SsangYong Rexton (03 on) - Review

Two engines were offered initially. A 2.9-litre diesel (badged 290) and a 3.2-litre petrol (badged 320). The 290 diesel is an older unit which is noisy and pretty sluggish, while economy is pretty poor for a diesel - we managed just 28mpg. The petrol engine is rare and it's easy to see why. Although it has 213bhp it only manages a woeful 18mpg and performance is hampered by the dated four-speed automatic gearbox. A 2.7-litre five-cylinder modern turbodiesel arrived in mid-2004 available, replacing both previous engines. Fuel consumption of 31mpg can't match that offered by smaller diesel 4x4s like the Honda CR-V, but the engine offers good pulling power. When the Rexton was facelifted in 2006, a more powerful 186bhp version of the engine was introduced (alongside the standard 165bhp variant). It's only available with an automatic gearbox, which has revised shifts to make it smoother.

The Rexton is narrower than most large 4x4s, causing it to have a higher centre of gravity. The suspension is set firmer to reduce body roll and results in a harsh ride over bumps. In two-wheel-drive mode (on those with a manual gearbox), it can slip around, but is more sure-footed in four-wheel-drive. The steering is very light, which can be irritating at speed, failing to provide enough feedback to have full confidence in the car. However it makes manoeuvring easy as does its tight turning circle. The car was revised in 2006 (and the name changed to Rexton II) with alterations to the suspensions. As a result it's far better in corners and not as unwieldy as before - in fact it's quite nimble for such a heavy car.