KGM has rolled out a substantial mid-life update for the Torres and Actyon SUVs in South Korea, and the changes are significant enough to be worth tracking from Australia. The brand, previously known as SsangYong, has been quietly rebuilding its reputation here with a value-led family SUV play, and this refresh is the kind of update that can convert sceptical buyers.
The 2027 KGM Torres with the regular 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine now ships with an eight-speed Aisin torque-converter automatic transmission, replacing the previous six-speed Aisin unit. That alone addresses the single biggest criticism of the current Torres, which has been the calibration and shift behaviour of the older six-speed.
What is changing under the skin
The new transmission is the headline mechanical update. Buyers in Australia who tested the current Torres and walked away over the gearbox behaviour now have a genuine reason to revisit the model when the update arrives.
The all-wheel-drive petrol version also gains off-road terrain modes, which sit alongside the existing drive modes. KGM has never positioned the Torres as a serious off-road SUV, but the addition of terrain modes opens the door for soft-roading and gravel-road family touring use cases that the segment has not really catered to under $50,000.
The Torres remains available with hybrid and fully electric powertrain options globally, although KGM Australia has previously launched both petrol and electric versions and is now bringing in hybrid variants of related models.
What is changing inside the cabin
The interior refresh is where the update reveals KGM's intent. The Torres now looks much more like the Actyon, with a two-spoke hexagonal steering wheel and an updated screen setup for both the digital instrument cluster and the touchscreen.
Key practical additions include wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto, a bigger and easier-to-use gear selector, a physical switchgear cluster for the dual-zone climate control and dual wireless chargers. Those are the upgrades that Australian buyers have been asking for at price-point reviews of the current model, and they finally bring the cabin up to where the rest of the segment now sits.
What is changing outside
Exterior changes are limited to revised front and rear fascias along with new exterior paint colours and interior colourways. The shape itself is staying. This is a deliberate mid-life refresh rather than a full redesign, which is the right call given the Torres has only been on sale here since 2024.
How this lands in Australia
KGM Australia is yet to confirm timing for the updated Torres and Actyon, although the brand has already been contacted for comment. Based on previous KGM Korea-to-Australia rollouts, a local arrival in late 2026 or early 2027 is the realistic window.
The Torres was launched in Australia in 2024 and was followed by the related but slightly larger Actyon in 2025. The Actyon picks up the same eight-speed automatic, the cabin updates and the broader styling tweaks. KGM has also expanded the hybrid and electric variants of both models in Korea, which means more powertrain choice will likely follow into Australia.
Where the Torres and Actyon fit in the Australian market
The Torres has been doing exactly the job KGM intended it to do, which is to give value-conscious family buyers a mid-size SUV at a price point where the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and Mazda CX-5 have started to feel expensive.
The Actyon adds a bit more space and a more upmarket cabin without pushing pricing into Sorento or Santa Fe territory. With the 2027 update, both cars get a meaningful step up in everyday usability through the new gearbox and cabin tech.
What it means for current owners and buyers
If you bought a 2024 or 2025 Torres, the update does not change the value of your car overnight. The shape is staying and the powertrain is essentially carryover. The gearbox swap is the only mechanical change of consequence, and that will not retroactively affect existing cars.
If you have been cross-shopping the Torres against a Tucson or Sportage and walked away because of the gearbox or the cabin tech, this is the version to come back to. The price gap to the Korean rivals will widen further once the update arrives, because KGM tends to hold sticker pricing while adding equipment.
If you want the larger Actyon, the case is similar but with a more upmarket framing. KGM has been quietly putting itself into Hyundai Santa Fe cross-shop territory by spec, and the 2027 update closes more of that gap.
How dealers will handle the run-out
Carseekers has been seeing KGM dealers run sharper drive-away offers in the past quarter to clear the current Torres and Actyon stock. Once the update is locally confirmed, that pricing pressure will intensify. If you can live without the new gearbox and the cabin tech upgrades, the current-shape Torres and Actyon will be heavily discounted through the run-out period.
The bigger picture is that KGM has now committed to keeping the Torres and Actyon as live, mid-life-refreshed nameplates rather than letting them age out quietly. That is the kind of strategic discipline the brand needed to project after years of inconsistent product cadence as SsangYong. For Australian buyers looking at value-priced family SUVs, that consistency is worth something on its own.
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The finer details
Your questions answered.
When does the 2027 KGM Torres arrive in Australia?
KGM Australia has not confirmed local timing for the updated Torres and Actyon yet. Based on prior rollouts from Korea to Australia, late 2026 or early 2027 is the realistic window for the refreshed models.
What is changing in the 2027 KGM Torres?
The biggest change is a new eight-speed Aisin automatic transmission replacing the six-speed unit. Other updates include off-road terrain modes for AWD petrol versions, revised front and rear styling, a refreshed cabin with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, dual wireless chargers and a new steering wheel design.
Is the KGM Torres a good buy in Australia?
For value-led family buyers, yes. The Torres undercuts the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage on price while offering competitive interior space. The previous six-speed gearbox was the weak point, which the 2027 update finally addresses with a new eight-speed automatic.
How does the KGM Actyon differ from the KGM Torres?
The Actyon is slightly larger than the Torres, with a more upmarket cabin and more rear-seat space. It targets buyers cross-shopping the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento. The 2027 update applies to both models, with the same gearbox and cabin tech improvements.
Will the KGM Torres get a hybrid version in Australia?
KGM offers hybrid and fully electric versions of the Torres in Korea and has been expanding hybrid variants globally. Hybrid versions of related KGM models are heading to Australia, so a hybrid Torres for the local market is a realistic possibility in the next twelve to twenty-four months.
Should I buy the current Torres now or wait for the 2027 update?
If the six-speed gearbox is the reason you walked away from the current Torres, wait for the 2027 update. If you can live with the current car, KGM dealers will run sharper drive-away offers on the existing stock once the update is confirmed.
