Ssangyong Rexton: as close as possible to an American SUV

Despite being made in Korea, the Ssangyong Rexton has dimensions that can only be found on the other side of the Atlantic.

Globalization is a curious phenomenon. We love to make fun of Americans, with their private healthcare system where a trip to the doctor for a sprain can cost upwards of $4,000, their obscene amounts of food or gun regulation frankly incomprehensible to any other country, but their cultural industry dominates the world.

The box office success of Marvel movies is testament to this and it is precisely thanks to Hollywood that some images have spread all over the planet. One is the large SUV as synonymous with success.

In the US petrol is much cheaper than in Europe and the asphalt is less well maintained. There are fewer restrictions when it comes to performing off-road activities and
inevitably their best-selling vehicles are the huge pickups like the Ford F-150 or the Chevrolet Silverado.

This, like the Avengers, has spread all over the planet. Our roads, fuel prices, and emissions limits make large seven-seat SUVs pointless, but the car will always have an emotional component, and deep down, we all dream of being a Minnesota cowboy.

The first thing you notice when you face the new
Ssangyong Rexton is its colossal size. The first thought that comes to your mind when you take it out of the dealership and see it on the street with other motorists is: “But does this fit here?”. It is a recurring and almost constant thought.

The surprising thing is that most of the time
yes that is part of it. There is some margin left on each side between the ends of the track, but the Rexton is a lightning fast course for occupying the middle of the road without interfering with the others. Despite its size, the SUV is surprisingly manoeuvrable and can easily fit in Madrid’s parking lots.

That’s one of the virtues of the Rexton, because in Europe we want American-looking cars with European handling and Asian prices. Approved in all respects so far.

The engine that powers it is a 2.1-liter diesel with 202 hp. Delivers, as expected in a large SUV, enough torque to overcome obstacles on the road, especially 360 Nm. The machine reacts as every machine should: without you realizing it.

Possibly,
the biggest point against the Rexton is its multimedia system and some features are a generation behind other current offerings on the market. For example, my phone did not automatically pair with Bluetooth on startup. Unforgivable.

The Korean manufacturer has just restructured its debt and has emerged alive from a journey in the desert that began in April 2021. Now they claim their priority is “electrification and rapid return to the path of profit”. Perhaps making large SUVs to make Europeans feel a little more Minnesota cowboy is the answer.

Source: La Verdad

Ida

I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.