VERSION:-
- Ssangyong Rexton RX5- 2966 CC- 17,77,000 INR
- Ssangyong Rexton RX7- 2696 CC- 19,78,000 INR
REVIEW:-
Mahindra absorbed the Korean car manufacturer Ssangyong last year. Since then I have been waiting for introduction of bigger, premium SUVs under the Mahindra-Ssangyong banner.I now have official confirmation that the first Ssangyong SUV coming to India is the Rexton, which has been launched on October 17 – the same day as the Tata Safari Storme.
Mahindra's first product from its Ssangyong stable, the Rexton is now out, priced at Rs 17.67 lakh, ex-showroom Mumbai for the RX5 manual version and Rs 19.67 lakh for the RX7 automatic trim. The pricing is rather wonderful, the automatic is a good Rs 2 lakh cheaper than the equivalent Toyota Fortuner while the manual is now the cheapest of the lot, making life tough for not just the Fortuner, but the Ford Endeavour, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and even the Chevrolet Captiva and Hyundai Santa Fe. But can a lower price tag along make the job easy for Mahindra? Lets see
For starters, the Ssangyong Rexton uses a lot of underpinnings as well as the powertrain from the first-gen Mercedes-Benz W163 ML. The body-on-ladder chassis lends it a certain sense of robustness, its two-tonne plus weight isn't making matters easy though. It looks contemporary, especially this the W version that was launched just a few months ago in Busan.
Despite that, however, the car manages to look a whole lot better than the model it replaces and the overall styling, especially at the front, is quite contemporary. That chrome-rich grille gives the front plenty of flash, the headlamps with their projector pods are smartly detailed, and those heavily flared wheel arches give the design much needed muscle. Further back, the wraparound rear windscreen looks quite neat and injects much flair to the tail section.
Open the Rexton’s doors and you will find that the cabin looks plush, everything appears solidly put together, and the leather seats with their soft cushioning and smart stitching are really inviting too. Panel fit is excellent and the soft-touch plastics on the dashboard-top feel like they’re from an expensive German saloon.
Mahindra will undercut the competition on price to get sales for the new Korean brand. The Rexton will be imported to India as CKD and will be assembled at Mahindra’s Chakan facility. It comprises of some exceptional feature like most vehicles from South Korea. Globally the new Rexton gets six airbags, ESP (Electronic Stability Program), ARP (Active Roll over Protection), UWS (Ultrasonic Warning System), cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity and Rain-sensing wipers.
The Rexton also comes loaded with features like a touchscreen interface for the audio system, DVD player, Bluetooth telephony, satellite navigation, sunroof, climate control, rear parking sensors, automatic headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, cruise control and steering-mounted audio controls.
However, it’s when I move to the back that the Rexton’s cabin loses some points. For starters, the slightly low-set seats and high floor compromise the seating posture to some extent, though it’s still better than an Endeavour. The cabin also isn’t as roomy as the large exteriors lead you to believe.
As for the last row of seats, the less said the better. You sit virtually on the floor with your knees pointing towards your chin, and with no headrests for these seats, your neck is left unsupported too. If there’s some consolation, it’s that the rearmost section gets a pair of air-con vents with their own blower speed control.
The new third generation Rexton gets an all-new frontend with projector headlamps and daytime LED lights, chrome grille, new bumpers with integrated fog lamps and LED indicators. The Rexton W looks more proportionate with black treatment around the bottom and wider with fared wheel arches. The rear of the SUV looks unexciting, but it is functional. It will comfortably seat seven people – keeping it aligned with the Mahindra range! – and still have some space in the boot. Overall the Rexton feels premium, something that it will need to compete with the likes of the Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour, Chevrolet Captiva, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, Hyundai Santa Fe and Renault Koleos.
ENGINE SPECIFICATION AND PERFORMANCE:-
The Rexton comes with a 2.7-litre, in-line five-cylinder DOHC turbo-diesel motor, with the option of five-speed manual and five-speed auto transmissions. Curiously, the engine is tuned differently for the two gearboxes, so as a manual it produces 162bhp and 34.7kgm of power and torque, respectively, while in the automatic it produces a far more substantial 184bhp and 41kgm. The automatic variant also comes with permanent all-wheel drive, and this allows the Rexton to get off to a clean start and post a quick 0-100kph time of 10.92 seconds.
However, the engine makes quite a racket, one that gets progressively louder as the revs rise. The nine-blade radiator fan is responsible for most of this. Then there’s the slow-witted automatic gearbox that takes much away from the driving experience. You can change gears manually via buttons on the steering wheel, or alternatively, a switch on the gear lever.
While the Rexton Auto’s 11.18kpl ARAI-tested figure makes it quite the diesel-guzzler, its power delivery is nice and linear, and for relaxed driving in the city or on the highway, the engine should cope well enough.
Weighing in at around two tonnes the Rexton is just as heavy as its body-on-frame contemporaries. Its suspension, which is a combination of double wishbones in the front and coil springs and a live axle at the rear, is also similar to what you’ll find on the Fortuner and Pajero Sport. However, the high-profile 235/75 R16 tyres do absorb a lot of the road shock and, in that sense, work admirably to shield you from smaller surface blemishes.
Dynamically too, the Rexton's biggest strength is its ride. It rides pretty well, thanks to its soft ride setup and that should be a selling point for those looking for comfort on bad roads or general urban driving. The problem is there is just too much body-roll and a fair amount of pitching and diving. The 16-inch Hankook tyres do a good job of providing grip but the steering is too light and a bit slow to react. Don't go looking for feel with this one, you are probably better off with the Santa Fe, Koleos or even the Fortuner.
Like with every other launch from Mahindra, the trump card of this vehicle is its price and the robust underpinnings that go with it. Ignore the average dynamics and slightly poor plastics and the Rexton makes for a sensible purchase decision. Mahindra has an installed capacity of 5,000 units per annum and looks to sell about 500 units a month. Will that be easy? I'll have to wait and see
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION:-
Price Range (in lakhs)*
Ex-showroom price Rs 17.67lakh (MT), Rs 19.67lakh (AT)
Engine
Fuel Diesel
Type 5-cylinder, 2696cc
Power 162bhp (MT), 184bhp (AT)
Torque 34.7kgm (MT), 41kgm (AT)
Transmission
Type Torque on demand/ All-wheel drive
Gearbox 5-speed manual, 5-speed auto
Dimensions
Length 4755mm
Width 1900mm
Height 1840mm
Wheel base 2835mm
Ground clearance 252mm
Coutesy: AARUSH
0 comments:
Post a Comment