- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 7 seats
- Engine
2.2DT, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
133kW, 420Nm
- Fuel
Diesel 8.3L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4XD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
7 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
2019 SsangYong Rexton review
SsangYong is no stranger to building solid off-road wagons.
But to many, they just never really looked all that good. Failing to achieve sales success, the South Korean car maker departed our shores two years ago and now re-enters the Australian market with a fresh-looking lineup that could prove to be the driving force that helps it stick around – at least if its big seven-year warranty and sharp driveaway pricing are enough to get on the radar.
- Better looking than before
- Class-leading warranty
- Engine is refined
- Ride a little soft
- Alloys won't hold up offroad
- Competent rivals priced nearby
Is it right for me?
The four-wheel-drive ute-based wagon market is solid in Australia, made up by stalwarts such as the Ford Everest, Toyota Fortuner, Isuzu MU-X and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. All of which are sprung from their ute cousins – the Ranger, HiLux, D-Max and Triton respectively – and that’s where the Rexton stands out.
Conceived before the Musso ute, it promises to be a little more refined yet purpose-built while still based on a rugged ladder-frame chassis. It's a big seven-seater SUV and has a genuine third-row for carting a legion but unlike the urban-restricted CX-9, the Rexton is also a capable off-roader with part-time four-wheel-drive and low-range ‘box.
Can I afford it ?
The Rexton is available in three variants and like all of SsangYong's offerings are priced including all driveaway costs. The base grade EX starts at $39,990, the ELX at $46,990 and the top-spec Ultimate at $52,990.
What do you get for your money?
While the Rexton’s off-road strength is best explored with a diesel engine, the base grade EX only gets a front-wheel-drive layout and 2.0-litre petrol turbo motor mated to a six-speed auto. The ELX and Ultimate, on test, have part-time four-wheel-drivetrains and a 2.2-litre diesel turbo engine mated to a seven-speed transmission.
Kicking off equipment, the EX has 18-inch alloy wheels, cloth trim interior, 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone climate and a comprehensive safety suite consisting of AEB, forward collision alert, lane departure warning, rear parking sensors and automatic high-beam.
The ELX upgrades to faux leather seat trim, 7.0-inch digital drivers display in the dash, electric seats with heating and ventilation, heated rear seat, tinted windows, blind spot monitoring, lane change assist and rear-cross traffic alert.
The Ultimate adds leather trim with stitched diamond pattern, HID headlights, 360-degree birds-eye camera, speed sensitive steering assist, sunroof, rear-seat air climate control and an electric tailgate.
How much does it cost to maintain?
Service intervals are every 12 months or 15,000kmm, whichever comes first, and SsangYong offers a fixed-service price menu which was not available at time of publication. The model is also covered by a seven-year, unlimited kilometre warranty and seven-year roadside assist.
Is it well built?
The Rexton is into its fourth-generation and previous examples have been known to go well in tougher Australian conditions. Beyond being much better looking than before, details such as panel gaps and interior trim fitment appear tight and consistent. And for peace of mind, SsangYong is backing itself with a big seven-year warranty with roadside assist.
What are the Standout features?
It’s the only off-road-oriented SUV to offer a seven-year warranty and the pricing is pretty sharp. But it isn’t priced much less than respected rivals such as the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.
What does it have that others don't?
Apart from the big warranty, the cabin feels refined and outside noise, including from the diesel engine, is very well isolated.
How practical is it?
It’s a really big SUV, with a good amount of room across three rows. Plenty of storage pockets and bins are littered throughout and there are air conditioning vents in the very back to keep everyone comfortable.
The part-time four-wheel-drive system isn’t as good at Mitsubishi’s trick full-time driveline but it does have low-range gearing for crawling around more challenging off-road tracks.
Is it comfortable?
The leather material in the Ultimate is soft and pillowy, with good bolstering and ergonomic support while feeling premium. The seats upfront are electric-adjustable with both heating and ventilation and the second-row is also heated.
The 8.0-inch infotainment system is clear and crisp, reacting quickly to inputs and easy to navigate but it doesn’t have navigation software as standard in any trim level, relying on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity for directions. The 360-degree view with front and side cameras are also handy both in city situations and getting around the bush unscathed.
Easy in, easy out?
The doors are big and wide with grab handles up top but no side step for kids. The aperture is large on the rear doors, making entry to the second and third-row simple, but the folding mechanism to get right in the very back needs a couple pulls to fold up neatly.
Space and versatility?
The Rexton feels big inside, with heaps of headroom and legroom for both the front and second row on its 2865mm wheelbase. It also has a good third row that doesn’t feel completely awkward to be in and offers enough legroom that an adult can put up with getting around if needed.
The middle seats fold 60:40 for access into the back, and the third-row has a 50:50 split. Boot space with the third row up is miniscule but opens up to 649-litres when both are pushed down.
What's the engine like?
Like the Musso, the Rexton uses a 2.2-litre diesel turbo producing 133kW at 4000rpm but a slightly more grunty 420Nm from 1600-2600rpm through an upgraded Mercedes-Benz-sourced seven-speed automatic transmission.
The extra 20Nm of torque comes on slightly sooner than in the six-speed Musso, though the Rexton’s extra mass means it still has a steady-as-she-goes approach to acceleration.
It doesn’t lack much on the highway though, and the engine is a sweetie for refinement, with enough torque that it’s never struggling or feeling too slow.
The usual clatter of most rivals isn’t present in the Rexton and it’s a smooth drivetrain whether cruising or pushing on, catering for a 3.5-tonne towing capacity that might just begin to make it feel a little underdone on big trips.
How much fuel does it consume?
Diesel engine Rextons consume a claimed combined consumption of 8.3L/100km on the Government fuel rating. The petrol is rated at a claimed 10.4L from the same-size 70-litre fuel tank.
Is it enjoyable to drive?
Not much of sharp tool to steer and with close to 2.5-tonne of mass to move about, the Rexton does a good job of feeling smooth and planted, with easy steering that will suit urban driving.
The suspension tune is a little too soft in the current configuration though we’re told by SsangYong Australia a local ride and handling update is not far away. Even still, it’s not at all bad and, for a tall family car, it rides over bumps and corrugations well - much nicer than the Musso and its hard dampers.
The calm attitude and noise from the diesel engine adds some refinement missing in competitors, and the gears shift along smoothly up to highway speeds.
Heading off-road, both four-high and -low range are selected by turning a dial on the centre console. High range slips in on the move while low-range requires the transmission is in neutral but mates quickly.
With 224mm of clearance, the Rexton is fine at scrambling along beaten tracks and through muddy paths, and the 20.5 and 22 degree approach and departure angle will be fine for recreational four-wheel driving. But they’ll be slightly limiting for getting over bigger stuff - for the adventurous, SsangYong are working on a range of homologated parts including a lift kit that will be a big plus for serious off-road work.
It also has an Eaton automatic electronic locking differential in the rear that engages when the wheels split a difference of more than 100rpm, and it helped on some slippery sections where there was mud on the edge of the track. The hill descent control also works as advertised, though fixed at 5km/h.
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Does it perform as you expect?
Looking back on history, the new Rexton is a case of judging a book by its cover, with far nicer looks outside that match a well-presented cabin and refined driveline underneath. It’s not as resolved as some other ute-based competitors yet but it’s not far behind, and the big warranty, plus value pricing, make it more compelling.