Ssangyong Rexton W

Ah the Ssangyong Rexton, quite a rubbish Korean-made SUV isn't it? Sure this car's been around for over a decade when it first came in South Korea since...um...2001 perhaps. As years came, so goes the changes, well facelifts to be exact. This car went for some facial surgery in 2004 and then it wasn't enough. Later on in 2006, it went to the surgeon again and this time it has a face of the Ssangyong Chairman. This is one of the worst SUVs no one ever heard of it unless if you're Sri Lankan, Russian, or from an emerging country. Such age means that the Rexton's going to be pass away pretty soon but when India's Mahindra took over Ssangyong, they decided to give the Rexton another lease of life and guess what? It worked, and here's the result...

2013 Ssangyong Rexton W

What Mahindra done to the Rexton is simple, revert its front face back to the year 2001 and whoa, this so-called all new Rexton W doesn't feel like a brand new car because of such looks that feels like it came out a decade ago. What's the point of this? Come on Mahindra, wake up! You took over Ssangyong and you did well with last year's Korando C, Chairman New Classic, and New Chariman W but why do you want to make the Rexton feel like old again? In their minds, the year is not 2012 and it is 2001, the year when the Ssangyong Rexton first launch. This isn't what I've expecting this, it feels like back to the age when Nokia phones are proven popular in the Philippines. 3210, 3310, these kinds of Nokias what I'm referring and because it's 2001, MMS hasn't been invented yet.

2013 Ssangyong Rexton W interior

On the interior though, it wasn't as bad as eating a durian because it has some of the features common on any Korean-made SUVs such as those premium dual tone interiors with metal grain accents, electronic adjustable driver seat, fully automatic climate control, sat-nav system, and some of the features that you commonly get on a Korean-made SUV but still, the interior design of the Rexton W isn't quite as good as a posh luxury SUV from Europe.

And then there's the way the Rexton W behaves...the e-XDi200 LET Korean diesel engine that produces about a measly 155PS of power and 36.7kg-m of torque, mated with a 5-speed automatic. Not bad though for Ssangyong standards but still it wasn't quite as good as the new Hyundai Santa Fe and the Kia Sorento R.

As for the fuel economy, if you're on an economy drive and if you're on a 2WD variant, this will go up to 13.7km/L of fuel economy while 4WD variants get up to 13.1km/L of fuel economy, meaning the new Rexton W is more thirstier than it rivals even though this engine's Euro V compliant and not compatible on Euro II-compliant countries.

This Korean-made Rexton W though, even though Mahindra states that its an all new model, it doesn't feel like a new model. It feels a bit as rubbish as a Nokia 3310 cellphone and listening to some rubbish oldies music. What I'm thinking of that this car could be a decent candidate of being THE WORST CAR IN THE WORLD. We're going to think about it later though because it's a bit complicated to call this the worst car in the world but it takes time though. It takes time. The new Rexton W though is not the best car for me. If I were to put it in my Cool Wall, it would be SERIOUSLY UNCOOL because, well you get that idea.

Imagine that if you are the kind of person who owns this car, people think that you've came from a very poor country capable of smuggling luxury cars and then crushed by the government. If you are going to test drive one of these from your nearest Ssangyong dealer, be sure to bring a hidden camera so you can secretly record about the Rexton W's rubbishness and then upload it on YouTube. It's all in the matter of critic though because the W in the Rexton W naming means WRONG. Perhaps I should call it the REXTON WRONG. He he he....Nah just kidding, it's because of the fans...or enthusiasts...

PRICE LIST:

렉스턴 W 2WD RX5 DELUXE A/T - 26,830,000  Won

렉스턴 W 2WD RX7 BROWN SPECIAL A/T - 31,980,000  Won

렉스턴 W 2WD RX7 LUXURY A/T - 29,180,000  Won

렉스턴 W 2WD RX7 PRESTIGE A/T - 34,050,000  Won

렉스턴 W 4WD NOBLESSE A/T - 37,430,000  Won

렉스턴 W 4WD RX5 DELUXE A/T - 28,600,000  Won

렉스턴 W 4WD RX7 BROWN SPECIAL A/T - 33,750,000 Won 

렉스턴 W 4WD RX7 LUXURY A/T - 30,950,000  Won

렉스턴 W 4WD RX7 PRESTIGE A/T - 35,820,000  Won

Photo: Ssangyong Motor Company