Insurance Group: 27
MPG: 32.8
CO2: 229
0-62 Mph: 12.9 secs
BHP: 163 BHP
Range: 577 miles
PROS: Plenty of interior space, decent levels of equipment, a low-ratio transfer box for genuine off-road ability and a 5 year unlimited mile warranty.
CONS: The engine is lethargic and noisy. There is excessive road and wind noise, it handles poorly on the road, has high running costs and will suffer from depreciation.
The Mercedes sourced 5 cylinder 2.7 litre turbodiesel engine has a maximum power output of 163bhp at 4000 rpm and a maximum torque figure of 250 lb-ft at 2400 rpm. As such, the Rexton is unsurprisingly sluggish, taking 12.9 seconds to haul itself from 0-62mph. Its 31.4 mpg fuel efficiency would be fairly positive for a petrol engine but, for a diesel, this figure is relatively poor.
The noisy engine and the big tyres create a lot of noise that infiltrates the cabin making it an unpleasant place to be when driving. The stodgy steering and awkward handling mean that its on-road abilities are way below those of rivals such as the BMW X3.
The driving seat offers a good view of the road and the dash is sensibly laid out, making operation easy. The seat and steering column are height adjustable but it’s still difficult to find a comfortable position because the steering wheel lacks reach adjustment. The pedals are also set quite far back, a long distance from the seat. This means you may end up sitting uncomfortably close to the wheel, making driving less comfortable than you might expect. The materials used inside the cabin also look and feel cheap, making it even more unpleasant.
Despite the compromised comfort within the cabin, the Rexton 270 S is not a bad looking 4x4 by any standards. Its exterior styling benefits from alloy wheels and front fog lights as standard, with the layout and appearance offering smooth and attractive lines. Traction control, hill descent control, stability control and ABS are also standard features and help to make the car safe as well as attractive.
Whilst the interior lacks the comfort and luxury of other vehicles it does offer ample space and is decently kitted out with a range of standard features. These include electric mirrors/windows/seats, climate control, cruise control, CD, MP3 connectivity and split/fold rear seats which help to boost storage capacity during long trips.
An automatic gearbox is available at £1,500. Metallic paint, satellite navigation and a rear-parking sensor are also offered as additional features, priced at £500, £999 and £198 respectively.
The SsangYong Rexton 270 S is a spacious 4x4 with ample boot space which is perfectly suited to the needs of families. This capacity can be enhanced by folding the rear seats - increasing the boot space from 248 litres to 1,112 litres.
Off-road, the car's somewhat agricultural demeanour seems to work in its favour and it feels more at home here than on city roads. There are seven three-point seatbelts fitted as standard and airbags for the driver and passenger. However, side airbags and curtain airbags are not available which is a disadvantage when compared to rival models.
The car comes with a five year unlimited mile warranty to offer drivers protection which is reassuring.
At £19,995, the SsangYong Rexton 270 S is a lot of 4x4 for the money. It is reasonably comfortable inside the spacious, albeit cheap-feeling, cabin and it has adequate off-road capabilities.
Fuel economy is poor at 31.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 228g/km put it in VED band L. The car's comfort and handling leave a lot to be desired making long spells on motorways something you are likely to want to avoid.
It will also suffer badly from depreciation making the reasonable purchase price something of a false economy. Overall, the car is a fairly decent model which significantly undercuts its rivals on purchase price but lacks the refinement and excitement that they offer.
If you are looking for a 4x4 with genuine off-road ability and you are attracted by a cheap price tag then the SsangYong Rexton 270 S could be what you are looking for. This large 4x4 comes with re...
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