Auto Trader Ten Point Test Rating - 71%

Looking for a full-fat, serious off-roader on a budget? The SsangYong Rexton is serious value - around £10,000 cheaper than most of its less well equipped rivals.

But can the budget brand from Korea worry the 4x4 establishment? Read on for our full roadtest.

Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs | Reliability | Safety | Equipment | X-Factor | Rivals

1. Looks

The SsangYong Rexton sells on value, rather than looks. From the front, it's far from the prettiest SUV on the road, but the side and rear views are reasonably pleasant. It’s a big car - longer than the Volkswagen Touareg, but at almost six centimetres narrower, it never feels unwieldy. The 16 inch alloys do little to inject some style, and the cheap-looking badges do little to convey a feeling of quality.
6/10

2. Looks inside

It’s a bit better inside, with a chunky looking dash echoing the Rexton's rugged pretensions. The dials are clear and most of the controls are simple to use. Unfortunately, the Kenwood CD/DVD/satnav unit (which comes with a handy remote control) is very fiddly to use. There's a nasty wood-effect - OK, mottled brown plastic - centre console and gear stick surround. That said, the leather seats which come as standard on the SE and SX models look great and proved to be comfortable companions.
6/10

3. Practicality

The Rexton steps up a level when it comes to fitting stuff in. There is loads of room in the front, and plenty of storage space. A two-in-one cubby-hole between the seats can fit a stack of CDs, while a hidden compartment in the lid keeps the stereo's remote control out of site. There's an acre of legroom in the back, and even more storage for bits and bobs. The Rexton can be specified with five or seven seats, pitching it head on with the Ford Galaxy in terms of price and space. Our five seat test car had a ballroom-like boot, and a handy split opening bootlid, allowing shopping bags to be stowed quickly without the hassle of opening the whole tailgate.
9/10

4. Ride and Handling

Ride and handling in the Rexton is a bit of a mixed bag. Soft suspension and big balloon-like tyres mean the ride is ultra smooth, and on well-cared-for tarmac its quiet too (turn on the cruise control and there's very little engine noise either). The trade-off is the Rexton tends to wallow around corners rather than cut through them. If there's a need to brake quickly, it will rock back and forth like a nodding dog for a few seconds.
7/10

5. Performance

A big, heavy 4x4 with a comparatively small engine is never going to offer huge performance, but the Rexton can keep up with the flow of traffic without too much fuss. Top speed is 111mph, while a 0-60mph time of 13.2 seconds is adequate for a vehicle of this type. While the engine is a strong performer, the gearbox is not. It proved to change gears at unpredictable times, and the semi-automatic function seemed to do nothing other than change the gear indicator display on the dash.
6/10

6. Running Costs

Depreciation is the Rexton's biggest enemy, with it haemorrhaging more than £16,000 over the first four years of its life. SsangYong claim an average 28.5mpg, rising to 33.6mpg on a long run, and we found little to dispute this claim. SsangYong will throw in a three year/60,000 mile warranty and a six year anti-corrosion warranty, which will cover you if rust starts bubbling under.
6/10

7. Reliability

The Rexton feels well built, and anecdotal evidence would seem to support that. Its Mercedes-sourced engine has a reputation for reliability and shouldn't give rise to any particular issues. Our test car had a recurring gremlin where the ESP light would randomly illuminate, and disappear for the next journey. Braking seemed unaffected, however.
7/10

8. Safety

SsangYong have stacked the Rexton full of airbags, with driver and passenger 'bags standard on all models, and side ones available on the SE and SX models. There are side impact bars, and ABS and electronic stability programme fitted on all models. There's also a brace of bits to stop you crashing in the first place, including electronic stability programme, brake assist (which forces the brakes on harder to activate the anti-lock brakes) and speed-sensing power steering
8/10

9. Equipment

For the money, we can't fault the level of kit the Rexton boasts. Ours came with electric, heated leather seats, the aforementioned complicated CD/DVD/satnav system, electric mirrors, windows and sunroof, climate control, a six-CD autochanger and a four wheel drive system which can be operated at the touch of a button.
9/10

10. X-Factor

If you're in the market for a big off roader for not a lot of cash, the Rexton is the perfect choice. Despite the feeling its been built to a (admittedly low) price, there's lots to recommend the Rexton.
7/10

Rivals
You might want to consider:

Hyundai Santa Fe
Kia Sportage
Toyota Rav-4

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