SsangYong Rexton (2003 – 2012) Review
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SsangYong Rexton (2003 – 2012) At A Glance
Well equipped for the money. Some have seven seats. Capable off-road and a tough all-round workhorse. Keen prices.
Dreadful ride and horrible handling. Some dubious trim, such as the plastic wood.
It's obviously designed to supply a lot of status. The styling isn't quite the way Land Rover would do it, but when you see Rextons in glass and chrome showrooms in places like Bangkok you can understand how they are trying to nick a chunk of the fat cat 4x4 market. All this is very important because if it doesn't grab you that way then there is no point at all in buying a top-spec Rexton 270 SX XDI which is the subject of this test.
Adopting a completely different mind-set, the Rexton 290E Tdi does make a huge amount of sense to farmers and anyone needing a cheap, big, basic 4x4 to haul something heavy. Like a 3,500 kilo livestock trailer, horsebox, chrome caravan or mobile hamburger stand. The difference is the list price: just £17,499 on the road for a massive motor, the only gap in the spec of which is a lack of aircon.
Reviews for SsangYong Rexton (2003 – 2012)'s top 3 rivals
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SsangYong Rexton (2003 – 2012) handling and engines
- Engines range from 270 Automatic to 270
- Readers report Real MPG to be between 26–35 mpg
Once you're moving, however, it quickly changes up to 5th and stays there down to around 1,500 rpm, which is okay for economy and, usefully, the display tells you what gear you're in even when you leave it to self-select. 70 in top corresponds to 2,250rpm, so that's about 30 mph per thousand.
Alarmingly the anti-hijack doorlocks snap closed at exactly 30mph, which assumes your hijackers will be Terminator standard 100 metre sprinters. Driving is actually quite pleasant in outer London because it's very happy indeed at the sort of freshly imposed speed limits we now find round every corner and you don't actually want to drive any faster. Then it falls to pieces in the outer suburbs and countryside where bumps send the wheels crashing and shimmying and the drivetrain can develop an unpleasant to and fro motion like (though nothing like as bad as) the Nissan Serena diesel. It doesn't even absorb road humps.
Though there's no way you can chuck this thing about, cornering is neater than you first think it is and grip is okay. Certainly much better than a Nissan Patrol, though not even on the same roundabout as the VW Touareg 2.5TDI.
And there's a massive, colossal, pantechnicon-like blind spot, created by those colossal ‘D' pillars at the back. I hadn't realised this until I overtook a traffic jam caused by a Carina and got into the ‘wrong' lane off a dual carriageway into a single one. Carinaman took great exception to this and, unbeknown to me, asserted his place on the road, totally invisibly to the left of my nearside rear wheelarch. It wasn't until I wondered where the **** in the Toyota had disappeared to that I realised he and his wife were about to be annihilated by my gigantic 235/70 R16 rear tyre. So, having nowhere to go, I had to push pedal to the metal, leave him spluttering invective in a puff of black diesel smoke, and remember to adjust my nearside rear mirror downwards.
Did I like it? Do I recommend it? Well, I got used to it. And if the Thai Triads decided to involve me in their business ventures, then I might consider a black 270SX as my motor. But, if forced to buy a big new 4x4 for the Surrey school run, I'd probably sell a hat or two on ebay and go for a 2.5 TDI Touareg instead.
If, on the other hand, I fell into English events catering of the hog-roast variety, I'd be thinking very seriously about parking some of my hard-earned in a Rexton 2.9E Tdi.
| Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 270 | 31–33 mpg | 10.6–13.2 s | 228–237 g/km |
| 270 Automatic | 30 mpg | 11.6 s | 250 g/km |
Real MPG average for the SsangYong Rexton (2003 – 2012)
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
102%
Real MPG
26–35 mpg
MPGs submitted
14
SsangYong Rexton (2003 – 2012) interior
- Boot space is 248–2702 litres
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4720 mm |
| Width | 1870 mm |
| Height | 1760–1830 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2820 mm |
A ‘7' in the model name means it's a 7 seater, and the middle seats bi-fold easily to provide access to two minute midgets who don't mind sitting on the floor with their heads on their knees. The mid row is very comfortable for three proper people, though piggy in the middle has to make do with a lap-strap. The front offers acres of elbow room. And all seats are upholstered in the same leather which once contained a cow. This is more than can be said for the ‘wood', which makes no pretence at all at being anything other than plastic. Never more obviously a case of telling the ‘wood' from the trees.
Climb inside, get going and first impressions are of a landyacht like the Range Rover Classic. Like my house, steering is detached, and the gears slur aimlessly through what looks and feels like a Mercedes 5-speed box with ‘flop-tronic' side-to-side manual override.
SsangYong Rexton (2003 – 2012) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4720 mm |
| Width | 1870 mm |
| Height | 1760–1830 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2820 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 1994–2101 kg |
| Boot Space | 248–2702 L |
| Warranty | 3 years / 60000 miles |
| Servicing | 10000 miles |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £18,995–£29,995 |
| Insurance Groups | 26–29 |
| Road Tax Bands | L |
| Official MPG | 30.1–32.9 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | - |
| Child | - |
| Pedestrian | - |
| Overall | - |
On sale until April 2013
| 4 X 4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 270 EX Auto 5dr | £23,995 | 30.1 mpg | 11.6 s |
| 270 S 5dr | £19,995 | 32.8 mpg | 12.9 s |
| 270 S Auto 5dr | £21,495 | 30.1 mpg | 11.6 s |
On sale until April 2011
| 4 X 4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 270 EX (5 seat) Auto 5dr | £22,995 | 30.1 mpg | 11.6 s |
| 270 S (5 seat) 5dr | £18,995 | 32.8 mpg | 12.9 s |
On sale until November 2010
| 4 X 4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 270 S (5 seat) Auto 5dr | £21,495 | 30.1 mpg | 11.6 s |
On sale until October 2010
| 4 X 4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 270 SPR (5 seat) 5dr Auto | £24,995 | 30.7 mpg | 10.6 s |
On sale until April 2009
| 4 X 4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 270 R-Line 5dr Auto | £29,995 | - | - |
On sale until July 2007
| 4 X 4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| SX (5 seat) 186ps 5dr Auto | £26,995 | - | - |
| SX (5 seat) 5dr | £24,595 | 31.7 mpg | 13.2 s |
| SX (5 seat) 5dr Auto | £24,595 | - | - |
| SX (7 seat) 186ps 5dr Auto | £27,495 | - | - |
| SX (7 seat) 5dr | £25,095 | 31.7 mpg | 13.2 s |
| SX (7 seat) 5dr Auto | £25,095 | - | - |
On sale until May 2007
| 4 X 4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| S (5 seat) 5dr | £19,092 | 32.9 mpg | 13.2 s |
| S (5 seat) 5dr Auto | £19,092 | - | - |
| S (7 seat) 5dr | £19,592 | 32.9 mpg | 13.2 s |
| S (7 seat) 5dr Auto | £19,592 | - | - |
| SE (5 seat) 5dr | £22,592 | 32.9 mpg | 13.2 s |
| SE (5 seat) 5dr Auto | £22,592 | - | - |
| SE (7 seat) 5dr | £23,092 | 32.9 mpg | 13.2 s |
| SE (7 seat) 5dr Auto | £23,092 | - | - |
On sale until October 2006
| 4 X 4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| SE (5 seat) 5dr | £22,495 | 32.9 mpg | 13.2 s |
| SE (5 seat) 5dr | £20,995 | 32.9 mpg | 13.2 s |
| SE (5 seat) 5dr Auto | £20,995 | - | - |
| SE (5 seat) 5dr Auto | £22,495 | - | - |
| SE (7 seat) 5dr | £22,995 | 32.9 mpg | 13.2 s |
| SE (7 seat) 5dr | £21,495 | 32.9 mpg | 13.2 s |
| SE (7 seat) 5dr Auto | £21,495 | - | - |
| SE (7 seat) 5dr Auto | £22,995 | - | - |
| SX (5 seat) 5dr | £22,995 | 31.7 mpg | 13.2 s |
| SX (5 seat) 5dr | £24,495 | 31.7 mpg | 13.2 s |
| SX (5 seat) 5dr Auto | £22,995 | - | - |
| SX (5 seat) 5dr Auto | £24,495 | - | - |
| SX (7 seat) 5dr | £24,995 | 31.7 mpg | 13.2 s |
| SX (7 seat) 5dr | £23,495 | 31.7 mpg | 13.2 s |
| SX (7 seat) 5dr Auto | £23,495 | - | - |
| SX (7 seat) 5dr Auto | £24,995 | - | - |
Model History
April 2003
Much better looking Musso replacement built by Daewoo's Ssangyong factory to replace Musso in S Korea from 2002. Length: 4,720 mm (15’ 6”), Width (not including mirrors): 1,830 mm (6’), Height: 1,760 mm (5’ 9”).
Engine choice: 138bhp 2.3 litre four, 118bhp 2.9 litre five cylinder MB diesel or 180bhp 3.2 litre six cylinder MB diesel.
UK spec has 2.9 litre turbodiesel engine offering 118bhp and 184lb ft torque at 2,400rpm. Top speed 98mph. Manual: 30.4mpg combined and 244g/km CO2; auto 25mpg combined and 302g/km. Petrol engine is 3.2V6 with 217bhp and 231lb ft torque at 3,000rpm.
Auto only with top speed 114mph, 18,8mpg combined and 351g/km CO2. Electronically selectable four wheel drive with high/low ratios. Ladder frame chassis with steel passenger 'safety cell'. Maximum 3,500kg tow capacity up 12 degree slope, but safe tow limit 85% of kerb weight. Interior luxuries include walnut effect dash, radio CD, and leather and privacy glass on SE and SX models. Prices start at £18,800.
Cut price special 2.9E TDI at £17,499 offers towing capacity of 3.5 tons. Part-time 4WD system allows shifting ‘on the fly’ from two-wheel drive high ratio to four-wheel drive high ratio and back at the push of a button without having to stop the vehicle. (To select four-wheel drive low ratio, the vehicle must be stationary.)
Electric Sun-Roof and radio/CD player are standard along with fog lamps, roof rails, electric windows, heated front/rear screens and external mirrors. Also a leather steering wheel and a multitude of storage places to hold everything from drinks, through CDs or maps to spare change and sunglasses. The 60/40 split rear seats fold to provide a flat floor and cavernous carrying space. Also more powerful more expensive 270Xdi with 2,696cc 165PS 5 cylinder twin cam common raoil diesel. Torque is 340Nm at 2,400rpm, towing capacity 3,500kg, CO2 228g/km to 266g/km depending on drive system. Prices OTR £21,999 to £24,499.
July 2006
Two Specials launched. Rexton S Sport, based on Rexton 2.7 S Manual 5 Seat with Satellite navigation system, Texas alloy wheels, Chicago side bars with steps. Only 90 Rexton S Sport models will be offered for sale. The retail value of the special equipment items is £1,700, but the Rexton S Sport is £19,995, £1,000 above the standard model.
Rexton SE Sport, based on Rexton 2.7 SE Manual 5 Seat with Kenwood satellite navigation system, Montana 18” alloy wheels, Denver side steps, Rear parking assist. Only 65 Rexton SE Sport models will be offered for sale. The retail value of the special equipment items is £4,750, but the Rexton SE Sport is £23,995, £3,000 above the standard model.
Rexton II launched October 2006 (first photo). New front end with new bumpers and lights. Enhancements to the dashboard design and functionality, an electrically adjusted driver’s seat is standard equipment in SX models, and rear cabin ventilation has been improved with new individual air-conditioning vents. Suspension has been fine tuned to deliver greater comfort, and the Mercedes-Benz derived five-speed autobox mow has steering wheel button shifters.
Still seat sup to seven. Engine is a 163bhp, 2.7 litre XDi turbo-diesel with third generation common rail fuel injection. Standard equipment includes: HDC (hill descent control), Hi & Low ratio gears for off-road performance, cruisecontrol (auto only), auto-tilt mirrors, roof rails, dual airbags with front side-airbags, speed-sensing door locks, air conditioning and leather upholstery. SX version has a flip-up rear window, rear spoiler, side steps, privacy glass, rain sensing wipers, heated seats, electronically adjusted driver’s seat with three memory settings, and permanent torque-on-demand (TOD) four-wheel drive.
A new company, Koelliker UK Ltd, headed by former Kia boss, Paul Williams, took over the importation and distribution of SsangYong after the previous distributor went into administration in December 2007.
February 2008
New Rexton from 2008. All three new SsangYong Rexton models have all-wheel drive and the 2.7 litre common rail turbo diesel engine for big towing capacity and off road capability. The Rexton squares up against the Mitsubishi Shogun, Land Rover Discovery and Jeep Cherokee and whichever way you look at it, offers great value and performance with huge advantages over the competition.
The SsangYong Rexton 270 S is £19,995 – a £2,600 reduction on the lowest price of the previous model – yet it comes complete with ABS brakes, ESP with Active Rollover Protection (ARP), HDC, climate control and Kenwood audio system. The Rexton S uses manual transmission and torque on demand (TOD) four-wheel drive. Like other Rextons, it will happily tow up to 3.2 metric tons – enough for most caravanners, boat and horse owners.
The Rexton 270 S Auto comes with cruise control and the Mercedes T-Tronic transmission for only £1,500 more. For luxury pulling power, the Rexton 270 SPR is outstanding value at £24,995. You name it and it’s probably got it, with only a rear roof spoiler and a Kenwood touch screen audio and navigation system as options.
Rexton 270 S (4wd) £19,995
Rexton 270 S Auto (4wd) £21,495
Rexton 270 SPR (4wd) £24,995
June 2008
Costs of owning a SsangYong Kyron, Rexton and Rodius have been slashed with parts prices cut by an average of 40 per cent. And at the same time, menu servicing has been introduced to ensure that costs of ownership remain competitive.
