SSANGYONG REXTON ESTATE 2003-2005 Review
Good Points
- Almost as good as the M-Class only much cheaper
- Great off-road abilities
Bad Points
- Horrible interiors
- Disappointing on a smooth road or in the city
Engines
Initially, the Rexton was available with a 2.9-litre 118bhp diesel engine and a 3.2-litre 213bhp petrol engine. After the 2006 upgrade, a better 2.7-litre common rail diesel with 162bhp was offered. All engines are made under a licence from Mercedes Benz.
Performance & Economy
The engines are a sympathetic recreation of the Mercedes’ originals. They offer the same power rating and, unfortunately, have inherited the same thirsty character. The 3.2-litre petrol engine doesn’t really fit within the image of a budget off-roader. In fact, you need a hefty budget to keep the car running, it can do 18mpg at best.
The older 2.9-litre diesel with 118bhp is slightly underpowered. You may struggle performing more difficult tasks and it will also lack the oomph on the highway, especially when fully loaded. That’s why it’s advisable to choose a post-2006 Rexton. The 2.7-litre common rail diesel with 162bhp is a great engine. For the extra power it even gives you a slightly better than average 32mpg.
The most important feature of the Rexton is its price. It’s nearly as reliable as a Mercedes, but can be bought at a serious price reduction. It is priced in the same bracket as some more advanced leisure SUVs, but with the Rexton comes a superb off-road performance guaranteed. Being a body-on-frame vehicle with a well-designed long-stroke suspension, it can brave almost any off-roading conditions.
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Introduction
The SsangYong Rexton is one of the cheapest full-size 4x4s available on the market. The car is a product of the decades-long collaboration between the Korean company and Mercedes-Benz. The engines are being produced by Koreans using the Mercedes design, they are quite close to the original, but the price is much lower. Apart from the engines, many other parts and systems have been borrowed from the Mercedes M-Class. The Rexton is essentially a way of driving a Mercedes on a tight budget.
Exterior & Interior
The car was styled by Italdesign, in case you’re wondering why it is so different from other SsangYong products. It was built on a stretched platform of the SsangYong Musso and just like its donor vehicle, is a body-on-frame construction. It’s a good option for those who value a car’s off-road capabilities, but if you want perfect comfort for driving in a city, the Rexton isn’t probably the right choice – it doesn’t have an independent suspension at the rear.
Visually, the car resembles the Mercedes-Benz M-Class and the Koreans don’t deny that they’ve taken inspiration from the German car. With the Italdesign styling, however, the car looks really beautiful and fresh even when compared to the M-Class.
When it comes to the interior, there has been an attempt to present a well-designed luxurious cabin. Unfortunately at some point this went wrong. Although from a distance it seems that you’re looking at a luxury car, upon closer inspection you understand that it’s just a dummy. The wooden inlays aren’t actually wooden they are plastic, they look so bad you wish they’d never used them in the first place. The assembly quality is also inferior and some parts may come loose with time.
It’s saving grace is the comfortable seats and ample space. The basic modification is a 5-seater, but there is an option to order a 7-seater Rexton.
Drive
You instantly notice the convenient upright seating position. It is this seating position that helps to sort the real off-roaders from mediocre ones. The Rexton provides you with a professional "workspace" offering great visibility and comfort. The Rexton’s relishes being off-road and that’s where it performs best. As for the city driving and highways, the car is rather disappointing. The body wobbles a lot, and there’s a significant body roll even at medium-speed corners.
Faults & Repairs
Being replicas of a Mercedes, the Rextons are reasonably reliable. The main systems are unlikely to fail. However, the dealer insists that you have your car serviced at shorter intervals than usual. That can eventually add too much financial strain, especially when you take on the running costs of the Rexton as well.
