SsangYong Rexton (03 on) - Review

Review by Simon Harris on
Last Updated: 04 January 2010
SsangYong may not be a familiar name, but it's growing in reputation for building robust yet good value for money vehicles. The Rexton is its most popular model - a large 4x4 that is available with seven seats and a strong diesel engine but costs around the same as smaller offroaders such as the Nissan X-Trail. It's an impressive machine off road and can tackle tough terrain, but unfortunately this comes at the expense of on road handling. It's cumbersome, heavy and feels dated. The drab and old-fashioned cabin do it few favours either, but as a workhorse-type vehicle, the Rexton can make an affordable choice. It was facelifted in 2006 and changes to the suspension improved the handling considerably.
3 out of 5

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2 out of 5

Buying new

In April 2009 SsangYong increased the warranty on new cars from three years/60,000 miles to an impressive five years or 250,000 miles. This gives the Rexton added appeal for those who are after value for money. The one problem you may encounter is finding a dealer - the manufacturer has a fairly small number of dealers so depending on where you are in the country you could find yourself having to travel. The Rexton is a good value proposition but you should still aim to negotiate a decent discount as depreciation will be steep, especially in the first few years of the cars life.

3 out of 5

Buying used

If you're after a cheap and robust 4x4 then the Rexton could be a good choice second hand. Thanks to the use of older Mercedes-Benz components (such as the gearbox) it has proved durable and makes an ideal vehicle for towing. Earlier 290 models are best avoided - instead aim for a 270.

  • Boot/Load Space SsangYong Rexton (03 on)
  • Interior SsangYong Rexton (03 on)

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See 25 used SsangYong Rextons for sale, starting at £3,450

2 out of 5

Selling

Despite the unfamiliar name, the Rexton is very well equipped and competitively priced for a large 4x4. Most people will prefer the likes of Toyota or Land Rover but the Rexton will be cheaper and better equipped. The Mercedes-Benz input should be a strong selling point and if you've got a car from April 2009 the five year/250,000 mile warranty can be carried over.