[Taboleo] ‘Irreplaceable’ Native Pickup, Experiencing Off-Road Performance

Ssangyong Rexton Sports Khan Off-Road Test Drive Review

Rexton Sports Khan on the four-way driving course

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Approximately 2.8 million pickup trucks are sold annually in the United States. Considering that the total annual vehicle sales in South Korea, including imported cars, commercial vehicles, and special-purpose vehicles, amount to about 1.8 million units, this means that pickups sell about 1 million more units than all vehicles sold in Korea combined.

The vast land area, rough roads, historically low fuel costs (though not currently), and practical uses are the reasons many Americans choose pickups. Pickups account for nearly 20% of all vehicle types.

A pickup truck factory in Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA

What about South Korea? Although there is some variation, annual sales are roughly between 40,000 and 50,000 units. This is only about 2.5% of total new car sales. While not as large as in the U.S., the industry expects the market to grow from its current size. This is due to improvements in the vehicles' product appeal and an increase in leisure activities such as recreation and camping that align well with pickups. Electric vehicles, which can supply power externally, are also an advantageous segment for pickups.

Being optimized for off-road, or rough terrain driving, is an area other vehicle types cannot easily rival. While sport utility vehicles (SUVs) can somewhat imitate this, only pickups can carry large items that exceed the cargo bed or offer the fun of customizing according to personal taste. In January of this year, I drove the Expedition trim of SsangYong’s Rexton Sports Khan, which was released with a new engine, from Seoul to Gapyeong. The famous mountain in Gapyeong, Yumyeongsan, has an off-road course that many visitors frequent.

Rexton Sports Khan running on the Mogul Course

How is the off-road driving performance?

I test drove on a course specially prepared around the summit area of Yumyeongsan. To maximize off-road performance, a bumpy course with large supports arranged in various forms and a mogul course with several moguls (snow hills) were created. I used the four-wheel low (4WD low) mode optimized for rough terrain driving and turned off the vehicle stability control system (ESP). This allows sufficient power to be delivered to each wheel in any situation.

Despite the challenging conditions of heavy fog and rain on the day of the test drive, the vehicle performed well. On the mogul course, the dirt road itself was rutted and the vehicle slipped easily, but when I turned the steering wheel in the opposite direction, it quickly regained its posture.

On the bumpy course, I was able to overcome high and irregular supports without pressing the accelerator pedal. The group that test drove a day earlier completed side slope driving and steep slope courses, but our group could not do these two courses due to the bad weather.

Rexton Sports Khan driving on an off-road course. On the second day of the test drive event, heavy rain forced skipping some parts of the course.

Equipped with Cooper tires suitable for off-road driving, it was difficult to perform well after the rain because they were covered in mud.

The steering operation is not heavy, but it gives the impression that it follows movements well. During this test drive, I never felt a lack of power. It was difficult to fully experience the benefits of the frame body, which is rare in Korea, in just a short half-day drive. However, I thought that if it were another vehicle, driving on such rough roads for a few days would strain the car.

On the other hand, how about paved roads?

Even though the vehicle was equipped with dedicated Cooper tires from Seoul for off-road driving, there was no significant discomfort or roughness. Perhaps thanks to sufficient soundproofing materials, it gave a quieter impression than expected. However, some vibration typical of diesel vehicles must be tolerated. The sensation can be somewhat sharp, but it does not give a nimble impression. There is a slight impression of insufficient power at high speeds, but considering that it is unlikely to be driven fast with heavy loads, this cannot be seen as a flaw.

Rexton Sports Khan

Rexton Sports Khan

Is there a concern that the exterior might be too rough?

Pickups offer more diverse customization options such as installing roll bars or covers on the cargo bed. The recent increase in popularity is largely due to the many ways owners can express their individuality. There are dozens of customization options available when ordering the vehicle, and the choices increase significantly when using the aftermarket.

Before the vehicle’s release, the company actively exchanged opinions with aftermarket businesses. At this test drive event, a representative from a company specializing in customizing pickups and off-road vehicles was also present, and they said they have already started “work” on SsangYong’s new vehicle Torres, which will be released next month.

Rexton Sports Khan. The cargo bed can be customized in various ways.

Rexton Sports Khan carrying a jet ski. It can load up to 1262 liters and 700 kg.

Is there a reason to choose a pickup truck over an SUV or wagon?

Although pickups are classified as commercial vehicles, choosing one based on utility is not very different from selecting an SUV or wagon. However, when examining each user’s usage patterns and applications more closely, their characteristics are relatively distinct. In the past, pickups were mostly chosen by those traveling on quiet rural roads or for business purposes, but as imported brands gradually introduce pickups domestically, it seems customer demand has diversified. While pickups benefit from lower taxes as cargo vehicles, insurance premiums and maintenance costs should also be considered.

Rexton Sports Khan Interior

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.