SHORT FINGERS
The old four-speed automatic transmission is already morally outdated: it worked jerkily, was slow to react, and was not smooth. The new six-speed "automatic" is noticeably better — it is both quicker and more pleasant to handle. It is logical to assume that with six gears, acceleration dynamics should improve and fuel appetite should decrease, but the manufacturer does not provide exact figures.
The shift logic has indeed become much more sensible. In addition, the new transmission, like the SsangYong Rexton, has a manual selection mode. Gears can be changed either with the lever or with paddle shifters on the steering wheel. True, the second method is not very convenient: your thumbs can barely reach these buttons. You have to take your hands off the steering wheel rim and, worse, get distracted from the road by glancing at the wheel — which is risky while driving.
There are also complaints about the logic of the manual mode itself. For fun, on a long uphill climb, I went through almost all the gears, but I did not feel any difference in the car's behavior. The traction remained stable. At the same time, the instrument panel faithfully showed that I was, say, in sixth gear. It seems the indication on the panel is just a picture. If the selected gear is too high for the engine, it simply does not engage.
BODY NEXT?
Let's hope that SsangYong will now also tackle another ailment of its pickup — weak body rigidity. It vibrates on any crack in the asphalt like jelly. The manufacturer has long needed to admit this fact and do something about it.
And finally, let me remind you about prices: the SsangYong Actyon Sports has become 13% more affordable, and the base version now costs 592,000 rubles. The version with automatic transmission will cost 716,000 rubles. If you add 18-inch alloy wheels, heated seats, rain sensor, climate control, and leather interior, the price rises to 781,000 rubles. All versions, as before, are equipped with a two-liter diesel engine and part-time plug-in all-wheel drive.