[Taboleo] Korea's Top Domestic Pickup Truck, Test Driving the New Rexton Sports & Khan

Product Enhancement Model Released Early This Month, Equipped with Connected Car System and Advanced ADAS

New Rexton Sports & Khan Expedition (EXPEDITION) Model

[Asia Economy Reporter Changhwan Lee] SsangYong Motor recently launched the 'New Rexton Sports & Khan.' The Rexton Sports & Khan is a representative domestic pickup truck, holding an 80% market share in the Korean pickup truck market.

The New Rexton Sports & Khan is an upgraded version of the existing model. The powertrain has been enhanced, and it is the first domestic pickup model to apply a connected car system. It is also equipped with 16 advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS).

The deck of the existing New Rexton Sports has been expanded, and the loading capacity has been improved by more than 20%. SsangYong plans to broaden the base of the domestic pickup truck market with this new model.

New Rexton Sports & Khan Expedition (EXPEDITION) Model

On the 12th, I test-drove the 'New Rexton Sports & Khan' at Times Square in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. The course was a round trip from Times Square to KINTEX in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province.

The model driven that day was the New Rexton Sports & Khan Expedition trim. The Expedition trim is a premium model that features exclusive design and high-end convenience features as standard.

The new model is equipped with an advanced connected car system. By installing SsangYong’s dedicated application, INFOCONN, on a smartphone, users can start the engine and unlock the doors remotely, as well as pre-operate the heater and air conditioner, making it more convenient. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto mirroring services are also provided to enhance convenience.

New Rexton Sports & Khan Expedition (EXPEDITION) Model

At first sight, I was overwhelmed by its grandeur. The New Rexton Sports & Khan was much larger than expected. Its overall length reached 5,405 mm, and its width was 1,950 mm. It was bigger than most SUVs and as tall as a van, with an even longer length. Once inside, you were positioned higher than other vehicles.

Times Square’s underground parking exit passage is relatively narrow, and I was worried the vehicle might scrape the walls.

Despite its large size, the driving experience was good. Although it is a pickup truck, it felt as smooth as many SUVs. Even though it was originally planned for off-road events and equipped with Cooper tires instead of standard ones, I did not feel any discomfort.

New Rexton Sports & Khan Expedition (EXPEDITION) Model

After leaving the congested city streets and entering the Jayuro highway, I accelerated smoothly. While its acceleration cannot be said to surpass that of the latest sedans, it performed well when it needed to run and stopped well when it needed to stop. Driving the vehicle, I realized that, given its off-road nature, the focus was more on power and braking rather than speed.

The 12.3-inch full digital cluster instrument panel quickly delivered essential information. It displayed basic driving data, navigation routes, and some infotainment system details, enhancing convenience.

SsangYong’s advanced driving assistance (ADAS) system, comparable to that of the premium All New Rexton, also worked well. Existing features such as lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and lane change warning systems, as well as newly applied functions like lane keeping assist, safe exit warning, and safe distance warning systems, all performed their roles effectively.

New Rexton Sports & Khan Expedition(EXPEDITION) 2nd Row Seat

The seats were comfortable. The Nappa leather seats featured Tri-hardness cushions with differentiated firmness in each area, providing a soft texture and excellent comfort. Both the first and second rows had heated seats, and the front row (driver and passenger seats) included ventilated seats. The second-row seats were also spacious enough to accommodate two to three people comfortably.

The trunk loading capacity was also large. The wide open deck allows users to select specifications by model according to their needs. The deck capacity (VDA standard) for the Sports and Khan models is 1,011 liters and 1,262 liters, respectively, with loading capacities of 400 kg for the Sports and up to 700 kg (with power leaf suspension) for the Khan. It is suitable for leisure activities as well as various everyday uses.

New Rexton Sports & Khan Expedition (EXPEDITION) Model

Since the test vehicle was equipped with the highest specifications, its base price was 39.85 million KRW. Options such as the 4WD system II (2 million KRW), 9-inch INFOCONN navigation (800,000 KRW), 3D around-view system (900,000 KRW), and side & curtain airbags (400,000 KRW) could increase the price further. However, since lower-spec models start from the mid-20 million KRW range, those who prioritize cost-effectiveness can purchase the vehicle at a more affordable price.