We get behind the wheel of SsangYong’s flagship model the Rexton W writes Geraldine Herbert
What is it? This is the third generation SsangYong Rexton and it joins the the smaller Korando Crossover and the Rodius MPV sevenseater in the SsangYong range
Who is it aimed at? Priced from €38,000, with rugged looks, a full 2.6-tonne towing capacity and off road capability the Rexton would appear to offer a lot of car for the money.
Styling? First impressions are pretty good, it is chunky with decent road presence thanks to the new front and rear bumpers; new grille, headlights and foglamps.
Under the Bonnet? The Rexton W is powered by a two-litre turbo diesel engine putting out 155bhp with lots of low end pulling power and this gives the car a towing capacity of 2.6 tones (perfect for horseboxes or boats) and it comes equipped with a low-range gearbox and hill descent control so it should be fairly capable off road.
What about inside? SsangYong interiors have never been the last word in design elegance but the aluminium-effect and chrome finishes along with soft-touch materials result in a greater impression of quality and it feels well built
On the Road? There is a lot of engine noise that intrudes into the cabin and this is made all the worse because the automatic gear box is slow to change so this means it revs quite high a lot of the time. The ride is uncomfortable and you feel every bump in the road, its wallowy around corners and the steering is really vague .
And Safety? The car features a comprehensive package of active safety features including Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Active Rollover Protection (ARP), ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Hill Descent Control (HDC). There are dual front and side air bags, while ISO-Fix and tether anchorage points for child seats are fitted on the second row. It has not however been tested by the EuroNCAP.
Options? It is well equipped , some of the standard equipment on the Rexton includes cruise control, climate control, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, 18-inch alloy wheels, heated seats and rear parking sensors.
Will it break the bank? The Rexton W is a 4X4 and there are three versions. A two-seat Commercial €34,119, a five-seat Business/utility €38,329 and a Limited Edition seven-seater passenger €44,474. Our test car was the business edition and it is a full five-seater.
Economy? The Rexton may be cheap to buy but its expensive to run, with co2 emissions of 206g it will set you back an eyewatering €1,200 to tax a year and it returns 7.8 litres per 100 litres which is a not very impressive 36 miles to the gallon.
Verdict? If value for money is your main consideration then the Rexton is a well equipped five/seven seat SUV with off-road ability for reasonable money. On the road, however, it is lagging behind the competition, it is uninspiring to drive and those high running costs mean that the savings made in the purchase price won’t last for long.
Why you’ll buy one? Good looks, purchase price
Why you won’t? Running costs; Driving Dynamics; Noisy
Rivals
Hyundai Santa Fe priced from €39,245
Jeep Cherokee priced from €36,000
Ssanygong Rexton W
Engine: 1998cc, 114kW @ 4,000 RPM, 360 Nm @ 1,500 – 2,800rpm
0-100 kph: 174kph
Emissions (Motor Tax) : 206g/km (€1,200)
Model price: €48,150 (7 seat passenger version)
No of Doors: 5 doors
Euro NCAP : Not tested
Fuel type: Diesel
Fuel Economy (combined cycle): 7.8/100km or 36mpg
Length: 4755mm
Width: 1900mm
Height: 1840mm
Wheelbase: 2820 mm
For more information visit SsangYong.ie or the SsangYong Ireland Facebook page
Geraldine Herbert
12th November, 2014
