Let's start with a summary of the previous chapters: In 2020, the South Korean car manufacturer Ssangyong ran into difficulties and was put up for sale by its former owner, Indian Mahindra. In June of this year, it was acquired by the chemical manufacturer KG and set off on a new path under the name KG Mobility with plans for an all-electric, artificial intelligence, and autonomous driving future.
Although Ssangyong has been marketed in Israel for nearly 30 years, it has remained unknown to most car buyers. The few who have known it were off-road enthusiasts, thanks to its focus on 4x4 vehicles, as it emerged from manufacturing off-road vehicles for the Korean army. Even its transformation two years ago into the new off-road patrol vehicle for the police and the Military Border Guard instead of the Kia Sorento has not yet made the name widely recognized in every home.
Therefore, the name change can only help here, and the first to benefit from the change is the Rexton, the 7-seater SUV, which has undergone a slight facelift. The current generation, launched in 2018, has not undergone changes in the technical specifications: ladder frame, part-time four-wheel drive, rear differential lock, and low transfer ratio. The powertrain, also unchanged, is a 2.2-liter turbo-diesel engine with 202 hp and 45 kgm connected to an 8-speed planetary automatic transmission. The performance is good in its dimension - 10.7 seconds to 100 km/h and a maximum speed of 184 km/h. The declared fuel consumption: 11.8 km per liter.
The towing capacity is up to 3,000 kg. Not very common, there are two types of Gaiim, with the EX finish being hydraulic and the Premium being electric, more on the implications later.
The dimensions are also unchanged, 4.85 meters in length, 1.96 meters in width, a height of 1.83 meters, a wheelbase of 2.87 meters, and a cargo compartment volume of 240 liters when using all 7 seats. The cockpit space is good, at 22.4 cm, and only the entry and exit angles will continue to severely limit it - 20.5 degrees in front and 22 in the back.
The model comes in two finish levels as mentioned, with the EX being the entry version and the "Premium" being more equipped. The EX includes split climate control, air vents for the second and third rows, a 12.3-inch (8-inch until now) multimedia system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, keyless entry and start, a power outlet in the cargo compartment, and more. The higher finish level adds an electric cargo compartment door, a sunroof, wireless charging pad, electric adjustment for the driver and passenger seats, heating for both rows of seats, front ventilation, leather upholstery, and more. By the way, in terms of equipment, it still won't offer a full or even partial spare wheel as standard, but a repair kit. The importer will provide a full spare wheel to buyers, and they will need to purchase an external supplier for the carrying standard.
In terms of advanced safety features, the EX model comes with few exceptions like automatic lane-keeping and deviation warning. On the other hand, in additional premium features there is lane-keeping assist (only available with its electric steering), off-road vehicle detection, automatic reverse driving braking, off-road vehicle warning, door opening with passing vehicle detection, and adaptive cruise control.
The updated launch also brings with it a slight increase in prices. From now on, the entry-level EX version will cost NIS 260,000, an increase of NIS 2,000 compared to the previous version, while the "Premium" trim level will cost NIS 300,000, a rise of NIS 5,000.
Rexton has always been a good solution for customers looking for off-road vehicles with good overall capabilities, after considering approach and departure angles, at a significantly lower price than a Toyota Land Cruiser. In light of the expected increase in the prices of the new generation Toyota, and with all the other off-road highway vehicles with ladder frame, like the Mitsubishi Pajero and Nissan Pathfinder no longer being manufactured, it seems that it is not going to change now either.