel strong enough impacts and put up with the sounds coming from under the bottom. True, there can be no complaints about the control accuracy of the KIA Sportage - the car obeys the steering wheel much better than its competitors. In general, KIA is perceived as a harmonious car, capable of giving driving pleasure, although it forces us to put up with some inconveniences.

Internal parameters

Practicality

A lot has already been said about the design of both cars, so there is no point in making a comparison between SsangYong Actyon and KIA Sportage in this area. I just want to say that both Korean crossovers look quite harmonious and have an appearance that fully corresponds to modern trends. But inside, the KIA Sportage is a little more original due to the use of a huge multimedia system screen and a round panel around the gearbox control handle.

It is much more interesting to compare the practicality that cars have - for example, the SsangYong has a considerable trunk size, even with the rear seats fully folded out. The indicator reaches 486 liters, but the convenience of loading large items is somewhat reduced due to the protruding wheel arches. Maybe SsangYong Actyon will surprise us after the transformation of the sofa - but again we are forced to face disappointment.The total volume of the cargo hold is only 1.3 cubic meters, and a large step forms on the floor of the SsangYong, which will prevent you from transporting fragile items such as modern flat-screen TVs.

If we consider the KIA Sportage, then at first its owner will be delighted with a huge luggage space with a volume of 564 liters, which is characterized by a low loading height and the absence of protruding wheel arches. However, after the transformation, you experience the same sensations as when folding the rear seats of the SsangYong Actyon. The parameters are completely identical - in KIA you get a compartment of 1.3 cubic meters with a step, which makes it difficult to transport long loads that are not particularly durable.

Spaciousness

The front of the SsangYong is very comfortable to sit - especially if you do not have a huge shoulder width. The overly narrow Actyon side bolsters spoil the overall impression of the superbly contoured back and cushion, as well as the tactile leather upholstery. On a long journey, this will lead to the fact that people of large build will be forced to constantly push forward, trying to take a break from the tightness that distinguishes the SsangYong Actyon. But there is no need to complain about the back sofa at all - it has an excellent shape and considerable width, allowing three people to sit here, regardless of their size. In addition, it is worth mentioning the considerable headroom and legroom that distinguishes the SsangYong Actyon - it immediately becomes clear why they sacrificed the volume of the luggage compartment.

The KIA crossover is much more honest in its shortcomings - you feel the far from the optimal shape of the backrest of the Sportage front seat immediately, and you get ready for inconvenience on a long journey. But otherwise, you will not find any mistakes - with the exception of the rough-looking leather on the seat upholstery, the KIA Sportage is devoid of ergonomic errors. If in SsangYong Actyon you simply note that the rear sofa has an advantage over the luggage compartment, then I would like to thank the KIA engineers for this. The space is so huge that the car can be compared with business-class sedans, in which you can already throw one leg over the other even when choosing the most comfortable fit. The only small negative is the shape of the Sportage pillow, which is close to convex, but it can be forgiven if you think about the metric dimensions of the rear of the cabin.

The best and fastest

Despite the fact that the dynamics of both cars are at the same level, the KIA Sportage is still more comfortable to drive - provided that you do not pay attention to the stiffness of the suspension. If we talk about the SsangYong Actyon, then it is better suited for driving on bad roads and even light rough terrain, but in the city it lags significantly behind the KIA Sportage. The crossover from KIA also far surpasses the competitor in terms of capacity - although it does not have a large trunk, but there is plenty of rear seat space here. The only thing in which full parity is observed is in appearance, which looks dignified in both the KIA Sportage and the SsangYong Actyon.