The all new Rexton, Ssangyong’s flagship SUV, is the Korean automak­er’s Commander-in-Chief in the battle for supremacy in Nepal’s premium SUV seg­ment. And with the Rexton, they’ve come all guns blazing. But with worthy adversaries, namely the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Endeavour, having already marked their territo­ries the Rexton has its work cut out. While on paper it appears to be a formidable contender, it all comes down to how it performs on the battle field. It is also important to mention that the some of the buying market still doesn’t consider SsangYong as a serious player in the industry and that does not bode well for the Koreans. Nevertheless, it is unwise to downplay its threat as a com­petitor. So, is it worthy enough to rub shoulders with the premium elites of the SUV segment? Or is it just a small blaze that will be quickly extin­guished by the existing jugger­nauts? We find out.

 

EXTERIOR

 

The styling of the all-new Rexton combines striking appearance with a robust on-road presence. As the flag­ship SUV of SsangYong, the size of the new Rexton has been enlarged compared to previous models, and has been greatly enhanced with a blend of exte­rior curves, thoughtful com­fort, and refined interior.

 

The sophisticated design language is evident from all quarters. The muscular, tall front fascia now gets a new radiator grille flanked by inte­grated HID headlamps with LED DRLs, positioning lamps and directional indicators. At a wheelbase of 2,865 mm, the higher waistline lends a well complemented status to the majestic appearance of the SUV. The wider D-pillar is sleek with the addition of LED tail lamps flanking either side of the LED tailgate garnish and a nicely integrated rear spoiler with LED brake light.

 

 INTERIOR & FEATURES

 

The interior of the new Rex­ton is a major step forward. The sumptuously refined cabin is a spacious affair offering the largest interior space in the seg­ment without sacrificing any comfort for the occupants. The inside gets several class-leading premium lifestyle features like an 8-inch TFT LCD supervision cluster with excellent visibility, hand-made Nappa leather seats for best comfort and a memory system that saves the preferred seat and door mirror positions of the driver. The features pro­vided in the Rexton have set a new height in the segment. Convenience features include smart power tailgate, cruise control, dual-zone fully auto­matic air-conditioning, power sunroof, electric parking brake and smart key.

On the safety front, you get all the advanced safety sys­tems including nine airbags. The SUV is built on the newly developed quad frame made of advanced high-strength steel to provide class-leading safety for passengers.

 

 

 PERFORMANCE

 

Under the bonnet of the new Rexton is a 2.2 liter e-XDi220 diesel engine that delivers a decent 181 PS of power. The 7-speed automatic transmis­sion from Mercedes-Benz is buttery smooth. Although throttle response is slow, the power builds up once you hit mid-range. With a 224mm ground clearance you have lit­tle to worry about. The SUV delivers a comfortable driv­ing experience on all types of terrains. In the urban scene, the Rexton drives like a prop­er SUV that is well and com­fortable. However, this vehicle wasn’t meant to be driven just on smooth tarmac.

In fact, it gets a part-time four-wheel drive system which allows to choose when to acti­vate the system with a help of a knob by the gear shift. You get a choice of 2H, 4H and 4L for smooth, snowy or rocky terrain. The independent multi-link suspension in the rear allows for a smooth han­dling. On twists and turns, the SUV maintains its composure and stability without losing any confidence. An all-wheel disc braking system assures better safety, even though the stop­ping power is soft.

 

The VERDICT

 

At Rs 11,999,000, the new Rexton is a stealer. The flag­ship SUV from SsangYong can be an intriguing option for individuals looking to buy a versatile SUV. Although the Rexton ticks all the right boxes in style, safety and high technology, a dynamic drive performance would have been much appreciated. Nevertheless, the new Rexton makes for a stylishness and luxurious addition to the segment. It certainly falls among some of the best-de­signed and most feature-packed vehicles in the market