From when you first look at the car you can immediately tell that the new Rexton is a departure from the previous-generation model that was briefly on sale in India. Ssangyong’s new flagship has been developed from the ground up.
On the outside
The new Rexton is built on a brand new body-on-frame chassis that makes it lighter and stiffer as well. Ssangyong’s design team has concentrated on getting the proportions of the new SUV right and they seem to have succeeded; the new car looks a lot better than the old one. This car is massive - its 1800mm height ensures this massive 4.8m-long SUV will tower over most cars in a parking lot.
On the inside
The interior is fairly straightforward - the dashboard has lots of straight lines that help accentuate the width of the cabin. The steering wheel, instruments and the centre console, which is filled with buttons, are smart to look at. In the middle sits a massive 9.2-inch high-definition screen that’s the largest in its class. It comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and all of the data, including the navigation maps, is viewed in HD quality. The company has been generous with equipment – this car has some first-in-class features - a 360deg camera and key-sensing auto locking and tailgate opening. Walk away with the key in your pocket and the car will lock itself automatically; the tailgate opens on its own too when you walk towards it. Top-end versions of this car will also get a 10-speaker Infinity sound system.
The SUV’s cabin is a great place to be in - it is genuinely top-class. The plastics feel premium and the polishing is flawless. The Nappa leather used with a quilted pattern on the door pads is superbly stitched. Even the buttons around the cabin are nicely weighted. The new Rexton’s cabin makes the Fortuner’s interiors feel dated.
There’s ample head- and legroom in both rows and the good thing is that the rear seat sits quite high off the floor, so you will be comfortable seated in this car. India will most probably get the seven-seat version of this SUV.
From behind the wheel
Under the hood sits a 2.2-litre diesel, developing a healthy 187hp and 420Nm of torque. This motor comes with two gearbox options - a six-speed manual and a traditional seven-speed torque converter automatic, sourced from Mercedes. This engine is quiet and refined for a diesel. Noise levels in the cabin are impressively low. The motor lacks punch though – there’s no kick in its mid-range, the Rexton tends to pull more linearly when you put your foot down. The engine sounds vocal and strained beyond 4,000rpm though and sadly, the impressive power and torque figures don’t translate to performance on the road. The Rexton cruises quite well though - the seven-speed auto will pick the highest possible gear to be in each time, which is good for efficiency too. This isn’t a car to hurry along, it will do its job in a relaxed sort of way.
Since this car is softly sprung, it rolls quite a bit. It feels quite top heavy, so you’re better off with a more relaxed driving style. The steering is light, making this massive SUV quite easy to drive in traffic. The Rexton’s mix of comfort, refinement and easy driveability should appeal to the chauffer-driven.
Is it worth the money?
Mahindra is currently evaluating if this latest Ssangyong, (which will be locally manufactured) can meet its very aggressive cost targets. This car will most likely make its Indian debut at the 2018 Auto Expo, but no details are certain on whether it will be sold here as a Ssangyong or a Mahindra.
