SsangYong Rexton : Exclusive Photo Feature!

The Rexton is the first fruit from the Mahindra-Ssangyong tie-up and it sure is one fine way to start with a whole new line of quality products for the Indian market. All the way from the curved headlamps and the arc-grille laced with chrome to the sharply styled fog lamps and the long roof rails, the Rexton is one good-looking vehicle. If at first sight you think it isn’t too aggressive in character because of the soft lines, you’re not all that wrong!

The Rexton’s soft character extends to the rear as well with a smart set of vertical tail lamps. Black cladding all round the lower edge is a great way to disguise the SUV’s height and make it look sporty as well – enhancing those flared wheel arches. And then there is that very raked D-pillar line that slopes backward and gets even more accentuated by the wrap-around rear window. The spare wheel finds its place under the boot.

The Rexton is a big car and the vehicle’s proportions go well with its blunt, but attractive styling that sees a very tasteful dosage of chrome – unlike some other cars, the bling hasn’t been overdone. Those 16-inch wheels fill up the arches well and you might want to take note of that gaping ground clearance that’ll make sure the Rexton drives over anything!

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With a claimed top speed of 194 km/h, the Rexton is no slouch and for an SUV that aims to provide as much luxury as it does points in the beauty contest, this Ssangyong does extremely well to please those looking for a big SUV as well as a comfortable drive. Now imagine a nice roof-mounted luggage box on this and you have the perfect weekend-getaway SUV.

Page 2: Engine Specs, Suspension Setup >>

Page 3: Interior Cabin, Ergonomics, Driver Display >>

Page 4:  Transmission, Power Windows & ORVM controls, Center Row seating >>

Page 5: Electric Sunroof, Storage space>>

Page 6 : Exterior Badging, Tail lamp assembly >>

INTERIOR DETAILS AND LUXURY FEATURES

The XDi270 diesel mill in the engine bay sports a 2696cc capacity and makes 186.5PS @ 4000rpm while torque peaks at 402Nm between 1600-3000rpm on the Rexton RX7 which is the more powerful of the two variants and comes mated to a 5-speed auto’box. The RX5 version gets a slightly detuned version of the same inline-5 cylinder engine and a 5-speed manual transmission. ARAI certified fuel efficiency isn’t too bad for a car this size either at a little over 11kmpl for the RX7!

While the tech specs on the engine are impressive, the Rexton isn’t our first choice in the handling department. All that soft character from the SUV’s design seeps deep into its suspension setup as well – body roll is more than evident when the Rexton is thrown around a corner with aggression. On the flip side though, ride quality is awesome and those taking a back seat (regardless of whether that’s the middle row or the third) will have a comfortable experience.

All that it lacks in the handling department isn’t helped by the 235/75 R16 tyres either. While the tyre rating itself seems fine, the Hankook rubber could have worked better and that’s probably the biggest issue we have with the Rexton – especially when put to urban use which, let’s face it, is what most owners of the car will use it for anyway. 10-spoke alloy wheels look super awesome though and in continuation with the Rexton’s up-market luxury feel.

Page 1: Exterior Details, Action Shots >>

Page 3: Interior Cabin, Ergonomics, Driver Display >>

Page 4:  Transmission, Power Windows & ORVM controls, Center Row seating >>

Page 5: Electric Sunroof, Storage space>>

Page 6 : Exterior Badging, Tail lamp assembly >>

INTERIOR DETAILS AND LUXURY FEATURES

Ergonomics on the inside are well-sorted and the driver’s seat gives you a commanding view of the road ahead. The RX7 gets an 8-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat with a 3-preset memory function too which also remembers ORVM settings! Seats are well-padded too and yes, that is a massive steering wheel!

Dashboard layout is simple, yet elegant with a nice dual-tone vertical split. Centre console is a nice mix-n-match of rectangles and semicircles. Beige interiors offer an enhanced sense of luxury but those carpets/mats should have been of a darker shade. Huge steering wheel gets an endless array of buttons that control almost every function you can think of on the touch-screen audio system.

While the light green backlight looks fresh, that is quite frankly a very under-equipped instrument console compared to the rest of the Rexton. Instrumentation is in fact bare basic in today’s terms with a big speedometer in the centre flanked by a tachometer and a fuel and temperature gauge. Tiny digital readout displays gear status and the usual odo and tripmeters. A lot more flair out here is most definitely missing and badly required!

Page 1: Exterior Details, Action Shots >>

Page 2: Engine Specs, Suspension Setup >>

Page 4:  Transmission, Power Windows & ORVM controls, Center Row seating >>

Page 5: Electric Sunroof, Storage space>>

Page 6 : Exterior Badging, Tail lamp assembly >>

INTERIOR DETAILS AND LUXURY FEATURES

5-speed auto’box may be a Mercedes unit but being of the torque converter type it seems a little outdated compared to the dual clutch ‘boxes around today. The transmission takes quite some time before shifting to the next gear and that takes away from the driving experience a bit. Shift lever though gets a nice visual touch and when you slot it into manual mode, buttons on the steering wheel allow you to shift up or down, a la earlier Porsche Cayennes!

 

The auto roll up / down feature on the power windows is available only on the driver’s side window though we would have liked to see that feature on all four windows, ORVMs are electrically adjustable and foldable, while there is also an easy access to the 3 preset memory on the driver’s side door itself.

A wide door angle allows for easy ingress and egress. Rear seats offer ample legroom and headroom, however the H-point on the middle row is a tad low and we think that should have been raised for a more comfortable seating.

All three rows get dedicated AC vents, though the most impressive ones are those for the third row passengers – Twin adjustable AC vents with their very own blower settings! Front row vents straddle a digital clock, while the central AC vents overlook a neat set of foldaway cupholders.

Page 1: Exterior Details, Action Shots >>

Page 2: Engine Specs, Suspension Setup >>

Page 3: Interior Cabin, Ergonomics, Driver Display >>

Page 5: Electric Sunroof, Storage space>>

Page 6 : Exterior Badging, Tail lamp assembly >>

INTERIOR DETAILS AND LUXURY FEATURES

The Rexton RX7 gets a tinted sunroof, though it is slightly small in comparison to the vehicle’s proportions and only accessible to the front row passengers. A sunglass holder located just behind the map lights adds to the occupant’s convenience.

With a 252mm ground clearance the Rexton makes ingress and egress an easier affair courtesy this very sturdy looking running board, which neatly stretches all along the side of the otherwise elevated stance of this SUV.

Page 1: Exterior Details, Action Shots >>

Page 2: Engine Specs, Suspension Setup >>

Page 3: Interior Cabin, Ergonomics, Driver Display >>

Page 4:  Transmission, Power Windows & ORVM controls, Center Row seating >>

Page 6 : Exterior Badging, Tail lamp assembly >>

INTERIOR DETAILS AND LUXURY FEATURES

The three column LED tail lamp looks chic and very much in sync with the vehicle’s overall classy demeanour and subtle yet sophisticated style quotient. 

Badges galore on the new Rexton’s tailgate. The most prominent of the five badges is the one that announces the vehicle’s variant of choice, in this case the top-spec RX7. Just below are separate stampings establishing the RX7 Rexton as an All-Wheel-Drive vehicle mated to an Automatic Gearbox, and the fact that Mahindra has taken the onus for manufacturing it here in India. On the far left upper corner is a more apparent proprietary SsangYong badge.

To put the new Rexton into better perspective for its eager Indian buyers, here’s a vehicle that carries a lot of bulk, but that being said is one rather soft at heart. There’s a sense of light-heartedness in every aspect of the vehicle’s engineering, be it the suspension setup, the design quotient or even its overall level of comfort. It’s a user friendly vehicle with a host of gadgets on board and safety technologies that encompass ABS, two front airbags, side airbags, Hill Descent Control, a headlight levelling system the works.

With the support of Mahindra’s extensive dealer network pan India, the SsangYong Rexton should find quite a few takers early on, and in doing so give its competition a serious run for their money.

Page 1: Exterior Details, Action Shots >>

Page 2: Engine Specs, Suspension Setup >>

Page 3: Interior Cabin, Ergonomics, Driver Display >>

Page 4:  Transmission, Power Windows & ORVM controls, Center Row seating >>

Page 5: Electric Sunroof, Storage space>>

INTERIOR DETAILS AND LUXURY FEATURES