Rexton

The Rexton tows 3,500kg braked across the range, matching the Toyota Prado, Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X rather than beating them, plus 750kg unbraked. The figure that matters when you are loaded is the gross combination mass of 6,460kg: tow near the maximum and you eat into how much you can carry in the car at the same time, so check the payload for your grade before you hitch a heavy van. A 350kg tow-ball download rounds out a caravan-friendly set of numbers.

The Rexton is a genuine body-on-frame four-wheel drive. It uses a selectable part-time system with high and low range and an automatic locking rear differential, so it is rear-wheel drive on the road and 4WD when you need it, the same basic layout as a ute-based wagon. Ground clearance is 203mm with 20.5-degree approach and departure angles, modest for hardcore rock-work but ample for the touring, gravel and beach duty most owners will ask of it. Selectable drive modes and hill-descent control are standard.

This is the Rexton's biggest asterisk, and every Australian review flags it. The current generation has never been assessed by ANCAP or Euro NCAP, so unlike almost every mainstream rival it has no independent crash rating at all, not a low one, simply none. It is not unrated because a score expired; it was never tested. The Rexton does come with nine airbags and a full active-safety suite, including autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep, adaptive cruise and blind-spot monitoring, but if a five-star rating is non-negotiable for your family, that gap is the reason to shortlist a rated rival instead.

Because every grade shares the same diesel, transmission and 4WD hardware, the choice comes down to equipment. The ELX is the value pick and is well-equipped for the price. Stepping up to the Advance adds the daily-comfort kit most families actually use, heated and ventilated front seats, a power driver's seat and tailgate, and ambient lighting, for around $6,000 more at 2026 prices. The Ultimate piles on genuine leather, a sunroof, a 360-degree camera and built-in navigation, with an appearance-only Sport Pack above it. For most buyers the Advance is the one to shortlist.

KGM is the new name for SsangYong, which retired its old badge in Australia on 1 June 2025 after Korea's KG Group bought the company. The brand has sold vehicles here on and off since the early 2000s, so it is not a newcomer, and it now backs the Rexton with a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty plus five years of roadside assistance, which is longer than several mainstream rivals offer. Servicing is capped and reasonably priced. The main ownership caveat is a dealer network still smaller than Toyota's or Ford's, so check your local coverage before you commit.

The Rexton's diesel follows a 12-month or 15,000km service schedule, and as of mid-2026 KGM's capped-price servicing alternates between about $418 and $522 per visit. That works out to roughly $2,300 across the first five years, competitive for a body-on-frame diesel of this size. Combined with a claimed 8.7 litres per 100km, a seven-year unlimited-kilometre warranty and five years of roadside assistance, the Rexton's ownership case is one of its genuine strengths, and a big part of why the value story holds up beyond the purchase price.