SsangYong Rexton SUV review

SsangYong may not exactly be a household name in the UK, but its tough, rugged four-wheel drive SUVs and pickups have slowly earned the brand a loyal following. The Rexton is the South Korean company's large SUV and its maker sees it as offering a good-value alternative to a Kia Sorento or Hyundai Santa Fe, both of which it significantly undercuts on price.

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Value is undeniably the Rexton's strongest suit, as few SUVs can match it for size, equipment or towing ability at the price. Even the entry-level Ventura model has seven seats as standard and can tow up to 3,500kg - the same as a Land Rover Discovery.

SsangYong isn't a manufacturer that has been associated with fashionable, stylish design, but the Rexton is truly a step forward from previous models when it comes to visual appeal. A thorough facelift for 2021 has revamped the nose, adding a huge grille and LED headlamps with a sharper, more upmarket aesthetic. The Rexton looks a little more generic from the rear but it’s still neat enough and also now features more modern LED lighting.

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The only let-down is when you look at the car in profile - it would be a much more pleasing view without the awkward bumps that run fore and aft from the front and rear headlamps. They detract from what is otherwise an impressively contemporary look, and have strong hints of Toyota Land Cruiser – a 4x4 which is rather long in the tooth.

Take a seat in the Rexton and the initial impression is of a car that doesn't cut any corners. Thanks to the visual appeal of a leather-clad lower dashboard, the use of woodgrain trim in moderation and a design that isn’t too old-fashioned, the SsangYong has an interior that almost looks too good to be true in the showroom. You quickly realise, though, that many of the interior materials in less visible places are rather more ordinary – it’s apparent where budgets have been reined in.

You wouldn't know it to look at the equipment list, though – all models offer DAB radio, air-conditioning, alloy wheels, a reversing camera, cruise control and automatic headlamps and wipers. Ultimate models add features like Nappa leather upholstery and a powered tailgate for an added dose of luxury. Introduced in autumn 2022, there’s even an Ultimate Plus trim that brings luxuries like quilted Nappa leather, 20-inch alloy wheels and a powered sunroof.

The car is powered by a 199bhp 2.2-litre diesel engine, which is 20bhp more than before the facelift in 2021. The other big news is that the old Mercedes seven-speed automatic gearbox has been replaced with a more modern eight-speed gearbox made by Hyundai. It gives the Rexton more than adequate performance on the road, and it's now more refined and changes gears more smoothly. However, it's the selectable four-wheel drive system and low-ratio mode that really separate it from SUV rivals, along with its very traditional separate-chassis construction that's shared with the SsangYong Musso pickup truck.

This is either a blessing or a curse, depending on how you intend to use the Rexton. It lends the SsangYong rather dull responses, with overly light steering and a ponderous feel around corners, but body roll isn’t bad and grip is reasonable. The ride is firm around town - something that's due, in part, to the car's significant weight. As a family car that happens to take the form of an SUV, the Rexton falls behind rivals such as the Mitsubishi Outlander and Renault Koleos on the road.

The Rexton finds its true calling in life as a practical workhorse. If bought for heavy-duty family use, it undeniably offers a lot of metal for your money, and is more civilised inside – not to mention more versatile in seven-seat form – than a four-door pick-up like the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger or Isuzu D-Max. It could also be seen as an alternative to a used Land Rover Discovery, or even a Defender, such are its off-road credentials. It's also capable of towing a huge 3,500kg – that's far more than a Skoda Kodiaq can manage.

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Unfortunately, the Rexton's sub-par 32.9mpg fuel consumption may eat into the money saved by its low purchase price, and CO2 emissions over 200g/km will put company car users off choosing the SsangYong. However, the Rexton should be fairly durable, and the seven-year/150,000-mile warranty is very generous.

Overall, though impaired by its separate chassis when it comes to driver appeal, the Rexton makes a well-equipped family car, and a very practical alternative to a new pickup or nearly-new SUV. However, its excellent value-for-money decreases as you move up through the range, so the seven-seat Ventura model is our pick.