SsangYong Actyon Tradie 2.0 MT RWD 2013

TECHNOLOGY

This is a complete revamp of that ladder chassis vehicle with a new front, new interior and new powertrain including a 2.0-litre turbodiesel with a variable geometry turbo from VM Motori in Italy. There's plenty of power and torque from the engine that's good for 114kW/360Nm, the latter from a low 1500rpm.

And Ssangyong has geared the Tradie right with a low first to get off the mark smartly when heavily loaded, well spaced intermediates and a high but not too high top for cruising. Fuel consumption is good at 7.3-litres/100km which gives a 1000km plus range from the 75 litre tank.

DESIGN

The four-door dual-cab body offers room for five and access through the rear doors is easy. There's a tray liner protecting the painted two square metre tray bed. A tray bar to tie on lengths of timber or ladders over the roof would be handy.

DRIVING

This one feels solid as a rock and yet has coil spring rear suspension and rides like a passenger car even when unladen. Look underneath and there's a big diff, large springs and fittings, robust tailshaft - stuff that looks like it can take a pounding.

We did a bit of that too loading the Tradie with nearly a tonne of pavers despite the load capacity being about 850kg. Handled it no trouble.

VERDICT

We like it. Love the price and would definitely prefer an Actyon to a Chinese take away. The time Mercedes-Benz spent with Ssangyong had a positive engineering effect in that the latter knows how to build a truck.