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Published on September 5, 2007

Sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) have become so common that their proliferation reminds me of Italian food. There is the original cuisine, then there is the Indian version, the Thai version and the Chinese version, but all are marketed under the same generic name: Italian food.

Gone are the days when SUVs were used to get from point A to point B, off the beaten track. Also gone are the days when SUVs were polluting juggernauts that occasionally toured the cities (read Ford Escape Hybrid).

So how many different SUVs have joined this now well-accepted form of city transport? The fact is that much like globalised Italian food, no one really knows. There are the genuine mud-diggers like the Land Rovers and the city boys like the Honda CRV and Nissan X-Trail. Then there are the fuel-guzzling long-distance crunchers like the Porsche Cayenne, which you could drive onto a Formula One track and still get your thrills.

The Ssangyong Rexton 2 tested here clearly focuses on being a big-city SUV. In its second generation, the Rexton has grown up, in that it is taller than its predecessor. The front grille is narrower, the headlights are higher, but the rear end is carried over from the last version. The rear spoiler adds sporty appeal, but it did that for its predecessor, as well.

If there was ever an SUV in which you wanted to teach your two-year-old son to drive, the Rexton could just be it. No, he would not be able to reach the foot pedals, but for starters he would be able to turn the steering wheel. In fact, it could be used as a centrepiece for a windmill. The Rexton has an absolute lack of feedback and is completely vague. You're constantly left wondering whether the wheels are turning at all.

Then there is the cushy suspension that means speeds above 120kph give you the feeling you're riding the speedboat ferry to Koh Samet. The slightest bump unsettles the Rexton to the extent that you must battle to keep the swaying vehicle on the correct side of the road. And this happens while the Electronic Stability Programme indicator sleeps on. However, the full-time four-wheel drive can be felt helping in tight corners. The all-wheel-drive system ensures a power split of 40:60 between the front and rear wheels.

Even picking up speed in the Rexton is a cumbersome and cacophonous process. The diesel engine howls like a banshee. The Rexton tries very hard to deal with cracks and bumps in the road with grace but stumbles in the process like a first-time ice-skater. This is not to say that bumps send shivers down your spine, but they are unsettling. The brakes, which require quite a lot of pressure before reacting, also add to the frustrations at higher speeds. The best idea is to keep to speeds below 130kph.

That's just about where the Rexton 2's negative aspects end, because Ssangyong has managed to cover up many of its cons with minor details that greatly increase its attractiveness.

The completely black interior of the Rexton manages to impart a very simple feeling of quality and premium grade. My test vehicle came with cloth covers over the leather seats, so I am unable to comment on the support they provided. The cloth covers slid about so that I was forever repositioning my bottom after every corner, but that problem became insignificant anyway in the preoccupation with the Rexton's ability to handle the corner.

Although the second-row seats are spacious, the third-row seats are slightly cramped. But a bigger problem is the low level of comfort, especially at lower speeds.

The lack of headrests on the third-row seats strictly restricts their use to children. Both the second- and third-row seats have air-conditioning vents.

The centre console offers three cup holders, while second-row passengers get two fold-in cup holders. The second- and third-row seats can be folded down, and with additional plastic flaps, the floor can be almost flat.

One interesting feature is a USB port on the centre console that allows you to plug in a flash drive. The audio system then automatically detects music and plays it. Another port allows you to plug in an auxiliary input. A built-in mobile-phone holder makes life easier on the move, but the CD player will not play MP3 files.

Driving is made easier with on-steering controls for the audio system and buttons for manually controlling the gears. The Rexton also comes with a cruise control that feels like it was developed for a train. The system is so crude that it lurches past the preset speed and then lets go once the speed has been exceeded.

The driver's seat incorporates lumbar support, and the rain sensor and automatic headlights are an appreciated addition. Due to its size, the parking sensor is an absolute must, and an electrochromic mirror cuts glare when driving at night.

The sunroof, although useful for releasing hot air after being parked in the sun, is not necessarily useful in Thailand. However, it comes with a pressure sensor to ensure safety. The Rexton's tailgate seems not to have been designed for women, and shutting it requires a great amount of force, although the flip-up glass makes things easier when in tight parking lots.

So, back to basics: is the Rexton 2 an attractive vehicle? Yes, it is, but (and that is a full-bodied "but") only if you're not a fast driver. Its high ground clearance means it will deal with upcountry roads with ease. Its biggest boon could be its seven-seat capacity, although even that is being offered by other players, such as the Chevrolet Captiva.

With a price tag of Bt2.69 million, the Rexton demands some serious thought before you put your money down - much as you might when considering where to find genuine Italian cuisine.

Specifications:

Ssangyong Rexton II

XDI 270 XVT

Engine: DOHC 5-cylinder in-line diesel

Displacement: 2,696cc

Bore and stroke: 86.2mm x 96.4mm

Compression ratio: 17.5:1

Maximum power: 186hp at 4000rpm

Maximum torque: 340Nm at 2,400rpm

Transmission: Five-speed automatic

Suspension (front/rear): Double wishbone with coil springs/independent 8-link w/coil springs

Steering: Powered rack and pinion

Brakes (front/rear): Powered front disc/rear drum

Dimensions (mm)

Length: 4,720

Width: 1,870

Height: 1,760

Wheelbase: 2820

Track (f/r): 1,550/1,540

Wheel size and type: 18-inch alloys

Tyres: 255/60 R 18

Fuel-tank capacity: 80 litres

Price: Bt2.69 million

Distributor: Ssangyong Thailand

Tel: (02) 719 7888

Vijo Varghese

The Nation

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