Let's start with the summary of the previous chapters: in 2020, the South Korean car manufacturer Ssangyong ran into difficulties and was put up for sale by the previous owner, the Indian Mahindra. In June of this year, its purchase by the chemical manufacturer KG was approved and it set out on a new path under the name KG Mobility and plans for a future that is all electricity, artificial intelligence and autonomous driving.
Although Sanyong has been marketing in Israel for almost 30 years, it remains unknown to most car buyers. Almost the only ones who knew her were off-road enthusiasts, thanks to her focus on 4x4 vehicles, as someone who grew out of the production of off-road vehicles for the Korean army. Even its transformation two years ago into the new off-road vehicle of the police and MGB instead of the Kia Sorento has not yet managed to make the name familiar in every household.
So the name change can only help here, and the first one that may benefit from the change is the Rexton, the old 7-seater roadster, which has undergone a slight facelift. The current generation, launched in 2018, has not undergone changes in the technical specifications: ladder chassis, non-permanent dual drive, rear differential lock and low gear ratio. The drive unit is also unchanged, a 2.2-liter turbo diesel engine with 202 hp and 45 kgm connected to an 8-speed planetary automatic transmission. Performance is good compared to vehicles of its size - 10.7 seconds to 100 and 184 km/h maximum. Declared fuel consumption: 11.8 km per liter.
The towing capacity is up to 3,000 kg. In a not very common way there are two types of rudders, where the EX finish level is hydraulic and the premium is electric, more on the meanings below.
The dimensions are also unchanged, 4.85 meters in length, 1.96 in width, a height of 1.83, The wheelbase is 2.87 meters and the trunk volume is 240 liters in use with all 7 seats. The headroom is good, 22.4 cm and these are only the approach and departure angles that will continue to limit it - 20.5 degrees in the front and 22 in the back.
The model comes in two trim levels as mentioned, EX will be the entry version and "Premium" is more equipped. The EX includes split climate control, air vents for the second and third rows, the 12.3-inch (previously 8-inch) multimedia system, Apple and Android connectivity, keyless entry and drive, a power outlet in the trunk, and more. The higher trim level adds an electric trunk door, a sunroof, a wireless charging pad, electric direction for the driver and passenger seat, heating for both rows of seats and ventilation in the front, leather upholstery and more. By the way, it still won't offer a full or even partial spare wheel as standard, but rather a repair kit. The importer will provide a complete spare wheel to the buyers, they will have to buy the carrying device from an external supplier.
In terms of advanced safety, the EX comes stripped down except for automatic braking and lane departure warning. On the other hand, in Premium, lane deviation correction (which is only possible with its electric steering wheel), vehicle detection in a "dead zone", automatic braking when driving backwards, vehicle warning in a "dead zone" and door opening when detecting a passing vehicle and adaptive cruise control are added.
The relaunch also brings with it a slight price increase. From now on, the entry-level version EX will cost NIS 260,000, a price increase of NIS 2,000 compared to the previous version, while the "Premium" trim level will cost NIS 300,000, an increase of NIS 5,000.
Rexton has always been a good solution for customers who were looking for an SUV with good overall capabilities, after handling the approach angles and elevation, at a price significantly lower than the Toyota Land Cruiser. In light of the expected increase in the price of the new generation of Toyota, and when all other off-road vehicles with a ladder chassis, such as the Mitsubishi Pajero and Nissan Pathfinder are no longer produced, it is probably not going to change now either.