• Fuel economy is reasonable given size
• Only one diesel engine – no hybrids
• No recalls since it was launched

What are the running costs?

The SsangYong Rexton is only available with a 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, which gets reasonable fuel economy considering the car’s vast dimensions. Officially, SsangYong says it’ll return 32.9mpg on the WLTP combined cycle, and we managed to average around 33mpg during our tests.

That isn’t bad, but we think the Rexton would be more appealing if SsangYong could offer it with a hybrid or a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The Kia Sorento, for example, is available with both electrified options and a 2.2-litre diesel, meaning it can appeal to those living in the city and country alike.

Road tax will be expensive, though, because the Rexton sits in the second-highest CO2 bracket. For that reason, we also wouldn’t recommend opting for a Rexton if you’re a company car buyer – especially if you’re mainly doing local journeys. In that instance, you can get a lot more bang for your buck by opting for a pure-electric seven-seat SUV like the Mercedes EQB.

Servicing and warranty

SsangYong recommends you service the Rexton every 12 months or 12,000 miles, whatever comes first. To help you spread the cost of maintenance, SsangYong offers a range of service plans starting from around £30.00 per month. The package covers the cost of your first three services, your first MOT and two years of RAC roadside assistance.

SsangYong also offers the Rexton with a very competitive seven-year / 150,000-mile warranty, which is slightly better than Kia’s landmark seven-year / 100,000-mile warranty. The only manufacturer that can do better is Toyota with its 10-year Relax warranty scheme. Every new SsangYong also comes with 12 months of roadside assistance as standard, whether you have the service plan or not.

Reliability

• Work-proven engine and chassis
• SsangYong has a good reliability record
• Did we mention it hasn’t had any recalls?

The Rexton shares its engine and chassis with the Musso pick-up truck – and the commercial version of the platform has proved to be very dependable. The Rexton should have an easier life than the Musso, too, as it’s designed to carry passengers instead of bricks and heavy machinery, which means the components will be put under less strain.

One potential failure point we found during our time with the car were the side steps. They look tough, but they flexed quite badly when we put our weight on them. Still, SsangYong’s impressive warranty should cover that if they were to fail. It’s also worth reiterating that the Rexton hasn’t had any recalls since it was launched in 2017. For the sake of comparison, the Kia Sorento has had two.