Rexton W revives Ssyangyong's old honor as classic SUV maker

Ssangyong Motors’ Rexton W SUV

By Park Jin-hai

At first, it sounds like another tall task for Ssangyong Motors, after the now-popular the Tivoli compact SUV was driven on a race track.

The mid-size SUV is Ssangyong’s second ambition to take back the glory it enjoyed as the maker of the best SUVs in Korea. If the Tivoli SUV aims at the urban driver, the Rexton W aims to be the “SUV to the bone” customized for the off-road.

Armed with an engine that meets Euro-6 emission standards and a Mercedes seven-speed transmission, the new Rexton W’s media test-drive took place on Mount Kalbong, in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, the hot spot for mountain bikers and off-road drivers.

Driving on a gravel road climbing a rugged 900 meters, the new Rexton W SUV was certainly a challenge to drive. The gravel road, covered as it was with large rocks all along the way, the SUV took a beating, but the 2.2-liter diesel powered SUV was drivable, even when the road was at its roughest.

The impact delivered to the driver, despite the rough road, was not as much as I expected. Unlike other SUVs with lighter bodies, the three-layer steel framed body felt solid to drive, giving the driver a comforting sense of protection, despite the sometimes harsh conditions.

Driving through the bushes and splashing across a little stream turned out to be great fun, thanks to the 178 horsepower and 40.8 kg/m torque, compared to the 155 horsepower and 36.7 k/m torque of the previous model.

Downhill, the car’s performance exceeded expectations. Hitting the Hill Descent Control (HDC) function button, the car automatically dropped its speed to 20 kilometers per hour with the foot off the break. Unlike the previous model whose speed is set at 7 kilometers per hour on HDC mode, the new Rexton W can control speeds between 5-30 kilometers per hour depending on the slope of the road.

The squeaking while driving the vehicle downhill in the HDC mode was annoying but not too bad, especially considering that it made the SUV safer to drive. Other safety features include the electronic stability program, which automatically controls the vehicle’s power and break system when the driver is exposed to danger, active rollover protection and tire monitoring system.

With the Rexton W’s price starting from 28.18 million won, it seems to be another good option for people in love with adventurous drives on the weekend.