Ssangyong’s new Rexton quietly goes on sale

SSANGYONG’S new Rexton SUV has gone on sale, completing the now freshly revised four-model line-up of the Korean car-maker.

The new Rexton is a revised version of the third-generation of Ssangyong’s flagship SUV and brings with it refreshed exterior and interior styling, a new engine and a new price.

SsangYong's local distributor, Ateco Automotive, is offering just one variant in the new Rexton line-up – the seven-seat diesel SX with an automatic transmission, priced from $39,990 driveaway.

The previous range featured three variants starting at $36,990 and topping out at $47,990, before on road costs.

The exterior changes have brought the Rexton’s look in line with the new design language of the SsangYong family, with the curves of the previous model gone in favour of sharper lines and a muscular stance.

At the front, the Rexton carries the more assertive looking family face shared by the rest of the updated SsangYong range, with narrower, sleeker headlights and angular air in-takes.

The rear gains new LED tail-lights and a different bumper.

The cabin has been refined with a new centre console layout, airvents and media system, while the steering wheel and instrument cluster carries over from the previous model.

Under the bonnet is a new 115kW/460Nm 2.0-litre turbo diesel four-cylinder engine, and while it can’t quite match the power of the previous 121kW 2.7-litre five-cylinder turbo diesel it replaces, it does produce 20Nm more torque.

The new diesel engine is also more efficient with a claimed combined average fuel consumption of 7.8 litres per 100km.

Power is sent to all four wheels via a Mercedes-Benz derived five-speed automatic transmission, which is a holdover from the days when the prestige German car-maker shared technology with SsangYong.

The standard features list includes third-row seating for two passengers, leather appointed seats, steering wheel and gear knob, climate control, front and rear air conditioning with controls in the third row, power adjustable driver’s seat with memory function, gear shifting controls on the steering wheel, roof rails and side steps, 16-inch alloy wheels and space saver spare wheel, door lamps, Bluetooth connectivity, MP3 and CD player and a USB port.

Standard safety features in the SX includes electronic stability control, anti-rollover protection, hill descent control, emergency brake assist, driver and passenger front and side airbags, speed-sensitive door locks and Isofix child seat attachment points.

Ateco Automotive Asian brands spokesperson Daniel Cotterill said the new Rexton improves on the previous version in a number of areas.

“The Rexton is a much more refined package than the earlier version,” he said.

“There’s the revised interior and exterior remodeling, but the big thing with the Rexton is the engine.

“The new four-cylinder turbo-diesel is very smooth, quite powerful has a lot of torque and returns excellent fuel economy.

“This is a really nice ladder chassis four-wheel drive, just the sort of thing for people who like to do a lot of long-range touring or towing.”

The Rexton features a braked towing capacity of 2600kg and selectable four-wheel drive with a high and low ratio. At 4755mm long and 1900mm wide, the Rexton has 250mm of clearance at the front and 216mm at the rear, while the approach angle 25.5 and the departure angle is 22.5.

A choice of five colours are available, including Grand White, Fine Silver, Carbonic Grey and Space Black and SsangYong offers a three-year/100,000km warranty and three years 24-hour roadside assistance.

The Rexton first came to Australia in 2002 and the facelifted third-generation version made its international debut at the 2012 Busan motor show in South Korea.

Over the past two years SsangYong has revised its entire range in Australia, starting with the Actyon ute in 2012, the Stavic people-mover last year and the Korando compact SUV in June this year.

The Korando is currently SsangYong's biggest seller in Australia with 202 units sold since the start of this year to the end of June.