Ratings: 7.5 / 10 ★★★☆
| Highs | Lows |
|---|---|
| – Still reliable part-time 4WD system and offroading capability – Relatively ample front seats and loadspace – Big body and solid structure for the price | – Still slow handling and shifting – Features for offroading still lacks convenience – Updated infotainment system still feel outdated |
After changed its name to KG Mobility, Ssangyong updated whole Rexton brand models – Rexton SUV and pickup, which is being sold as Musso in some market – again and recently launched in South Korea. This update of the Rexton range is the first major improvement since its facelift in November 2010. Here you can find what has changed in Rexton SUV.
Still at the top of the KG Mobility model lineup, the Rexton SUV packs an abundance of amenities in a large, imposing body. Also, thanks to the body-on-frame body structure and traditional part-time 4WD system, which are not common in this class these days, it has an advantage in off-road driving compared to SUVs derived from passenger cars.
However, most customers who use their cars mainly urban road does not accept all those characteristics positively. That is one of the reasons why the sales volume of the Rexton SUV is not high in South Korea, which is KG Mobility’s core market. So, rather than vastly improve, KG Mobility have no choice but to focus on small updates in essential areas rather than vastly improving.
The spec is unchanged. It has 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine which makes 149kW(202ps) of power and 441Nm(45.0kg・m) of torque, 8-speed automatic transmission, and double wishbone/5-link axle suspension configuration. Rear-wheel drive drivetrain is standard and part-time 4WD system with low range is also offered with extra cost. You can choose between 2-row 5 passenger and 3-row 7 passenger seats. 20-inch wheel and all-season tires are standard for mid-level trim, but test car is equipped with 18-inch wheel and BF Goodrich all-terrain tire prepared for offroad driving.
The change in outside appearance is barely unnoticeable. It will be difficult to notice what has changed if you don’t notice the LED lamps turn on sequentially from inside to outside when you turn on the hazard lights or turn signals. Other than that, ‘KG MOBILITY’ lettering attached on the rear hatch is almost all that can be noticed.
Unlike the exterior, the interior looks quite different from previous model because dashboard shape has drastically changed. Shape of center air outlet has changed to thin, wide shape and stretched to passenger’s side air outlet. Then new 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen is placed in the middle of top of newly shaped dashboard. If you recall the previous model, where the left and right sides of the infotainment screen were blocked by vertical air outlets, you can easily guess what the reason for the change in dashboard shape was.
The menu and interface of new infotainment screen is looking similar to those used in Torres, which is KG Mobility’s midsize SUV launched in 2022. Its Interface design is simple and screen resolution is good but touch sensitivity is not, and response speed is a little slow. It lacks smartphone support function such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto now but KG Mobility will offer those functions by software update anytime later. And surround view camera in highest trim is gone because screen does not supports for technical reason.
The 2-zone automatic air conditioner panel, located under the air outlet in the middle of the dashboard, has also changed its interface from button-type to touch-type. The function and composition are the same as those of the button-type, so the touch area is large, and when you touch it, system is tell you what has touched by sound and change of color. Although the surface of the touch panel is highly glossy, the location of the adjustment item can be easily recognized. Only hazard light function can turn on and off with button.
Newly introduced color themes of the interior are eye-catching. Khaki color in test car, beige and maroon red making the atmosphere luxurious. Other interior and convenience features are almost the same except that ll USB ports for front and rear passengers are changed to C-type so the speed of data transmission and charging has improved.
Both front and rear seats are still large, and the cushions are moderately elastic. Space around front passenger is sufficient. Although the knee space in the back seat is not narrow, it would be good to add a sliding function to at least a five-seater model. The loading space is the same as before. In a five-seater model such as a test car, trunk floor panels are divided and can be used in various ways. The floor of both passenger and loading space is relatively high but ceiling is also high, so interior space is enough for traveling 4 or 5 person with their luggages.
With tall, large and heavy body, the SUV’s engine feel neither powerful nor insufficient. So acceleration feeling is always steady and easygoing. Even if driving in sport mode, you barely notice the difference to normal mode. Shifting is also slow and it is same when you shift manually with paddles behind steering wheel.
Handling is a little dull and it is natural for SUVs with body-on-frame structure. Body movement is always slow to respond to driver input, but it does not feel remote. If you drive in 2H mode, which is usually used on regular roads, such characteristics become more pronounced as the speed increases. But when driving very slowly on a rough road, especially when driving in 4L mode, such characteristics make the car relatively maneuverable.
Ride is soft and comfortable on paved roads, but if you push little harder on corners, you can easily notice that ABS or ESC is intervene earlier than expected. Paradoxically, such soft ride setting are still advantageous when driving on rough roads, so you can drive with the grip while maintaining a moderately comfortable ride.
KG Mobility is said to have added a rebound damper inside the rear suspension damper. Although it has the effect of suppressing the rear of the vehicle from shaking on speed bumps or rough roads on general roads to some extent, the degree of effect varies depending on the period and speed of passing through the bumps.
The overall soundproofing is good, so the noise from the bottom of the vehicle is not very noticeable even with all-terrain tires. Within the speed limit on the highway, the sound of cutting the air while driving is also negligible. However, since the tone of the engine sound itself is sharp, the engine sound is relatively prominent at low speeds.
The test car has equipped with various ADAS functions, including adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assistance and lane centering assistance. Both adaptive cruise control and lane centering assist operate smoothly and naturally without feeling awkward. Adaptive cruise control supports restart after stop, but automatic restart is only possible within about 4 seconds after stop, and there is room for improvement in lane keeping assistance and lane departure warning sensitivity.
In summary, Rexton SUV is improved well with updated infotainment screen and some aesthetic elements. Although it is far from the technical features implemented in cars which offered by larger manufacturers such as Hyundai and Kia, Rexton SUV is still offering reasonable level of features with cheaper price and trustworthy offload driving ability.
Rather than attracting new consumers through the latest technology or advanced equipment, the focus of change in Rexton SUV is satisfying traditional Ssangyong – KG Mobility customers who prefer it. In fact, considering the company’s situation that has not been very good for a while, KG Mobility has made every effort possible. And You should not forget the fact that Rexton SUV is niche model. So the result of KG Mobility’s effort is reasonable.
[ Specifications ]
| 2024 KG Mobility (Ssangyong) Rexton (Noblesse trim) | |
|---|---|
| Body type Unlaiden weight | 5-door 5-passenger wagon 2,170kg |
| Length x width x height Wheelbase Track front / rear Tyre size front / rear Trunk volume | 4,850×1,960×1,825mm 2,865mm 1,620mm/1,620mm 255/60 R18, 255/60 R18 (test car) 820L |
| Engine type Power max. Torque max. Fuel tank volume | Inline-4 cylinder 2.2L (2,157cc) diesel turbo 149kW(202ps)/3,800rpm 441Nm(45.0kg・m)/1,600~2,600rpm 70L |
| Transmission Driveline | 8-speed automatic 4WD(part-time, 2H, 4H, 4L) |
| Fuel Consumption (Combined, KR) CO2 emission | 11.1km/L (9.0L/100km, 26.1mpg) 175g/km |
| Base price (May. 2023. KR) Price as tested (May, 2023. KR) | 45.53 million won (2-row 5 seats + 4WD) – est. $34,990 / est. €32,670 48.79 million won – est. $37,470 / est. €35,010 |
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