New name, new car. We test the Actyon coupé-SUV – the first all-new model for KGM since the rebrand from Ssangyong – to see if it’s a step forwards.

KGM Actyon K50 1.5 Auto

List price (BiK): £35,290 (37%) CO2: 194g/km Economy: 33.1mpg Test efficiency: 33.0mpg

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Monday

KGM is a tiny player in the fleet world, but it does have some models worthy of our attention, not least the Torres EVX electric model. The Actyon that arrived this morning in all its chiselled, good-looking glory shares its platform and power unit with the other Torres, the 1.5-litre petrol-fuelled model. That has its appeal, too, so the week ahead will be interesting and educational.

Tuesday

As is now common practice for me and many others, the start-up routine involves turning off the unwanted bings and bongs of over-intrusive assistance systems. Lane assist is easy with a button in the steering wheel, but the speed warning takes a little longer via the infotainment touchscreen. The main bugbear here for me is how long it takes the system to boot up when the car is started and the slow reaction time of the screen.

Wednesday

There’s a pleasingly old-school sit-up-high driving position to the Actyon. When so many so-called SUVs are little more than hatches with a bit of cladding round the wheelarches, the KGM looks and feels suitably beefy, and the view out over the square-set bonnet adds to that. It makes it easy to place on the road, even if the steering doesn’t offer up much interaction, and there’s a reversing camera for parking duties.

Thursday

The turbocharged 1.5-litre motor in the Actyon has 163hp and decent low-rev pull, so there’s rarely any need to rev it hard. That’s just as well as it gets a little coarse when pushed, but the six-speed automatic gearbox is smooth and the KGM cruises easily on the motorway. I would like the auto handbrake to release a tad more gently though as it can make pulling away smoothly trickier than it should be.

Friday

There’s no doubt KGM is doing a very good job of shaping and building its cars’ interiors, and the Actyon is the best yet. Loads of space for all, good quality, a huge boot, and the single model range is packed with kit. The early spring chill in the mornings made my kids glad of the heated rear seats, while revelled in the warmed steering wheel.

Saturday

A jaunt to see some friends who live in a farther-flung part of the world and the Actyon has no trouble taking five folk plus the usual baggage. There’s a bit more lean in bends than is ideal, so a more laid-back driving approach is best. That doesn’t quite overcome the occasional thump from the suspension over more sudden ridges, but overall the KGM is acceptably smooth and refined.

Sunday

The keen pricing of the KGM Actyon is tempting, especially when it’s so generous equipped. However, the claimed 33.1mpg and 194g/km CO2 emissions are likely to divert most fleet drivers elsewhere. Given KGM has an EV version of the Torres, an electric model of Actyon would hold a good deal of appeal. As it is, with no diesel or plug-in hybrid, the Actyon is a decent SUV but hampered by its engine for fleets.