Ssangyong Rexton Review (2017-present)

What is the Ssangyong Rexton?

When today's Ssangyong (the company changed its name to KGM in 2023) Rexton came along in 2017, the old model was long overdue a replacement. Slow-witted steering, sluggish acceleration and high running costs were just some of a long list of flaws.

On the other hand, the old Rexton was dirt cheap. The 2017 generation pushed the Rexton upmarket, adding a smarter interior, mechanical elements sourced from Mercedes, and a big boot, but prices top out north of £37,000. That's a lot to pay for a budget 4x4.

How practical is it?

Like most seven-seat SUVs, the Rexton's rear-seat space isn't especially generous. It takes a bit of agility to clamber into the back, and once in place, passengers sit with their knees pushed up high and little space for their feet. Adults won't want to be shoe-horned into the back for more than a short journey.

Space in the middle is more generous, with plenty of head- and legroom for adults. The width of the car is a definite plus, as three can travel in the second row without feeling hemmed in.

Up front, the driver sits up high with the kind of tall, commanding view that people love about big SUVs. Whether you love the cabin finish is another question, though. Poke and prod and you'll find some hard plastics, but on the other hand the Rexton is posh enough to feel a world away from the cheap and cheerless feel of its predecessor. The interior looks and feels built to last, and the design is modern if rather generic.

The boot is big, though. You get 240 litres with all seven seats in place, which isn't that much by itself, but fold down the two back seats and luggage capacity increases to a whopping 872 litres. Fold the middle three seats flat, and a huge 1,806 litres opens up.

What's it like to drive?

Head out on the road and the ride quality is poor, thumping into potholes and feeling unsettled over patchy surfaces. Things improve at speed, and the Rexton is at home on the motorway. It's sheer size can be intimidating around town, though.

The diesel engine is a little gruff at times, but it has plenty of pulling power. That's especially important if you plan to tow with the Rexton, as many owners do.

Technology, equipment & infotainment

British buyers have been offered one engine, a 2.2-litre diesel. This produces 179bhp, rising to 199bhp after the car's 2021 facelift. From launch, buyers had the choice of a six-speed manual or a seven-speed automatic gearbox, sourced from Mercedes-Benz.

Buyers initially had the option of five- and seven-seat versions, depending on the trim level chosen. Basic EX cars were all seven-seaters, mid-spec ELX buyers had a choice, and the top-spec Ultimate was a five-seater.

However, seven-seat models heavily outsold the five-seat versions, and now all new Rextons have space for seven passengers.

Ssangyong Rexton running costs

You don't buy a big 4x4 expecting low running costs, but even by the standard of large SUVs, the Rexton will be expensive to run.

An early five-seat manual had an official combined fuel economy figure of 36.2mpg, based on the old and unrealistic NEDC test. Reckon on MPG in the low 30s at best. Work the engine hard or fill every seat, and you can expect worse.

Seven-seat models are a fraction less economical according to the official figures, while the automatic will travel one or two miles less on each gallon than the manual models.

The 2021 facelift introduced an uprated version of the Rexton's 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine. The official combined fuel consumption figures look worse, but that's only because the latest car has been tested to the more realistic WLTP test standard.

There are no manual models any more, so whether you choose Ventura or Ultimate spec the car has the same fuel economy of 32.9mpg. Most drivers should get reasonably close to that figure. However, it's well beaten by many rivals. The current Kia Sorento diesel returns 42.2mpg on the combined cycle.

Another cost to be aware of is the extra Vehicle Excise Duty payments, which apply to cars with a list price of over £40,000. A surcharge of £335 per year applies for five years after the first year. Choose Ultimate spec over Ventura and hang on to the car for six years, and you'll have paid an extra £1,675 in car tax.

Insurance bills won't be quite as steep, at least. The 2017 Rexton varies between group 28 and 32 of 50. The 2021 Rexton is in group 34 or 35, depending on the specification. That compares with a group 31 rating for the Kia Sorento diesel, so the SsangYong is likely to be a little pricier to cover than its rival.

Ssangyong Rexton reliability

SsangYong sells in relatively low numbers in the UK, so it doesn't always meet the minimal sample size to feature in the big reliability and owner satisfaction surveys. There's simply not as much data to learn from as there is with bigger brands and more popular models.

However, SsangYong has a reputation for building durable cars, and the Rexton shares many parts with the tough and trusted Musso pick-up, which bodes well for the reliability of the mechanical parts.

Further reassurance comes from SsangYong's excellent warranty cover. At the time of the Rexton's launch, the Korean brand offered a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty. This switched to a seven-year, 150,000-mile warranty in 2018. Either way, that's more cover than you get from most European brands, and competitive with the likes of Hyundai (five-year/unlimited miles), Kia (seven-year/100,000 miles), and Toyota (five years/100,000 miles).

As with any 4x4, it's worth checking over any car you are thinking of buying for signs of damage from over-enthusiastic off-roading. The Rexton should be able to take a lot of punishment, but it's worth checking underneath for any ground strikes.

Some high-spec early cars were fitted with 20-inch alloy wheels. These are more likely to have suffered kerbing than the smaller 18-inch alloys which are standard on both current specs, so inspect them closely.