Seven-seat SUV keeps getting better

By Bill McCarthy

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CAR brands have come and gone over the decades, but there are more new kids on the block than usual, with the likes of Chinese manufacturers such as BYD and the Hyundai premium brand Genesis joining the fray.

Korean models like Hyundai and Kia are now well established, but another Korean brand, SsangYong is not so familiar.

But SsangYong has been around for nearly 70 years and is an SUV and four-wheel drive specialist.

It has a limited range of products, but the Rexton has evolved from a pretty mundane-looking SUV, to something of a seven-seat showstopper and is something of a bargain, starting at £39,500.

For that price you really do get the works with even the all singing and dancing range topper hugely competitive against its rivals at £45,950.

The latest incarnation has features like the floating infotainment system and various safety technologies, while it retains its flexibility in terms of seating and cargo space.

A big plus is interior design upgrades, especially with the illuminated scuff plates and ambient lighting. The range of trim levels also caters to different preferences and needs, from the entry-level Ventura to the luxurious Ultimate Plus.

Its imposing high-off-the-ground stance facilitates its all-wheel drive, which it shares with stablemate pickup, the impressive Musso. It now features a revised huge grille, updated front bumper, slim LED headlights, and fog light design., eye-catching alloys and integrated roof bars.

Slim LED light clusters and dual tailpipes feature to the rear, 18-inch alloy wheels, 12.3-inch full digital console, dual-zone climate control, and an eight-inch touchscreen with smartphone connectivity.

A step up and new for 2023, Ventura Plus driven here adds TomTom navigation, power tailgate, privacy glass, smart key system with window control and selectable four -wheel drive.

Ultimate adds interior mood lighting, stainless steel door finishes, a 3D surround view monitoring camera, and premium Nappa leather upholstery, while Ultimate Plus offers 20-inch alloys, sunroof, driver seat position memory, wireless phone charger, roll-up second window sunshades,  and air conditioning throughout all three rows of seats.

The Rexton is a highly practical car with seven seats, although the rearmost pair is more suitable for children or adults on a short journey. If you fold them down, you effectively get a van with massive storage space. 

There is a cavernous 1,806 litres of rear boot space with both sets of seats down, 872 litres with the second-row seats up, and 240 litres with all seats up .The double-folding second-row seats make it easy to access the third-row rear seats.

It has a commanding driving position from an electrically adjustable driver’s seat and while the layout might not look cutting edge, all controls are intuitive and handily placed.

Dominant on this model is the 12-inch central screen, part of the new floating infotainment system which operates major functions and delivers important information including safety warnings

It looks the part and is a huge road presence. At more than two tonnes, it is not going to be the sharpest handler on the road, more of a luxurious workhorse with its seating capacity, off-road capability and the ability to tow a huge 3.5 tonnes.

Powered by a 2.2-litre 202ps turbo diesel engine, it delivers plenty of power to cope with the above and while there is a distinct clatter at start-up, once underway this fades into the background. 

Acceleration is brisk, the smooth shifting eight-speed auto powers the vehicle to 60mph in just over 10 seconds.

The vehicle normally runs in two-wheel-drive mode, and should it ever go offroad, the driver can switch to either high or low gear four-wheel drive, where the torque from the engine is distributed evenly to the front and rear wheels.

Handling is wallowy on corners and the suspension can feel unsettled on poor roads, but otherwise is comfortable for passengers and is a fine motorway cruiser.

Economy is so-so for the type of vehicle at around 33mpg but this is a heavy seven-seater with four-wheel drive, ideal for the school run, taxi, or running a small business with a vehicle that needs stowage capacity.

Safety features are comprehensive and include nine airbags, autonomous emergency braking, safety distance warning, lane departure warning and trailer sway control.While £40k-ish seems a lot for a vehicle against its competitors this is real value for money and offers proven technology. It also looks good.

 

Factfile

SsangYong Rexton Ventura Plus Auto

Price: £40,500 

Mechanical: 163ps, 2157cc, 4-cylinder, turbocharged diesel engine with eight-speed automatic transmission

Max speed: 114mph

0-62mph: 10.7 seconds

Combined MPG: 33

Insurance group: 34-35

C02 emissions: 190g/km

Bik rating: 37%

Star rating (out of 5) 3.5

Isuzu D-Max

By Bill McCarthy

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This iconic Isuzu pickup has undergone some significant upgrades for 2023, making it a more attractive option for a wide range of customers, including those in construction and agriculture. Isuzu’s 200 percent increase in registrations for the single cab 4×4 manual pick-ups is a testament to its popularity in these sectors.

It’s no surprise that many now choose this type of vehicle to double up as the family transport.

The facelift features a newly designed grille, new 18-inch two-tone wheels and braking system and a refreshed cloth or  leather seat design and enhanced safety including extra airbags.

It looks the part all right, Isuzu says it is built to endure the harshest conditions, with a 250mm ground clearance and good handling and stability. It now features that imposing grille, stylish light clusters, front and rear foglights and side running boards to help you haul yourself into the cab.

There are three models, Business, All Purpose and Adventure, with four trim levels Utility, DL20, DL40 and V-Cross.

‘DL’ stands rear differential lock which comes as standard from the DL20, which enhances the vehicle’s off-road ability in particularly challenging terrain. 

It will only engage when 4L is selected on the selector dial and speed less than 5mph locks the rear differential meaning the left and right wheels on the rear axle turn at the same speed.

It retains its 3.5 tonne towing capacity, shift-on-the-fly 4WD system and one-tonne-plus payload, with the ability to accommodate a full sized pallet in the rear.

The firm reckons the D Max range offers ‘go anywhere, do anything’ qualities and it comes in many guises from single or double cab, straight flat bed or with an option to fully enclose the payload area, as with this model.

That reduces the capacity to carry taller loads but does provide extra security, for instance, you can secure shopping bags and cases and versions offer secure stowage boxes.

The suspension setup is critical on a workhorse like this and the front features high-mounted upper control arms to reduce body roll and increase tyre contact, while the  rear suspension features a rear leaf spring to improve the ride and comfort, especially when unladen, without compromising on carrying capacity: 

The interior is pretty upmarket for the type of vehicle, with powered, leather seats and air con and electric windows. A seven-inch  central screen controls navigation, smartphone connectivity and infotainment and controls are logically placed, robust and intuitive.

 Also included is a raft of safety kit including front stereo cameras to monitor the road ahead and Advanced Driver Assist Systems which include lane assist and collision mitigation, emergency braking and cross traffic alert, plus plenty more.

On the road, the 1.9 litre diesel has plenty of power if not a great deal of refinement. The 162bhp is more than capable of delivering the grunt needed for serious off-road work, while at the same time offering enough pace to cope with both general and motorway driving. The initial diesel clatter does eventually die down, while the auto shift was nowhere near as hesitant as some I have driven. 

Green it ain’t and economy is nothing to write home about really with it hovering around the 30mpg mark and emissions of 240g/km 36-odd mpg seeming pretty much near the mark.

It’s not cheap at a price of around  £41k inclusive of VAT, but the five-year, 125,000 mile warranty offers quite a tempting package.

It doesn’t half look the part as well.

Factfile

D-Max DL40 Double Cab Auto

Price: £34,279 (CVOTR)

Mechanical: 162bhp, 1,989cc, four-cylinder diesel engine driving four wheels via auto gearbox

Max speed: 112mph

0-62mph: 13 seconds

Combined mpg: 30.2

Insurance group: 42

CO2 emissions: 240g/km

Warranty: 5yrs/125,000 miles