Previously the Rexton was
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MPG, CO2 and running costs
2.8
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While the Rexton W is , 38.2mpg for manual versions and 36.2mpg for the auto.
However, this is still some way off the competition. As you’d expect for a big off-roader from a budget brand, the SsangYong sheds its value at a terrifying rate – so you’ll get very little cash back after three years of motoring. Still, the rugged underpinning should be relatively inexpensive to service, while a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty adds extra peace of mind.
The SsangYong Rexton W certainly isn’t going to win any awards for its styling, but there’s no denying it has plenty of presence. There's been a major facelift for the exterior of the car, including raked back headlights, restyled grille and revised front bumper.
Buyers can choose from SX and EX trim levels, with the latter getting eye-catching 18-inch alloys, leather seats and rugged-looking running boards. On a horrible slimy off-road course the big, 2.1-ton Rexton W was in low-range gear, cross-axling, wading, groaning and clambering its way through and over anything that stood before it, all at barely above tickover speeds on the four-pot diesel.
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The W in the name stands for Worldwide, but this is actually the third generation Rexton 4x4, which was originally launched in 2001 and was based on the 1993 Musso, a badge-engineered Mercedes-Benz M-class given a new body by British designer Ken Greenley. Built at the company’s Pyeongtaek plant in South Korea, SsangYong’s Rexton shtick is "no nonsense vehicles from Korea".
Savour that name, since it might soon change. It’s been 50 years since SsangYong was formed out of the Ha Dong-hwan Motor Workshop and the Dongbang Motor Co. Half a century has seen some vicissitudes of fortune with technical partnerships with Mercedes-Benz, part ownership by name. As Steve Gray, SsyangYong’s UK marketing director, points out, “would LG have got where it is now if it was still called Lucky Goldstar?”
Whatever it’s called, the SsangYong Rexton is aimed at cost-conscious, middle-aged, middle-class buyers immune to brand envy and the dubious charms of German badge-engineered SUVs. Farming, horse riding, sailing and most of all caravanning are the markets which Gray wants to target.
Priced from £21,995, with rugged looks, a full 3.5-tonne towing capacity and a no-quibble five-year warranty, the Rexton is, superficially at least, a lot of car for the money.
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The steering only adjusts up and down in an arc so you need to fiddle with the seats to get a half decent driving position. We drove the top-model EX (£25,995), which has comfortable, heated and electrically adjustable, leather-upholstered armchairs.
The seats are arranged in two-three-two
Start her up and 500rpm to 2,800rpm.
50 and 60mph, where it feels least like a runaway train and you don’t notice the ride quality.
medium speeds and a rolling gait when you turn the wheel as the high-mounted body rolls on to its 75 per cent aspect ratio tyres. But what did you honestly think this body-on-frame vehicle was going to handle like? As good as the original Mercedes-Benz M-class on which it is (loosely) based?
Actually it’s better than that, although driven con brio on pitted, winding roads it feels like a flying saucer crash landing on a gravel drive. The brakes feel strong, but the pedal lacks linearity so the nose plunges vehicle – or a cart horse...
Like most surviving body-on-frame vehicles such as the Land Rover mised than its rivals for everyday use.
In the end the price is the biggest draw. For seven seats and big towing jobs, there’s nothing out there to touch it. Who says the Eighties are dead?
a capable 4x4 drivetrain with high and low ratio gear settings, a huge hoard of standard equipment and capacious carrying capabilities.
In short, the Rexton offers an awful lot of metal for the money.
The Rexton's appeal is by no means unique. The Kia Sorento presence, auto gearbox or kit list - how many other off-roaders boast a full leather interior, climate control with air purifier and 16-inch alloy wheels even on entry-level models yet look down on a BMW X5 - in physical terms at least.
Some of the Rexton's strengths also for British tastes and with four-wheel-drive selected, fuel consumption rises alarmingly (in two-wheel-drive mode it is respectable). The relative anonymity of the badge may allow the Rexton to sell at a bargain price but it also robs it of the cachet that many 4x4 buyers are looking for. It's ironic that many Mercedes M-Class owners will turn their noses up at the Rexton; unaware that beneath the rhinoceros exterior is a very capable beast.
Our verdict on the SsangYong Rexton 270 Xdi
As a niche product, the Rexton should prove a success. It is well made, fully equipped and unusual enough to turn heads. The country set will warm to it as a part-time workhorse and part-time people carrier but buyers looking for a basic, no-frills off-roader or premium, all-frills posewagon will look elsewhere. Buy one and you'll certainly be noticed.
Costs
Costs rating 5
Insurance banding is competitive, presumably because in a - the 2.7 - as the smallest in its range. Fuel economy of around 30mpg is respectable in its market segment and the underlying mechanicals feel solid. Despite the expected positive noises from SsangYong, it's likely that the lack of a premium badge will cause second-hand values to be weak when it is time to sell.
Space and practicality
Space and Practicality Rating 8
The Rexton has so much space, you might expect to see planets orbiting inside. High, wide and even fairly handsome, and with huge windows, it has one of the least claustrophobic cabins of any car on the road today. With rear seats still in place, there is a large load area. Fold them down and there is genuine pickup or van-rivalling capacity available, certainly enough for a few bales of hay or crates of farm-grown produce.
Controls and display
Controls and Display Rating 6
Potential buyers expecting cheap, flimsy switchgear and crude dial design are in for a pleasant surprise. Though hardly a match for the Range Rovers and Touaregs of the world, the Rexton's controls are clear and even a little sporty. Even the fake wooden surround of the central console isn't as offensive as it might have been. Some of the positioning of the switchgear is slightly awkward - it is easy to inadvertently press buttons or nudge stalks while turning the wheel - but to expect the faultless clarity of a Volvo XC90 would be asking too much at this price.
Comfort
Comfort Rating 6
Powered seat adjustment with memory is only available as part of an optional accessory pack, so is probably unnecessary unless the driver of the vehicle will frequently change. It's not difficult to get comfortable behind the wheel and the view from the control seat is amazing. You'll find yourself privy to a whole new world as you peer over walls and hedges that previously blocked the view. Seats are firm - a good thing - and with space so liberally available in all directions, claustrophobia will not be a pressing concern.
Car security
Security Rating 7
All Rextons have Category One alarm/immobiliser, visible VIN, locking wheel nuts, and window etching - more than some rivals can boast. There's also the fact that it is an extremely noticeable and unusual vehicle, making it an unsuitable target for thieves looking to give it a new identity.
Car safety
Safety Rating 6
Driver, passenger and side airbags are fitted to all models - not bad at all at this price. Another important safety feature is ABS with ESP. Such a large, heavy vehicle generates tremendous momentum so needs an accomplished braking system. The Rexton has one.
Driver appeal
Driver Appeal Rating 5
Off-road, the Rexton cuts a decent dash though it exhibits less ground clearance than might be expected because of a protruding rear differential and should steer clear of rocky ruts. On road it is happiest wafting along motorways. When corners are called for it is weakest, with a tendency to roll. That's hardly surprising given its tall sides. In all conditions, the steering feels too light, delivering very little in the way of feedback to the driver. Be warned that activating the low ratio gearbox setting may help you reach inaccessible peaks but it will also cause the fuel tank to empty with alarming speed.
Family car appeal
Family Appeal Rating 7
A country-dwelling family could welcome a Rexton into their lives with open arms. Like a pony, provided you've got enough space available, it should prove to be one of the more enjoyable aspects of country life. Dividing its time between load-lugging, towing and people-carrying duties, the Rexton can turn its hand to pretty much anything and is tough enough to resist the heavy usage associated with family vehicles. Kids are likely to enjoy the elevated view, too.
First car appeal
First car Rating 1
A SsangYong Rexton is just about as far from an ideal first car as it's possible to imagine. Big, powerful and requiring a high level of competence and confidence from the driver, it's a complete non-starter. On a slightly different note, it might make a reasonable vehicle in which to take some off-road driving lessons from a qualified instructor. It's a useful skill to have even if you never leave tarmac.
Quality and image
Quality and Image Rating 3
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Originally Posted by fwipperie
