SsangYong’s new Rexton has arrived in the UK. Tom Wiltshire gets behind the wheel

The SsangYong Rexton is a big, rugged SUV that fills the gap developing at the lower end of the market.

As cars like the Hyundai Santa Fe become steadily more premium – and expensive – those in need of an off-roader are becoming limited to smaller, crossover-style vehicles or ferreting about on the used market.

A massive step up from the old model, the latest Rexton offers genuine off-road ability and space for seven, at a price lower than just about anything else in this sector.

It’s not as accomplished on-road as some rivals, and nor does it have the badge appeal – but we suspect many buyers simply won’t care. The new Rexton shares very little with the outgoing model.

The engine, formerly a Mercedes unit, is now a SsangYong-developed 2.2-litre unit, while the bodywork is all-new as well.

Inside is where the biggest changes can be found; where you’d previously find reams of scratchy plastic, there’s now quilted leather, real wood and soft-touch materials.

There’s also a comprehensively reworked infotainment system to operate the car’s ample interior equipment. The Rexton only comes with one engine option, a 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel.

It only offers up 178bhp, which seems low for a car of this size, but 420Nm of torque means it feels reasonably sprightly off the line and it will cope easily with a full complement of passengers.

It will also tow up to 3,500kg.

Though it’s not what you’d call pretty, the bold chrome grill is a good addition, while the rear has shades of Porsche Cayenne about it.

The sides are less successful, with overly glitzy polished wheels on top-spec models and an awkward styling line over the rear arches.