KGM Rexton Commercial (2025 - ) review

The two trim levels available on the KGM website - entry-level K30 and top-spec K50 - make more difference to the exterior and cabin than the cargo space as you’ll see, and it’s worth mentioning we tested the top K50 trim level for this review. All variants are the same size, so the vehicle’s load space is a simple affair having been created by removing the Rexton SUV’s back row of seats, levelling off the resulting gap and installing a mesh bulkhead behind the passenger seats. What you’re left with is a load volume of 2.2 cubic metres into which you can squeeze just over 700kg of materials and cargo. Load length maxes out at 1.9m, while load height is restricted to just 85cm and a maximum width of 1.1m, which means Euro pallets are not going to fit in there. Access is allowed through a powered tailgate (which we liked the more we used it) and two manual side doors featuring blacked-out glass. Towing capability is a standard 3500kg braked, and the top trim level features a towing mount and electrics already installed. It will do a job for someone looking for a vehicle in the ‘niche’ car-derived van sector, but some may prefer a boxy cargo space like that provided by the Ineos Grenadier Commercial or Toyota Land Cruiser Commercial, although both alternatives come at a price hike on the Rexton Commercial.

The Rexton Commercial’s interior is (unsurprisingly) very nice with a high and comfortable seating position for the driver and passenger. At the K50 trim level it’s all leather-like comfort, nice brushed metals and shiny black plastics. The steering wheel is plastered with controls, as is the centre console next to your legs and the dashboard is dominated by a wide, shallow 12.3-inch touchscreen complimented by a 10.25-inch screen behind the steering wheel. We didn’t find the main infotainment screen particularly easy to use, so defaulted to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for our tests, and it faces straight out instead of being angled towards the driver. Storage is good with little cubbies in the centre console, door storage big enough for bottles, a decent glovebox and some cup holders. There’s little to add here beyond how comfortable it feels when compared to other car-derived vans, because KGM vehicles do have very nice seats. If only that infotainment screen was slightly deeper and sat at a better angle, we’d be tempted to throw it a five-star rating.

The 2.2-litre diesel engine is about as efficient as you’d imagine, and the competitive purchase price for the top trim at just below £40K (ex VAT) is very convincing. When you consider that many competing vehicles in its class are closer to (or over) £50K (ex VAT) for an equivalent equipment specification, it does become an interesting addition to anyone’s consideration list. You can also make that excellent acquisition cost even sweeter by breaking it down on finance or on a good lease deal. You can also claim back the VAT because it is a commercial vehicle, and take advantage of the BIK allowances if you’re looking to use it as a personal/commercial runaround. Which is nice.

The Rexton Commercial is covered by a higher-than-most five-year/100,000-mile warranty giving good peace of mind to anyone thinking of getting one. It’s a sturdy vehicle with some 4x4 capabilities and a ladder chassis meaning it is built to handle tough driving. The Rexton SUV already has a good reputation for reliability among those who use it, and considering the Commercial is built on the same underpinnings it’s safe to assume it will be just as reliable in the long-term. Remember that the warranty is five years long, which is more than enough time for you to lease one for three years and not really have to worry if anything does happen.

Looks can be deceiving in so many ways. At the K50 trim level this vehicle has huge 20-inch chrome alloy wheels and all the tech we’ve come to expect from a modern car, but it’s not a car, it’s a van. So, we judge it as a van and it comes up fine on most counts. It’s easy to load and utilise the load space, but we wish there was more load height. It’s easy to drive on-road, but we wish the gearbox was more responsive. It’s well equipped, but the infotainment screen isn’t great. It can carry and tow expected payloads, but it’s not wide enough for a Euro pallet. And yet, it will still do a job for some businesses and is available for a good price. It’s a balancing act of tradeoffs, and if you're okay with those then it will be fine for you.

The 2.2-litre diesel engine has 202 horsepower for you to play with, which would be great if only the eight-speed automatic gearbox could keep up with the pedal presses. It’s such a shame because its exterior looks make you think the Rexton Commercial will fly, but it’s actually a bit lackadaisical. It is easy to drive on normal roads, but suffers from being a little bumpy on its stiff suspension (something we’ve noted on other KGM vehicles, particularly the Musso pick-up truck). We took it out to some agricultural land and into gravel bowls for some 4x4 testing, and while it cleared everything in its path it didn’t make us feel as confident as other vehicles can. The steering could be sharper, the gearbox could be more precise and the traction control system could really do with some attention so it doesn’t feel like it's struggling. If we had to summarise, you’ll be fine on normal roads but temper your expectations off-road.

Picking between the K30 or K50 trim levels has some effect on safety equipment, so we’ll cover the top trim we tested to give you a flavour. As standard, the K30 trim comes with a huge list of safety systems including emergency braking, lane departure warnings, driver attention alert, safety distance alerts, stability, hill start assist, hill descent control, tyre pressure monitoring, alarm system, speed warnings, smart high beam and more. Jumping to K50 trim adds blind spot detection, lane change collision warnings and rear traffic warning. At the top trim level you get the handy 3D ‘around view’ and reverse parking systems added, which are a massive help when parking a car/van this big. It’s got a lot going for it in this review section, and you can see where the Rexton Commercial makes up for some of its tradeoffs by excelling in other areas.

Equipment is also generous, as you’d expect from a vehicle that originates as a big SUV designed for family comfort and convenience. Without waxing lyrical, we’d recommend the jump up to the K50 trim level to get all of the ‘bang-for-your-buck’ goodies including the sunroof, smart key system with window control and auto closing function, the reversing camera and ‘all round’ view system, and the extra safety systems. And this is all in the top trim level available for under £40K excluding VAT... I know we keep banging on about it, but that is a big deal.

You’ll buy the KGM Rexton Commercial over any of the other car-derived 4x4 vans or a pick-up truck because you’re looking for a good deal. It’s around £10K less expensive than some of the more ‘big name’ vehicles and is just as well equipped (if a little less refined). We’d encourage people to consider it if the hefty price tags of its competitors turn you off, because if you can snap up a Rexton Commercial on a good deal then you’ll have found yourself a bargain work vehicle... if you can make peace with the tradeoffs.