Rexton seven seater has a touch of class
SsangYong is still not a motoring household name in the UK, despite having been around for nearly 70 years.
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An SUV and four-wheel drive specialist, it has a limited range of products, but the Rexton has evolved from a pretty mundane-looking SUV, to something of a seven-seat showstopper.
It is also something of a bargain, starting at £39,500. For that price you really do get the works with even the all singing and dancing range topper hugely competitive against its rivals at £45,950.
The latest incarnation has features like the floating infotainment system and various safety technologies, while it retains its flexibility in terms of seating and cargo space – plus all wheel drive.
A big plus is interior design upgrades, especially with the illuminated scuff plates and ambient lighting. Trim levels range from the entry-level Ventura to the luxurious Ultimate Plus.
Its imposing high-off-the-ground stance facilitates its all-wheel drive, which it shares with stablemate pickup, the impressive Musso.
The exterior now features a revised huge grille, updated front bumper, slim LED headlights, and fog light design, eye-catching alloys and integrated roof bars.
Slim LED light clusters and dual tailpipes feature to the rear.
Equipment on the entry level Ventura include18-inch alloy wheels, 12.3-inch full digital console, dual-zone climate control, and an eight-inch touchscreen with smartphone connectivity.
A step up and new for 2023, Ventura Plus adds TomTom navigation, power tailgate, privacy glass, Ultimate adds interior mood lighting, stainless steel door finishes, a 3D surround view monitoring camera, and premium Nappa leather upholstery, while Ultimate Plus offers 20-inch alloys, sunroof, driver seat position memory, wireless phone charge and air conditioning throughout all three rows of seats.
The Rexton is a highly practical car with seven seats, although the rearmost pair is more suitable for children or adults on a short journey.
The great thing is if you fold them down, you effectively get a van with massive storage space.
There is a cavernous 1,806 litres of rear boot space with both sets of seats down, 872 litres with the second-row seats up, and 240 litres with all seats up.The double-folding second-row seats make it easy to access the third-row rear seats.
It has a commanding driving position from an electrically adjustable driver’s seat and while the layout might not look cutting edge, all controls are intuitive and handily placed.
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Dominant on this model is the 12-inch central screen, part of the new floating infotainment system which operates major functions.
It looks the part, and is a huge road presence. At more than two tonnes, it is not going to be the sharpest handler on the road, more of a luxurious workhorse with its seating capacity, off-road capability and the ability to tow a huge 3.5 tonnes.
Powered by a 2.2 litre 202PS turbo diesel engine, it delivers plenty of power to cope with the above and while there is distinct clatter at start- up, once underway this fades into the background.
Acceleration is brisk, the smooth shifting eight-speed auto powers the vehicle to 60mph in just over 10 seconds.
The vehicle normally runs in two-wheel-drive mode, and should it ever go offroad, the driver can switch to either high or low gear four-wheel drive.
Handling is wallowy on corners and the suspension can feel unsettled on poor roads, but otherwise is comfortable for passengers and is a fine motorway cruiser.
Economy is so-so for the type of vehicle at around 33mpg but this vehicle is ideal for the school run, a taxi, or running a business with a vehicle that needs stowage capacity.
Safety features are comprehensive and include nine airbags, autonomous emergency braking, safety distance warning, lane departure warning and trailer sway control.
While £40k-ish seems a lot for a vehicle against its competitors this is real value for money and offers proven technology. It also looks good.
Factfile
SsangYong Rexton Ventura Plus Auto
Price: £40,500
Mechanical: 163ps, 2157cc, 4-cylinder, turbocharged diesel engine with eight-speed automatic transmission
Max speed: 114mph
0-62mph: 10.7 seconds
Combined MPG: 33
Insurance group: 34-35
C02 emissions: 190g/km
Warranty: 5yrs/100,000 miles