Ian Lamming remains as impressed as ever with the latest SsangYong Rexton Ultimate
THE last time I drove a car this big it cost £122,000 – ridiculous.
So how can SsangYong make a comparable car for a third of the cost and is it any good?
Well, the answer is I don’t know but it somehow manages it – and it’s absolutely brilliant. Believe it or not I actually prefer the Korean 4×4 to the more expensive SUV because it’s easier and less stressful to drive.
But then why should we be surprised given that SsangYong has been making 4x4s for the past 65 years and knows a thing about it or two.
Rexton is in its fifth generation and is the best yet. It is staggeringly good in fact and unbelievably good value for money.
For around 40K you get everything you could possible want in a vehicle all wrapped up in a package that is completely flawless.
Firstly, it looks the part thanks to that gargantuan grille and super-stylish LED headlamps. It is massive and muscly, bold at the front, tidy at the rear. I think it could probably handle 19in or 20in alloys, rather than 18in, but I’m being picky now. It also looks and feels incredibly well built, a fact confirmed by the seven year warranty, no doubt.
The interior is equally impressive. It is made from high quality tactile materials. The ergonomics are perfect for me. It is incredibly well specified, amazingly spacious with room for seven seats in three rows and the controls and displays are well-thought through.
All the key functions have a button for ease of use (no hunting through myriad swipes of touchscreen to find what you need) and the touchscreen looks after the luxuries.
All my favourite functions are there as well. So the steering wheel is heated, as are the electrically operated seats (which are also cooled for the summer). The Bluetooth to my phone is easy to set up and plays my tunes clearly through the excellent hi-fi. The tailgate is powered and can be operated from the keyfob so there’s no need to get your pinkies dirty.
With all three rows of seats in place the boot is a handy size for my laptop and camera bags, with room for a bit of shopping. With both rear sets lowered the Rexton is a veritable van.
Where it trumps many huge off-roaders is the way it seems to shrink on the road. It is huge yet you sit so high and on top of things that it feels remarkably manageable to drive. This gives the driver confidence in any situation and Rexton romps along with aplomb.
The 2.2 diesel is strong and refined with 202PS to call upon. It will tow 3.5 tonnes, climb hills and has huge reserves of power for cruising and overtakes, helped by its brilliant new shift-by-wire eight speed gearbox. It’s also reasonably economical and I manage to see 37mpg on its trip computer at one point – impressive for such a large vehicle.
Ride, grip, steering and handling are exemplary too and it is so relaxed to drive that the long daily commute seems to be over in the blink of an eye. It’s a proper off-roader with hill-climb and decent control and the option to run in two-wheel-drive, four-wheel drive high and four-wheel-drive low, giving it genuine go-anywhere ability.
The latest Rexton really has everything you could possibly desire for an unbelievably low price tag – ridiculous, but in a good way this time.
Factfile
SsangYong Rexton 2.2 Ultimate
Engine: 2.2 litre turbo diesel
Power: 202PS
Max Speed: 115mph
0-62mph: 11.9 seconds
Max towing weight: 3,500kg
Transmission: eight speed automatic
MPG: 34.0
CO2 g/km: 213
Price: £40,780.00
