Should you buy one?

The SsangYong Rexton was designed for a very specific audience. If you need a dependable workhorse that’s good off-road, has a high towing capacity and lots of space in the back (say, if you’re a farmer), then this might just be the car for you. It’s £38,000-ish starting price and high level of standard equipment are certainly attractive prospects.

However, there are better cars out there if you just want a comfortable seven-seat family SUV. The Kia Sorento is probably the Rexton’s closest rival – and we think it’s a better all-rounder, especially because it’s available with a choice of hybrid powertrains. However, the seven-seat versions of the Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan are also worth considering, even they do work out more expensive to specify to the same level as the Rexton.

If you just need something with a lot of seats, why not consider a van-based MPV, such as the Ford Tourneo Connect or the Toyota Proace Verso? You could also opt for the Dacia Jogger. You’ll have to sacrifice four-wheel drive, but you’ll get a bigger boot, equal levels of practicality and a massive chunk of spare change in your pocket thanks to its incredibly affordable £17,000 price-tag.

What we like

The SsangYong Rexton is huge. The front two seating rows have loads of space and even the third row offers enough room for two adults to get reasonably comfortable. It’s also very well equipped, with the most basic model coming as standard with big-brand luxuries like ventilated seats and heated rear seats. You won’t be disappointed by the car’s off-road ability, either.

What we don’t like

The Rexton is very uncomfortable on tarmac. The suspension isn’t sophisticated enough to deal with bumps, which makes it tiring to drive long distances. The steering system is also very notchy and the chassis rapid runs out grip if you ask too much of it in a corner. A hybrid or a plug-in hybrid powertrain would have been welcome, too – newer rivals offer better fuel economy.