Ssangyong Rexton ELX auto

while the Ultimate has some high-end toys such as climate seats and a 3D around-view camera, but it only comes with five seats.

There’s just one 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine, which develops 179bhp and 420Nm of torque. It comes with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a Mercedessourced seven-speed auto. The quoted performance and economy figures are nothing to write home about, while on our test route we only saw around 26mpg while driving in a reasonably careful manner. That’s pretty disappointing.

Yet the Rexton is a much more civilised proposition on the road than before. Body control is good, as the car gamely resists extreme body roll in corners, and the engine stays quiet unless you rev it past 3,000rpm, where it becomes coarse. The auto is slow-witted but otherwise smooth, while there’s plenty of grip and the steering is pleasingly responsive and weighty.

Sadly, there’s a constant shudder over corrugated surfaces if you choose the optional 20-inch wheels – you’re far better off sticking with the standard 18-inch rims. Off road, the Rexton is very competent, thanks to its locking centre differential and low-range mode.

Another highlight of the new car is its ability to tow. It’ll haul up to 3.5 tonnes with little difficulty, as we found out while pulling around a weighted horsebox. So the new Ssangyong remains a vehicle that will appeal to the country set; it’s just that now it’s a lot better around town, too.

“The Rexton is much more civilised than before, with good body control and a quiet engine”