2024 SsangYong Rexton Ultimate review

The SsangYong Rexton vary has been up to date for 2024 and past, and sure, it’s nonetheless referred to as a SsangYong!

The Korean model – that nation’s number-three vendor behind Kia and Hyundai – was efficiently purchased out and rebranded KG Mobility in its residence market, however our vehicles will proceed on as SsangYong.

That’s most likely a very good factor for the model, as a result of it has constructed up an honest fame in our marketplace for providing value-focused choices. However with costs up considerably, is it nonetheless a very good various to the big-name rivals?

On this evaluate, you’ll discover out.

How a lot does the Ssangyong Rexton value?

The Rexton vary has been tweaked, with a brand new mid-spec mannequin added. However the one examined on this evaluate is the one most individuals will need – the top-spec Final.

2024 SsangYong Rexton pricing:

• 2024 SsangYong Rexton ELX: $50,000 (+$1010)
• 2024 SsangYong Rexton Journey: $54,000 (NEW)
• 2024 SsangYong Rexton Final: $58,000 (+$1415)

Consider; although, that costs rose over the previous months, so whereas that is nonetheless an reasonably priced 4×4 seven-seater diesel SUV, the price is beginning to creep up.

It’s additionally price noting there’s a Sport Pack obtainable for the top-spec Final grade, which provides $2000 to the value, however is simply obtainable if you happen to select Pearl White or House Black – particulars concerning the pack are mentioned under.

What about alternate options? There are some good ones for these taking a look at a 4×2 or 4×4 household SUV with 5 or seven seats, together with the Mitusbishi Pajero Sport ($44,940 to $62,440), and Isuzu MU-X ($48,900 to $67,400).

The perfect participant in that a part of the market; although, is the Ford Everest, which begins from $53,490 and ranges by to $77,000 earlier than on-roads. So, you’d be taking a look at an entry-level Everest for the type of cash you’re getting a full-fat Rexton.

What’s the Ssangyong Rexton like on the within?

The final model of the Rexton nonetheless seemed fairly sensible, however the up to date one is a bit classier. In actual fact, I confirmed it to a couple mates who agreed it was “at Hyundai ranges” for inside look and showmanship.

Certainly, the top-spec model does have a couple of thrives which might be absent from the cheaper fashions, together with some fancy wanting stitching on the dashboard, doorways, and seats, and there’s an ambient gentle strip throughout the sprint, too.

It does look a complicated spot to take a seat, and if you happen to’re upgrading from the earlier mannequin you’ll discover the distinction the dual 12.3-inch screens make to this cabin.

The present structure was neat, however the media display was susceptible to being washed out throughout daytime hours, and it was missing a couple of options, too.

The brand new 12.3-inch touchscreen is a tablet-style setup, and it makes interacting with the system quite a bit simpler; although, the house ‘bar’ of menu tabs for Apple CarPlay is aligned to the left of the display, which makes for a good attain to maneuver between podcasts and maps, for instance.

Additionally, there’s a little bit of a sequence it’s essential observe when connecting your telephone. Don’t plug it in earlier than you begin the automotive, or the system might not kick in. Begin the automotive, then plug in, and you have to be away. It’s not wi-fi, both. 

Whereas I discovered the Musso I examined lately to be a bit glitchy when it comes to the show, this model was wonderful. It’s only a bit fundamental.

The digital driver data display is vivid and clear, with a number of totally different shows for the instrumentation, plenty of configurations and a depth of information.

Under the display as a part of the redesigned dashboard, there’s a brand new local weather management panel, which incorporates temperature and fan controls with touch-sensitive toggles, and you’ve got buttons for fan pace, air-con, rear local weather controls and extra.

Larger-grade fashions even have a set of controls down under for seat heating and cooling – very welcome options for this type of cash.

The entrance passenger seat additionally has a set of slide and tilt controls accessible to the motive force, which means you possibly can shortly slide the entrance seat ahead if you happen to’re selecting somebody up – rideshare drivers find it irresistible.

Up entrance there’s a pair of cupholders, a lined centre console bin, bottle holders within the doorways and a free merchandise storage field in entrance of the gear selector (close to the USB-C ports) however there’s no wi-fi telephone charging.

Within the second row there’s sufficient area for adults to take a seat behind adults. I’m 182cm or 6’0”, and I may simply slide behind the motive force’s seat when it was set to my place, and within the second-row I had ample foot, leg and headroom, and you may match three grown-ups throughout the bench, too.

When you’ve got smaller occupants that accompany you locations, there are ISOFIX child-seat anchor factors within the window seats, and the bench has three top-tether factors as effectively. And, in contrast to the Musso, the Rexton has a correct three-point center seatbelt.

Facilities embrace a pair of directional air-vents, overhead lighting, a pair of USB-C cost ports, a 12-volt port, map pockets on the seatbacks, bottle holders within the doorways, and a flip-down armrest with cupholders.

There are some points with the second-row usability; although, regardless of it being effectively sorted in some ways. 

For example, the seats don’t slide fore and aft, which means you possibly can’t tailor the area to permit for extra room within the third-row.

And past that, the folding mechanism is extra labour intensive than different related SUVs. It has a two-action mechanism to fold the seatback down, then fold the unit ahead.

There are points with that as a result of you possibly can’t do it merely if the motive force’s seat is ready for a taller driver. I needed to transfer the motive force’s seat ahead to fold down the second-row seat behind. 

Additional, the seats are bloody heavy. Some individuals received’t have the muscle to handle the bigger portion, which is on the car’s kerbside – which I additionally suppose is a little bit of a difficulty, as a result of I’d choose to have the smaller part extra simply foldable for third-row entry.

Now, concerning the third row… It’s simply not as accommodating or considerate as some others on the market. There are not any child-seat factors within the very again, for instance. And the seatbacks don’t provide recline adjustment, which means the area generally is a bit uncomfortable.

And past that, whereas it may be appropriate for smaller occupants who need to be back-seat bandits, it’s not essentially the most roomy spot for adults to take a seat as a result of the middle-row seats don’t slide.

Leg room and foot room for somebody my dimension is suitable for a brief journey, but it surely’s actually not spacious. Not less than head room is okay and shoulder area is nice.

There’s a pair of vents within the very again row down close to the motive force’s aspect rear wheel-arch, and a fan controller, too. The rear lighting does make it really feel a bit extra ethereal, which is nice as a result of it in any other case feels a contact boxed in, with small rear home windows making for a ‘hemmed in’ really feel.

So, it seemingly makes extra sense as a five-seater, and if you happen to configure it as such you’ll get a giant boot capability, too.

The cargo quantity is said to be 641 litres with 5 seats up, and that trims again to a nonetheless helpful 236 litres with all seats up.

With the very again row in place, I managed to suit a carry-on suitcase and backpack with room to spare. There’s additionally a detachable shelf part in that structure, which you’ll maintain to make for a extra even storage space if you happen to want.

Fold all of the rear seats down and there’s 1806L on provide. Beneath the physique of the automotive there’s a full-size spare wheel, too.

What’s below the bonnet?

The Rexton comes with one powertrain.

Beneath the bonnet is a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel good for 148kW of energy, and 441Nm of torque. Normal is an eight-speed computerized gearbox, and selectable four-wheel drive (2H, 4H and low-range 4L). 

All grades include unbraked towing capability of 750kg and a braked most towing capability of 3500kg, which is the benchmark degree for off-road-capable SUVs like this.

The kerb weight for Rexton tops out at 2130kg, with a gross car mass (GVM) of 2960kg. And the gross mixture mass, or GCM, is 6460kg, which means you possibly can put a 3.5-tonne towed load behind the car when it’s at its most GVM, if you happen to actually, actually must.

How does the Ssangyong Rexton drive?

There are some parts of the Rexton drive expertise which might be good, and others that would do with a little bit of wonderful tuning.

For instance, the turbo-diesel engine affords a very good quantity of shove while you want it, except you want it from a standstill, as a result of there’s some noticeable lag from a cease.

The eight-speed computerized transmission is usually fairly good with easy sufficient shifts and first rate shift logic for prime pace gradient modifications, plus it’s not too fussy round city both, permitting the engine to do its job.

The steering is usually wonderful at decrease speeds – and regardless of the very fact the steering wheel is kind of massive, the Rexton doesn’t really feel large to maneuver round in parking spots.

However the high-speed steering response is irritating, because the Journey and Final fashions have ‘pace delicate steering’ that makes the weighting really feel actually heavy, even gluggy, at larger speeds.

For example, on my commute I drive up a hill the place the pace is 90km/h, and whereas the steering heft is okay in straight-road eventualities, as quickly as you flip the wheel there’s an odd stiffness, or resistance, to the response of the steering.

The journey can be higher in slower pace conditions than it’s at tempo, with the suspension seemingly tuned for a softer journey and; subsequently, it’s a little bit of a bouncy expertise at tempo.

It’s comparatively quiet although, with little in the best way of open-road noise intrusion into the cabin, and the diesel is hushed at freeway tempo, too.

And for the nervous parkers on the market, the Final’s surround-view digital camera actually does provide a degree of reassurance that you could’t get in variations with an ordinary back-up digital camera.

What do you get?

Rexton ELX comes highlights

• 7 seats
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Computerized LED headlights
• Computerized high-beam
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• 6-speaker sound system
• Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
• Paddle shifters
• Steering top and attain adjustment
• Twin-zone local weather management
• Electrical park brake with auto maintain
• Keyless entry and begin
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Entrance auto up/down energy home windows

Rexton Journey provides:

• Energy tailgate
• Leatherette upholstery
• Energy-adjustable entrance seats
• Heated and ventilated entrance seats
• Heated outboard second-row seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Velocity-sensitive energy steering
• Tyre stress monitoring
• Keyless entry with walk-away auto locking

Rexton Final provides:

• Energy single-pane sunroof
• Quilted leather-based upholstery
• Encompass-view digital camera
• Third-row local weather controls
• Ambient lighting
• Illuminated scuff plates
• Privateness glass
• Rear auto up/down energy home windows

The optionally available $2000 Sport Pack obtainable in Final spec (in Pearl White or House Black solely) provides:

• 20-inch alloy wheels with shadow chrome end
• Black roof rails
• LED entrance fog lights with shadow chrome surrounds
• Shadow chrome entrance grille, tailgate, and rear bumper garnish

Is the Ssangyong Rexton protected?

There isn’t a present security score relevant to the Rexton SUV.

That would rule it out for you. Or, the truth that the airbag protection doesn’t lengthen to cowl third-row occupants may rule it out, too. I imply, it’s a three-row SUV and people within the very again aren’t lined by airbags within the occasion of a crash.

Otherwise you would possibly simply be turned off by the very fact there’s no adaptive cruise management – nonetheless! The model missed a chance to improve the car according to present traits, right here. It’s so bizarre as a result of that tech is obtainable within the Rexton’s residence market.

Normal security options embrace:

• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
• Ahead collision warning
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Main car departure alert
• Reversing digital camera
• Entrance and rear parking sensors
• Entrance, front-side and curtain airbags
• Driver’s knee airbag

In the event you select the Final you additionally get a surround-view digital camera.

How a lot does the Ssangyong Rexton value to run?

The Rexton argues a robust case from an possession perspective.

There’s a seven-year, limitless kilometre guarantee for personal and enterprise prospects (which means if you happen to needed to drive for a ride-share firm in one among these, you would in concept). There’s additionally a seven-year roadside help plan on provide, too.

Servicing intervals are each 12 months/15,000km, with a seven-year capped-price program that spans out to 105,000km. Pricing for these first seven companies is capped at $375 per go to.

By way of gasoline consumption, the official quantity for the Rexton vary is 8.7 litres per 100 kilometres, and over a couple of hundred kilometres of driving, I noticed an on-screen return of 9.1L/100km, which I used to be fairly impressed with. 

Load it up with all seven seats full, or tow to the utmost restrict and; after all, you received’t see the type of figures I did. In case you’re questioning, the Rexton has a 70-litre gasoline tank.

CarExpert’s Tackle the SsangYong Rexton

I can see why the SsangYong Rexton would make sense for loads of seven-seater prospects.

With a comparatively environment friendly diesel engine, four-wheel drive for the adventure-curious, and a protracted guarantee with a great deal of gear, it appears to stack up fairly effectively.

There are some apparent issues on the subject of security gear and tech, and rivals just like the Isuzu MU-X would possibly attraction extra for that cause.

However from a worth perspective, the Rexton has a robust case.

Click on the photographs for the complete gallery

BUY: SsangYong Rexton
MORE: Everything SsangYong Rexton