SsangYong Rexton W (2013 – 2017) Review

SsangYong Rexton W (2013 – 2017) At A Glance

Very good value for money, has a strong towing ability making it ideal for caravanners, feels strong and robust, impressive five-wear warranty cover a wide range of components.

A revamp of the old Rexton which was crude and dated, automatic gearbox is slow to respond.

Reviews for SsangYong Rexton W (2013 – 2017)'s top 3 rivals

Mitsubishi Outlander

Easy to drive. Most variants have seven seats. Economical diesel engines. Large and practical boot. Decent...

Kia Sorento

Strong diesels including impressive 2.2-litre. Comes with seven seats. New six-speed automatic. More...

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SsangYong Rexton W (2013 – 2017) handling and engines

• Engines range from 2.0 to 2.2
• Readers report Real MPG to be between 26–37 mpg

The biggest difference between the original SsangYong Rexton and this new W variant is what's under the bonnet. Where as the old car had a 2.7-litre Mercedes-Benz derived diesel engine, this updated car uses a 2.0-litre diesel of SsangYong's own design.

Despite being a smaller capacity, the more modern SsangYong engine generates a similar amount of power to its predecessor, generating 153PS, compared to 163PS from the old engine. Official fuel consumption has improved from 31mpg to 38mpg, too.

In practice, the Rexton's 2.1-tonne weight continues to blunt the performance. It's the kind of car that builds speed steadily and doesn't like to be hurried too much. Once up to speed, it's happy enough to cruise, but the engine can be rather raucous if push too hard.

With a 0-62mph time of 11.6 seconds, it's hardly sprightly, but most buyers will be more interested in the fact that it can tow up to 3000kg - a full 1000kg more than the 2.2-litre diesel Hyundai Santa Fe and well ahead of everything else in this price bracket.

The 2.0-litre diesel is paired with either a five-speed manual or the Tiptronic automatic gearbox, which unlike the new engine, remains sourced from Mercedes-Benz. Although smooth, it has the feel of a previous-generation automatic gearbox - it's too long geared and far too slow to make changes. It does nothing to make up for the engine's shortcomings.  

The Rexton has failed to keep up with many of the advances we've seen in off-roader technology in recent years. It sits on an fashioned ladder-frame chassis, which means the body of the car sits on a chassis, rather than the body and chassis being part of the same structure.

While four-wheel drive systems have come on leaps and bounds in other models, the Rexton W doggedly sticks to a low-ratio gearbox. It defaults t  rear-wheel drive, but switches to four-wheel drive when the dash-mounted dial is turned. That's not a bad thing in itself, but it requires more thought - and work - than modern equivalents.

Out on the road, the old-school ladder chassis and soft suspension mean that the body can roll and lean into corners. There's noticeable sideways movement from the body even on straights. That said, the ride is acceptable and you can mitigate some of its handling issues by making stately, rather than swift, progress.

Again, much of this becomes irrelevant if you're using the Rexton W to tow and plan to drive at more sedate speeds. But switch to a more modern off-roader and you will instantly notice the difference.

SsangYong Rexton W (2013 – 2017) interior

• Boot space is 1338–248 litres

The Rexton W’s interior is on a par with a number of similar models from Kia and Hyundai. The trouble is, these are the Kia and Hyundai models from ten years ago (or more) like the original 2002 Santa Fe - not the beautifully-built Volkswagen-esque cars that we know today. It lacks finesse, feels incredibly dated and has some awkwardly-sited buttons and switches.

But if you look past that, there are plus points. The first is the fact that all Rexton Ws are seven-seaters as standard, which is unusual at this price. Those rearmost seats are great for small kids, but the shallow footwell makes them unsuitable for older children or adults.

The middle row of three has a decent amount of head and legroom - even for three passengers - which is also repeated for those up front. Legroom for the front passenger is very good and the driver gets a commanding view of the road ahead.

On the downside, the rear view is limited by the small rear quarterlight windows (something that is exacerbated when the car is full of people). There’s no reach adjustment on the steering wheel but there is plenty of seat adjustment (electrically on EX models) which mitigates the problem. As well as a roomy interior, the boot is a decent size, too.

The standard level of equipment represents good value for money. Even entry-level SX models get climate control, cruise control, alloy wheels and Bluetooth. The EX models get electrically adjustable leather seats, a sunroof, rear parking sensors and privacy glass. Optional extras include DAB radio and satellite navigation.

A top of the range ELX version was launched in April 2015 and has a new beige/grey leather interior, a redesigned multi-function leather covered steering wheel, heated seats,  updated instrumentation, LED daytime running lights and navigation. 

SsangYong Rexton W (2013 – 2017) models and specs

On sale until May 2019

On sale until April 2017