Ssangyong Rexton – Ssangyong’s new SUV – costs from £27,500 in the UK

The new Ssangyong Rexton – Ssangyong’s new big SUV – goes on sale in the UK with prices starting at £27,500 for the entry-level Rexton EX.

The new Ssangyong Rexton arrived in the spring as Korea’s ‘Other’ car maker delivered an SUV it thinks will take sales from fellow Korean SUVs like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento.

It could do that on price – once the preserve of Hyundai/Kia – as its fellow Korean makers are very much mainstream now, and it does offer quite a bit at the entry-level £27,500 for the Rexton EX.

You’ll probably have to live with dynamics which aren’t quite what you’re used to as Ssangyong are persisting with a body on chassis setup – like a pick-up – rather than unibody construction, but it’ll be just fine for poodling around. Just don’t try to get too much of a shake on.

But it will be a workhorse – admittedly, a decently equipped workhorse – with a 3.5 tonne braked trailer limit, a 2.2 litre diesel with 178bhp and 310lb/ft of torque and a six-speed manual (or 7-speed Mercedes auto for £2k more).

The Rexton officially goes on sale in the UK in October, with a three model lineup – EX, ELX and Ultimate – all with the same engine/gearbox combinations.

The Rexton EX comes with seven seats, 17″ alloys, Air Con, ‘Smart Audio’ with 8″ screen, power folding mirrors, auto lights and wipers Cruise, parking sensors, forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, high beam assist and traffic sign recognition. Which isn’t bad for £27,500.

Move up to the ELX (£32,000) and you get 18″ alloys, Climate, Supervision Instrument cluster, TomTom Sat Nav, heated steering wheel, privacy glass, Nappa leather, heated electric seats and Smart Key.

The Rexton Ultimate (£37,500) gets the Mercedes auto ‘box as standard and comes with five seats, 20″ alloys, HID headlights, LED fogs, mood lighting, stainless steel sill plates, 3D around-view, Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic alert, quilted Nappa leather, heated and ventilated power seats and a smart tailgate.

The specs do get quite impressive as you move up the range, but we reckon the pick – and the sensible buy – will be the entry-level Rexton EX at £27,500 as a family workhorse – especially if you do any towing.