Polar opposite to a ‘crossover’ there is also clear blue water’between the Rexton and a mainstream Sport Utility Vehicle.
Big, tough and well up to a day’s work it’s surprisingly comfortable on a long trip and remarkable value for money.
The latest (fourth-generation) Rexton retains body-on-frame (separate chassis) construction and transfer box for high/low ratio 4x4. A manual gearbox remains an option on the cheapest and the 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel has been tweaked for better MPG and CO2.
Until recently the future here looked bleak for such vehicles with only the Rexton and Toyota’s Land Cruiser on sale. Now however, Mitsubishi has come back with a new Shogun Sport on the L200 pick-up chassis and a new Navara-based Pathfinder is on its way from Nissan. SsangYong’s new Musso pick-up has just arrived here.
Big, tough and well up to a day’s work it’s surprisingly comfortable on a long trip and remarkable value for money.
The latest (fourth-generation) Rexton retains body-on-frame (separate chassis) construction and transfer box for high/low ratio 4x4. A manual gearbox remains an option on the cheapest and the 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel has been tweaked for better MPG and CO2.
Until recently the future here looked bleak for such vehicles with only the Rexton and Toyota’s Land Cruiser on sale. Now however, Mitsubishi has come back with a new Shogun Sport on the L200 pick-up chassis and a new Navara-based Pathfinder is on its way from Nissan. SsangYong’s new Musso pick-up has just arrived here.
Chartres and Montauban were the French stopovers on the way down to Aragon’s rural Matarranya. The return leg took in two nights in Bilbao before the next stop near Mortagne-sur-Gironde on the northern shore of the estuary beyond Bordeaux
This beautiful village which overlooks a picture-postcard marina and fishing port has a memorial to Owain Lawgoch - Yvain de Galles (Owain ap Thomas ap Rhodri) - the last direct descendant of the Welsh Gwynedd Dynasty (Princes of Wales).
Owain was assassinated by an agent of the English Crown while, in the service of Charles V, laying siege to the local castle held by the English in 1378. Owain had asserted his title as Prince of Wales and, in this, was supported by the French king.
A drive east through Cognac country took us then to Bourges for two nights with a visit to the mediaeval hilltop village of Sancerre and its vineyards. Overall, the trip included fast motorway and panoramic mountain passes through to country roads and upland Spain’s characteristic ‘caminos rurales’ where a stretch of asphalt is a luxury. As mentioned before a 4x4 there is anything but a fashion accessory.
This beautiful village which overlooks a picture-postcard marina and fishing port has a memorial to Owain Lawgoch - Yvain de Galles (Owain ap Thomas ap Rhodri) - the last direct descendant of the Welsh Gwynedd Dynasty (Princes of Wales).
Owain was assassinated by an agent of the English Crown while, in the service of Charles V, laying siege to the local castle held by the English in 1378. Owain had asserted his title as Prince of Wales and, in this, was supported by the French king.
A drive east through Cognac country took us then to Bourges for two nights with a visit to the mediaeval hilltop village of Sancerre and its vineyards. Overall, the trip included fast motorway and panoramic mountain passes through to country roads and upland Spain’s characteristic ‘caminos rurales’ where a stretch of asphalt is a luxury. As mentioned before a 4x4 there is anything but a fashion accessory.
The memorial to Owain Lawgoch Normal on-road driving is rear-wheel drive (4x2) but HR 4x4 can be engaged on the move. To dial in LR 4x4 the vehicle has to be stationary. Ground clearance and approach/departure angles are top class while electronic hill-hold and hill-descent are there too. A manual handbrake has given way, alas, to an electric parking switch.
A pity too that HR 4x4 can’t be engaged on-road other than for snow and ice. Mitsubishi’s ‘Super-Select’ offers that and it’s a real asset at higher speeds or when towing in the wet. It requires a torque-sensing centre differential lock but it’s worth it.
That said, ride and road-holding are very good for this type of vehicle. Model on test, it should be said, was the range-topping ‘Ultimate’ with 10-link independent rear suspension which comes with a seven-speed Mercedes automatic gearbox. Manual (six-speed) variants have a five-link beam axle at the back (as for the Musso pick-up).
Clearly a light, unitary bodied SUV will have superior dynamics but few people looking at a Skoda Kodiaq, VW Tiguan, Ford Kuga or even a Kia Sorento will have a vehicle such as this on their list. Given a half decent road surface (stark contrast with mainland Europe here!) it’s pretty smooth-going. Steering is a bit light perhaps but not uncommunicative and is direct enough for the type and certainly ‘fit for purpose’.
The new Rexton has a high level of equipment for its asking price including the usual connectivity and infotainment, electronic aids, etc. Build quality, fit and finish (inside and out) is hugely improved. Front seats in particular are extremely comfortable and supportive. Many aspects have a distinctly “premium” feel.
Although smooth and quiet it could do with a larger engine – overtaking uphill can take time but the auto’s manual over-ride helps to move things along. Nonetheless it dealt well with the 630-mile trip home on Day 12 and was more than up to the cut and thrust of driving around western Paris! An impressive and credible dual-use 4x4, the new Rexton has real appeal.
Model Range: EX (£27,500–7 seat); ELX (£32,000–5/7 seat); Ultimate (£37,500)
Competition: Landcruiser (£32,435-£52,885); Shogun Sport (£37,775-£39,775)
Facts & Figures: 181ps; 115mph; 0-60 in 11.9secs; 34.8mpg (official combined); 28 (test average; range of 25 to 30+); CO2-213g/km; Road Tax £1,200 (1st yr) £140 thereafter; Ins.Grp. 32; Max Braked Trailer 3.5t; Warranty 7-yrs/150,000 miles.
By Huw Thomas
First published in Welsh Farmer, the newspaper of the Farmers' Union of Wales.
A pity too that HR 4x4 can’t be engaged on-road other than for snow and ice. Mitsubishi’s ‘Super-Select’ offers that and it’s a real asset at higher speeds or when towing in the wet. It requires a torque-sensing centre differential lock but it’s worth it.
That said, ride and road-holding are very good for this type of vehicle. Model on test, it should be said, was the range-topping ‘Ultimate’ with 10-link independent rear suspension which comes with a seven-speed Mercedes automatic gearbox. Manual (six-speed) variants have a five-link beam axle at the back (as for the Musso pick-up).
Clearly a light, unitary bodied SUV will have superior dynamics but few people looking at a Skoda Kodiaq, VW Tiguan, Ford Kuga or even a Kia Sorento will have a vehicle such as this on their list. Given a half decent road surface (stark contrast with mainland Europe here!) it’s pretty smooth-going. Steering is a bit light perhaps but not uncommunicative and is direct enough for the type and certainly ‘fit for purpose’.
The new Rexton has a high level of equipment for its asking price including the usual connectivity and infotainment, electronic aids, etc. Build quality, fit and finish (inside and out) is hugely improved. Front seats in particular are extremely comfortable and supportive. Many aspects have a distinctly “premium” feel.
Although smooth and quiet it could do with a larger engine – overtaking uphill can take time but the auto’s manual over-ride helps to move things along. Nonetheless it dealt well with the 630-mile trip home on Day 12 and was more than up to the cut and thrust of driving around western Paris! An impressive and credible dual-use 4x4, the new Rexton has real appeal.
Model Range: EX (£27,500–7 seat); ELX (£32,000–5/7 seat); Ultimate (£37,500)
Competition: Landcruiser (£32,435-£52,885); Shogun Sport (£37,775-£39,775)
Facts & Figures: 181ps; 115mph; 0-60 in 11.9secs; 34.8mpg (official combined); 28 (test average; range of 25 to 30+); CO2-213g/km; Road Tax £1,200 (1st yr) £140 thereafter; Ins.Grp. 32; Max Braked Trailer 3.5t; Warranty 7-yrs/150,000 miles.
By Huw Thomas
First published in Welsh Farmer, the newspaper of the Farmers' Union of Wales.
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