Road Test: SsangYong Rexton W

If there's a whiff of Mercedes-Benz about the SsangYong Rexton W, well that's because it's related to the M-Class mid-sized SUV which first came out a few years earlier than the first of this model from the Korean carmaker, writes Brian Byrne. And if it looks quite European, it is due to the original styling from Italdesign Giugiaro.

Visually not much has changed since the first generation introduced in 2001. And the body-on-frame construction might seem a little old-fashioned in platform technology terms, though there's a strong argument that this is still the best kind for serious off-road work. A chequered ownership history of SsangYong stalled major redevelopment of the brand's flagship car, though that's now all settled down since it was bought by India carmaking major Mahindra and Mahindra.

It's a credit to Giugiaro's design skills that the current Rexton W still looks well. It's unashamedly imposing, now with a more individual grille than the knock-off of the Mercedes one which graced the original car. A significant interior upgrade against versions in its native part of the world also makes it a comfortable and refined accommodation for owners in Europe. The specification level for Ireland is high, and the review car with automatic trans proved a very pleasant and untiring transporter.

The Rexton comes here in come in three versions — a passenger 7-seater, a 2-seat commercial and a 5-seat commercial utility, which last was what I've been driving. Don't let the 'commercial' bit throw you, this one came with a whole suite of mod cons, including good leather seats (and a small thing: head restraints are often a point of contention with some of my regular passengers, but in this case were pronounced 'very comfortable'). The full leather is an optional extra over the standard leatherette material. The spec includes heated front and rear seats, cruise control, air conditioning, electrically operated and heated folding door mirrors, a CD player, and there's USB and Bluetooth connectivity.

At more than 4.7 metres, this car in Irish terms is a big one. It stands tall, too, which does its bit to make long-distance travelling easy. There's something about being able to see over the hedges ...

Now, to be fair, the Rexton in some ways shows its age, in particular its suspension. The rigid rear axle with coil springs does a workmanlike job in the rough, but fidgets a little on tarmac and potholes (though the recent addition of Bridgestone tyres as standard here makes a noticeable difference to general driving comfort). The car does have full low range gears, offering an ability in tough terrain that a lot of similar sized SUVs don't. No fancy systems, just a switch for 2WD, 4WD and 4WD low. There's a 2.6-tonne tow rating, which provides ability for pulling stuff at the upper level of requirements.

The engine is a 2.0 diesel made by SsangYong itself, first seen in the new Korando that arrived here last year, and certainly is a much more refined unit than the older Mercedes-Benz engine with which the Rexton started its life. There's 150hp on tap, enough to pull the 2-tonne vehicle comfortably enough.

There's quite a vast cargo area in the 5-seat utility, nicely carpeted, and with a mesh grille to stop stuff from getting into the passenger area under hard braking.

The new Rexton W is covered by a 5-year warranty. Up to 150,000 KM in commercial versions and limitless on passenger versions. Five years’ roadside assistance also applies.

Prices are Commercial from €34,119 (Automatic from €36,769); Business Edition 5-seat Commercial Utility from €38,329 (Automatic from €41,377); and 7-seat passenger from €44,474 (Automatic from €48,185). All prices include VAT. A potential downside is, whether you buy the 6-speed automatic or 5-speed automatic, the CO2 of 196g/km and 206g/km means your 7-seat private version will have a road tax of €1,200. However, both the full commercial and the 5-seat utility can be taxed for €333 as commercial vehicles, which is where most buyers are here. If you register the utility as private, you can tax it for €710, as it is taxed on the pre-CO2 engine cc system.

All that is not as complicated as it looks, and if this is the functional area where you need your vehicle, don't pass the Rexton without a look and a check on value for money.