Just wait a second. Before you move on in disgust, looking for a story on the latest greatest Nissan or Toyota, give the Actyon Sports a chance. At least 500 or so words worth anyway. I know, I know. I felt the same way at first. But after my first few encounters with the SsangYong Actyon and Actyon Sports, I was pleasantly surprised. Really.

The fist time I drove one of these things was from SsangYong’s headquarters in Edenvale to our office in Bryanston. Along the way I made a stop at the garage for a box of smokes and a coke, where I had the pleasure of sharing the parking lot with a couple of brekers and their tow trucks. “Hey boet, wat is daai bakkie?” At the time, the Actyon Sports was spanking new in the country. The one I was driving could well have been the only one in SA.

“It’s the new SsangYong.” I said with my toughest American accent. I was expecting a good old fashioned slating from the boys about my ride, but I was astonished by their reply. And I think it sums up the Korean marque’s local reputation completely.

“Well it looks cool,” they said. “Just not so sure about the song yang part.”

So it passes the looks test. I think SA’s tow truckers could be some of the world’s most stringent bakkie judges. If they think it looks cool, then it does.

But what about the name? Okay, it does sound a bit Oriental but it does actually have a meaning. It means ‘twin dragons’. Hence the badge. Don’t be so scared. This is not a bad bakkie at all. Could be one of the comfiest around. It has a very silent demeanour on the open road, probably due to the balloon sized tyres. I’d probably fit some blinging 20 inchers though. Lo-pro tyres seem to be all the rage at the moment judging by the Navaras and Raiders I’ve seen around. If that’s your style then I suspect the Actyon Sports would look really mean with that kit. I believe SsangYong is attacking the jet-ski, quad-bike, fun loving market with this toy anyway.

All right, so it’s not perfect. I’ve got to complain about the turbo-lag that I’ve experienced in every SsangYong I’ve ever driven. Not a great management system they’ve fitted, especially for reef altitudes. But they’ve promised me they’re working on the problem.

It also jumps out of first gear from time to time. At least the test units we’ve had do. Ask your dealer about that one if it occurs while you’re behind the wheel on your test drive. I’d like to hear what they have to say about that. Let me know. So barring a couple of finicky niggles, this Korean entry is not a bad choice. We did after all award it with the runner-up spot in our ‘Best Bakkie’ issue. And we’re never wrong! Page: 1 of 2 - next