Ssangyong Rexton Review (2017-present)
Ssangyong Rexton cars for sale
3.0
Expert review
Pros
Hugely capable off road
Good value, new and used
Long new-car warranty
Cons
Not the most polished SUV on the road
Poor fuel economy and high emissions
Tight on space in the third row of seats
The CarGurus verdict
The Rexton won't appeal to brand-conscious Audi and BMW fans, and it's not the SUV to choose if you want low running costs. It shouldn't be top of your list if you never head off-tarmac, either: the smaller Korando is better to drive on the road.
If, on the other hand, you really need a big 4x4, the Rexton has some important qualities. It's amazing to drive off-road and far more capable than most of its road-biased rivals. Its high kerbweight and 3,500kg towing limit contribute to strong credentials as a tow car, too.
Whether you are shopping new or used, today's Rexton isn't the outright bargain the old model was. But it's still good value next to competitors like the Kia Sorento, Mitsubishi Shogun or Toyota Land Cruiser.
Like we said at the start, the Rexton is a true off-roader, for better and for worse.
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.
- Every Rexton has a towing capacity of 3.5 tonnes. That puts the big SsangYong on the same page as 4x4 heavyweights like the Land Rover Discovery. It's certainly a much higher legal maximum than the likes of the Skoda Kodiaq or Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace. The Rexton's kerbweight of well over two tonnes also counts in its favour when towing a caravan or trailer, as the heavier the car is compared with what it's towing, the better. Since the 2021 facelift, every Rexton comes with Trailer Sway Control as standard to keep car and trailer stable.
- The 2021 Rexton facelift included changes to the looks, engine, suspension and interior. A more prominent grille and new LED lights refreshed the exterior, while the engine was uprated to produce more power. SsangYong also swapped out the seven-speed Mercedes automatic gearbox in favour of a smooth-shifting new eight-speed automatic transmission. Two models have been offered since the facelift: the entry-level Ventura and the top-spec Ultimate. Both have seven seats and four-wheel drive, with a low-ratio transfer 'box for serious offroading.
- You can pick holes in the way the Rexton drives on tarmac, but there's no arguing with its off-road prowess. The car has a selectable 4x4 system, so it can be driven as a rear-wheel drive car on the road in the dry. Switching to the high-ratio 4x4 setting gives extra traction in slippery conditions, while the low-range setting makes the Rexton easier to control in really tricky terrain. The big SsangYong will go further into the back of beyond than most of its rivals.
- If you're buying new, and you want lots of toys: Pick the aptly named Ultimate. You get LED headlights, LED fog lights, a 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with TomTom navigation, interior mood lighting, leather upholstery, heated- and ventilated front seats, and a suite of driver aids. Rear-view and 360˚ surround-view cameras are also standard.
- If you're buying new, and you want good value: Choose Ventura specification. This is pretty well equipped in its own right, and at the time of writing costs less than £40,000. That's important as it means car tax bills will be considerably lower than if you choose the Ultimate. It comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, faux-leather upholstery, rain-sensing wipers, front- and rear parking sensors, remote keyless entry, cruise control, nine airbags, autonomous emergency braking and more.
- If you are buying used, and want a well-equipped seven-seater: Go for the ELX. This was the middle specification of three when this Rexton was launched, sitting between the EX and Ultimate. It has 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone air-conditioning, Nappa leather upholstery, satellite-navigation and touchscreen infotainment, and nine airbags.
- If you want something different: Look for the ICE special edition. This limited-run model was launched in 2019, based on the mid-spec ELX. It featured Ice White pearlescent paint and a new alloy wheel design. It cost £500 less than the ELX as a new car, and used values will be pretty much on a par with the regular model's.
