Skip advert
Advertisement

New SsangYong Rexton 2020 review

The refreshed value-for-money SsangYong Rexton SUV is strong off-road and for towing

Overall Auto Express rating

3.5

How we review cars
Find your KGM Rexton
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

Verdict

SsangYong’s updated Rexton is strong on value, with equipment, space and off-road ability that you’ll struggle to get anywhere else at the price. Its off-road underpinnings mean it’s not the most cultured SUV over tarmac, but it still holds huge appeal as a tow car and may well entice those people who like to go off the beaten track and just fancy something a bit different.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Not everyone wants – or can afford – a new Land Rover Defender. That’s certainly what SsangYong hopes. Its latest Rexton may not have the street cred or style of the new Brit, but when it comes to value, there’s no denying its appeal.

For more than £5,000 less than the cheapest new Defender 110, you could have this fully loaded SsangYong Rexton Ultimate, complete with a seven-year warranty and, currently, a zero-per cent finance deal for this updated 2020 model.

Exterior changes are limited to a new grille. While it makes the smart, if slightly bulky-looking, Rexton feel a little more upmarket, the refresh hardly makes you want to trade up from a previous model-year car.

The promise of recalibrated steering with adjusted weighting, plus tweaks to the springs and dampers, with new wheels and tyres might, though. There is a tangible improvement to the way the Rexton drives, but don’t expect cutting-edge dynamics.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

2

2023 Polestar

2

53,628 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £17,500
View 2
2008

2021 Peugeot

2008

35,933 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £13,103
View 2008
V60

2022 Volvo

V60

53,052 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £20,903
View V60
Corsa

2018 Vauxhall

Corsa

20,605 milesAutomaticPetrol1.4L

Cash £10,403
View Corsa

With its ladder-frame chassis, which is better suited to off-roading than on-roading, it still fidgets a bit too much on UK roads, even on smaller wheels and a new range of tyres. It’s not especially uncomfortable, but it’ll jiggle you about and jolt over potholes. The steering is also overly assisted. Again, it’s ideal for off-roading, but its vagueness takes a bit of getting used to on tarmac.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Refinement impresses, though; there’s little road noise, while SsangYong’s own 179bhp 2.2-litre diesel engine is quiet on a cruise, if less so around town. At 420Nm, it’s got decent pulling power, too, which is why the Rexton is popular with those needing to tow (a hauling capacity of 3,500kg will appeal to many people), while it seemed to cope well over hills and muddy fields on our test.

You can pick from two-wheel or four-wheel drive with a low-ratio option for off road, plus electronic hill-descent control, too. If you plan to use the Rexton as an off-roader first and family car second, you can get lower (but still reasonably) specced models from £29,995.

At the top end, close to £40,000 is a steep price for a car at this end of the market, but it does get you an SUV with a level of space, kit and off-road ability you won’t get anywhere else for the money. You’d be very happy in a Skoda Kodiaq, until you needed to tow or go off-roading. Our car came with comfy heated and cooled leather seats, a 9.0-inch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, fancy interior LED lighting and a powered tailgate – among many other features that include a raft of advanced safety kit.

All that doesn’t make the interior feel any posher, though; the design and quality are probably akin to a Mercedes ML-Class of a couple of generations ago, although that’s not a bad place for the brand to be.

SsangYong has done its best to add soft-touch plastics and piano-black surfaces, but the plasticised chrome feels tacky. Yet build quality feels good, and we wouldn’t expect anything major to go wrong. You do get a decent amount of space in the front and the back, plus an enormous boot. Residual values aren’t great, but you can protect yourself on that front with a decent finance package. Running costs and a claimed 32.9mpg are par for the course.

Model:SsangYong Rexton Ultimate
Price:£39,495
Engine:2.2-litre 4cyl diesel
Power/torque:178bhp/420Nm
Transmission:Seven-speed automatic, four-wheel drive  
0-62mph:11.9 seconds
Top speed:115mph
Economy/CO2:32.9mpg/218g/km
On saleNow
Skip advert
Advertisement

Steve Fowler has previously edited Auto Express, Carbuyer, DrivingElectric, What Car?, Autocar and What Hi-Fi? and has been writing about cars for the best part of 30 years. 

New & used car deals

Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £2,261 off RRP*Used from £13,211
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,019 off RRP*Used from £13,895
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £1,831 off RRP*Used from £15,519
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £18,725Avg. savings £4,199 off RRP*Used from £15,337
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025