Up & coming
Can new Ssangyong Rexton challenge Mitsubishi and Renault SUVS?
SSANGYONG is a true up-and-coming brand in the car world. The name might not mean much to you now, but think back to when the likes of Hyundai and Kia were building cheap hatchbacks – and look at where they are these days.
The South Korean firm had a reputation for its rugged people movers and SUVS that were generations behind their rivals, but that’s starting to change – first with the Tivoli and now with this new Rexton large SUV. It’s more upmarket than before, with better materials inside and plenty of improvements when it comes to technology.
Can it really compete with its modern rivals, though? Here we’re testing the new Ssangyong alongside the established Mitsubishi Outlander, plus a relative newcomer in the Renault Koleos.
The Outlander is spacious and rugged, living up to the Rexton’s traditional values, while the Koleos is good to drive and has an upmarket feel at this price – two things the new Rexton will need to match if it wants to compete seriously in this class.