Ssangyong Rexton   Women's view

June Neary Gets Down And Dirty With SsangYongs Rexton 4x4

For most of us, its a truism that the first thing we look for when choosing a new car is the price tag. Of course, it would be fantastic if money truly was no object, but since Roman Abramovich is happily married, Ill have to stay in the real world. Much as Id like a Range Rover or a BMW X5, Id have to cut my cloth to suit my tastes in this sector and as such Id be taking a very close look at SsangYongs Rexton 4x4. A what? I hear you say.

SsangYong have had an interesting history here in the UK but the Rextons value proposition is unarguable. Its got that great elevated seating position that makes you feel nigh-on invincible and it feels as if its built from girders. I get rather fed up with Freelander owners towering over my Corolla. With the Rexton its time for payback.

Make no mistake, despite the shrunken price tags this is a true full-sized family 4x4. SsangYong offer three different engines, two trim levels, two different gearboxes and either five or seven seat configurations so youre not going to be stuck for choice. I tried a five-seat version of the 2.7-litre diesel Rexton fitted with the Mercedes-sourced five-speed T-tronic automatic gearbox, and loved it.

Every year one car stands out for me as the most surprising package and so far nothing tops the Rexton. No, the interior isnt BMW-style slick, but its been built with a keen eye on design and the quality is just as good as many more expensive Japanese rivals. Measuring fully 4,720mm from nose to tail, the Rexton is no half measure. In fact thats longer than the Mercedes M-class!

The cabin is light and airy, and the dash is reminiscent of a late nineties Volkswagen Group product itself no bad thing. Three Rexton trim levels are available, S, SE and SX, the key difference between them being a torque-sensing differential being fitted to the most expensive SX. Theres plenty to commend the car in the way it tackles off road obstacles, the 200mm of ground clearance and tight ramp and departure angles giving it a good deal of capability. Thats something that cant always be said of vehicles of this ilk.

On road its rugged and feels safe, but its not the most composed handler. The automatic gearbox is well worth having but youll need to hold the Rexton against the brakes if you want to make a quick getaway.

Heres an area where the Rexton rules. Prices are comparable to cars from the next class down, the prices kicking off at a bargain basement £18,995 for the S trim level. The best buy of the range looks to be the SE model, pitched at £20,995. This includes climate controlled air conditioning, driver passenger and side airbags, anti lock brakes with ESP stability control and 16-inch alloy wheels.

You also get roof rails, leather trim for the steering wheel and seats, and a luggage cover to keep your valuables out of sight. Factory fit options include privacy glass, dual zone air conditioning, a sunroof and a side step. There are also luxury, power and convenience packs that bundle together options to offer better value. Your SsangYong dealer will be able to talk you through these.



As long as I could extend my garage a little, theres no reason why I couldnt get on very well with the Rexton. It may be big but its certainly not unmanageable, the tight turning circle and easy steering being a boon on city streets. I particularly relished the great fuel economy the my model returned, the running costs being very modest. CAP, the motor industry bible, even predicts modest depreciation for the Rexton.

Sales have been strong to date and its proven something of an underground success. The best value 4x4 youve never heard of might soon be getting a whole lot more play in the UK.