Upgrades and an electric SUV coming from SsangYong

UPDATES and an all-new electric SUV model are on the cards from Korean car-maker SsangYong as it builds on its model range.

Refreshed by new management and an injection of more capital, SsangYong will launch a redesigned and upgraded Rexton seven-seat SUV, including a new mid-spec model grade called Adventure.

The range will start with the entry-level ELX at $50,000 drive away, with the new Adventure priced at $54,000 drive away. The third grade is the Ultimate at $58,000 including on-road costs.

Changes for 2024 aren’t immediately obvious from outside the vehicle. The main upgrade is the new dashboard with integrated air vents, new ventilation controls and an all-new 12.3-inch infotainment system.The interior upgrades add to the ongoing standard equipment inventory that includes smartphone mirroring, dual-zone climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel and a reversing camera with front and rear parking sensors.

SsangYong said that the new Adventure version has the addition of an electric tailgate, leather-look front seats with electric adjustment and heating/cooling, a heated steering wheel, heated rear outboard seats, tyre pressure monitor, speed-sensitive steering, ‘walk-up welcome’ system, keyless entry and ‘walk-away’ door locking.The Ultimate then adds an electric sunroof, quilted leather seats, 360-degree camera, third-row air-conditioning controls, ambient interior lighting, illuminated front door scuff plates and privacy glass.Optional is the $2000 Sport Pack which comprises ‘Shadow Chrome’ grille, black roof rails, tailgate and rear bumper trim, Shadow Chrome fog light surrounds and 20-inch alloy wheels.

Safety equipment is unchanged, with the 2024 model having autonomous emergency braking (AEB), forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-change collision warning, safety distance alert, smart high beam, front vehicle start warning, driver attention warning, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert and safety exit warning.

In addition, the 2024 range introduces a new ‘Graphite’ paint colour which joins the five existing colours.Unchanged is the Rexton’s drivetrain with the ongoing 148kW/441Nm 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s a part-time 4WD system with low range transfer case and a standard self-locking rear differential.But SsangYong has added new body mounts to improve noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels.

SsangYong Australia has also planned to release an all-electric version of the Torres SUV by the end of the year.

The company fist showed the battery-electric Torres EVX in March 2023. It was shown with a 73.4kWh lithium battery pack claiming about 500km of range.

It has a 150kW electric motor driving the front wheels.

SsangYong said the Torres petrol model has 709 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, while the electric model has 839 litres.

SsangYong Australia said it will announce details of the electric Torres closer to the launch date.

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