SsangYong Rexton ELX: 2019 4x4 of the Year contender

SSANGYONG had a busy end to 2018, with the South Korean manufacturer launching a number of models toward the end of the year.

One of those models is the seven-seat Rexton, a family wagon loaded with plenty of kit for its modest asking price. We had the ELX, the middle-tier offering in the three-model line-up (it sits between the EX and top-spec Ultimate), at 4X4OTY.

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Among its list of features the ELX gets third-row seating, autonomous braking, nine airbags, heated and cooled front seats with electric adjust, heated rear seats, tyre pressure monitoring, lane-departure, blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert, an eight-inch touch screen and smartphone connectivity.

The Rexton runs a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that’s good for 133kW at 4000rpm and 420Nm at 1400-2800rpm, which is mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission. The Rexton features a part-time dual-range 4x4 system, and it was the only vehicle at 4X4OTY with independent rear suspension.

The heavy wagon (2233kg) has a three-tonne towing capacity and a payload maximum of 727kg. The ELX retails for $46,990 drive-away, and this test vehicle had no added extras.

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The family wagon might be a capable 4x4 on long stretches of bitumen and dirt, but does it fall behind the pack when the tracks turn from moderate to difficult?