Competing in the mid-size
SUV segment alongside more established Korean players such as Hyundai
and Kia is the Rexton II from SsangYong. With this new vehicle,
SsangYong moves a bit away from its utilitarian appeal for customers
looking for a stylish, yet infinitely practical and drivable off-road
vehicle. It can seat up to seven
people, and has an electronic selectable 4WD system. The Rexton is
without a doubt the flagship of the SsangYong range and it, like the
rest of the line-up, draws heavily on Mercedes-Benz lineage. It is
quite a handsome vehicle as its styling does not need any excuses. The 3.2-litre V6 produces
220bhp and 312Nm of torque. A 5-speed manual transmission is the
standard fare in shifting power to the roads while a new T-Tronic
5-speed automatic transmission (Mercedes-Benz sourced) is also
available. In the styling
department, the Rexton succeeds in being definingly different with a
strong, yet stylish, purposeful yet understated front end, which
should (hopefully!) stand the test of time. It’s flared wheel
arches and integrated foglamps add to the look to give it a definite
up-market feel. The inside combines good ergonomic design with
practicality. The dashboard design, functional, with clear dials and
few controls, is logically laid out in an entirely gimmick-free zone.
There is a multitude of cubby-holes and storage to hold anything from
CDs and maps, to spare change and sunglasses. The Rexton II is like an
unpolished gem waiting to shine through. But its biggest fallacy is
the fact that people tend to disregard the SsangYong badge as being
frivolous. Add to the fact that its Korean rivals have the edge in
being more widely known with large model ranges also contributes to
its low acceptance levels. What most do not realise is that the
SsangYong range and the Rexton II in particular are very cost
effective while being quite reasonably well built…for the price!
