The Malaysian car manufacturer Ssangyong has been around for years, always just missing the mark with their cars and pitting them against rivals such as Mercedes, Ford and other well-established car makers. New Rextons in the UK do not currently have 7-Seats, but older models do. I’m sure they will be re-modelled soon to include a 3rd Row of bench seats.
Ssangyong Rexton Similar to Chevrolet Captiva
In a bid to turn the tables, in a ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’ fashion, the latest Rexton is powered by an older generation Mercedes engine and the styling is far better than that of past models such as the Musso.
While it still looks very similar to other Asian cars, the design is clean, sophisticated and similar to the Chevrolet Captiva 7-Seater, which is also a funky-looking SUV. With sporty addenda, such as alloy wheels, a rear roof spoiler, side skirts and lower front air dam, the option-ticked Rexton certainly does look the part and will appeal to a wider audience.
Chevrolet Captiva - 7 Seat 4x4 with 5 year guarantee
The two Mercedes-sourced engines, both 2.7-litres, are fantastically reliable and a good move for Ssangyong. There are 163 or 183bhp models, which are mated to a five-speed automatic gearbox. The lower-powered one needs thrashing a little to get it moving and can sound coarse. The more powerful model is still a little lethargic but it is the choice motor for a vehicle with the Rexton’s bulk. If using it off-road, which the chassis is more than capable of doing, the extra grunt is much appreciated.
The drive train is either part-time or permanent four-wheel drive, depending on the model selected. The 270ES, for example, has selectable four-wheel drive while the SPR edition always has power running through all of the wheels. There is a low-transfer gearbox too, for when the rough conditions get even rougher.
The ride and handling of the Rexton aren’t of Mercedes quality, but there are very few off-roaders that are as good on the road as they are off. The suspension is a little wobbly and that causes body roll through the corners, but on the rough stuff it helps absorb big compressions. The steering is heavy and sometimes can feel unassisted, but that again gives a truer feel of which way the wheels are pointing. It’s certainly not a full-time school-run type of car.
BMW x5 - 4WD
The big, knarly off-road tyres don’t help the handling on the road either. They can be changed to something that would suit a BMW X5, but as standard fitment, the tyres don’t bite into the road as much as they do the dirt and mud. Again, that blend between off-roader and on-roader simply can’t appease everyone.
With the big frontal area and those tyres, the wind and road noise is fairly high, but there is plenty of sound-proofing and a good CD player to drown it out. The interior is spacious and for those with large families, seven seats are a blessing. There are airbags aplenty, climate control, traction control and large, comfy, arm chair-like front seats. The further back in the cabin you go, the less space there is, but the capacity is adequate for short journeys and great for carrying luggage, too.
