Overview

This full-sized SUV with seven seats, four-wheel drive, and diesel power is the KGM Rexton. KGM may not ring a bell, but you may remember SsangYong, the South Korean car maker with a reputation for good value but uninspiring cars. Well, the Rexton was initially launched as a SsangYong back in 2018, where it proved popular with caravanners but never bothered the best SUVs on sale.

Its popularity with caravanners can be traced to its KGM Musso pick-up truck underpinnings. This means it’s tougher than a well-done rump steak, can tow 3.5 tonnes, and comes standard with a low-ratio transfer box and clever off-road-focused technology like hill descent control.

It’s not all coarseness, though. The Rexton is a very well-equipped car for the money, even in base K30 trim. The entry-level model features a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, LED lights, heated and ventilated leather front seats, 18-inch alloy wheels, and a heated steering wheel.

Step up to the K40 trim, and in return for a little more cash, you’ll also get Nappa leather, LED ambient lighting and extra airbags. The range-topping K50 will set you back the best part of £50,000 and, as well as with everything listed prior, it includes an electric sunroof, air con for the third-row occupants, and suede inserts. As you’d expect from this fully loaded list of features, the Rexton is the flagship of the KGM range.

It sits in a unique position for full-sized SUVs. The obvious price-point contenders, the Skoda Kodiaq, Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento, are far less capable of off-road transport but would make for better family transport. Think outside the box, and the Rexton could be seen as a discount alternative to a Land Rover Defender 110 or the Toyota Land Cruiser. After all, KGM is calling the Rexton ‘Off-roading luxury’.

Over the following few pages, we’ll assess every aspect of the KGM Rexton, considering its practicality, interior quality, running costs and driving experience before offering our final verdict. To find out how we reached our final verdict, read our page on how we test cars here.