2019 SsangYong Rexton 4x4 vs 2019 Nissan Terra VL 4x4

When SsangYong unveiled its 7-seater Rexton SUV, interestingly enough they dedicated one slide to its market positioning. With the mid-sized 7-seater SUV segment proving to be the market shaper in the local scene, the Korean automaker opted to compete in segments that represent the biggest bulk of sales. Third largest or 16 percent of sales belong to SUVs priced between P 2 to P 2.250 million, and this is where the top-dog Rexton, the 4x4 finds itself in.

Equally late to the 7-seater SUV game is the Terra. Despite being a clearly lucrative segment, Nissan bided their time, played it safe, and launched their own offering just last year (though honestly, it feels longer). Still, it’s managed to make strides, helping catapult the Japanese carmaker to number three in overall sales locally.

With two new entrants, which one deserves the attention and which one can be labeled: too late the hero. Stick around and find out.

Exterior

Right off the bat, it’s very clear that SsangYong and Nissan took two very different directions when styling their SUV. With the Terra being based off the Navara pickup, the overall vibe is somewhat utilitarian and rugged. With the high-looking stance, large fender gaps, and side step boards, it quickly communicates its go anywhere capability. Nonetheless, it’s not exactly the most head-turning SUV out there (it wasn’t a head-turner when it was launched last year either), but the simple, straightforward design is agreeable to everyone. Therefore, think of the Terra as a blank canvas that’s easily modifiable to each owner’s tastes.

With no pick-up based passenger vehicle or PPV in Korea, SsangYong looked west for the Rexton’s design direction. Squint hard enough and there are strong hints of American-style SUVs here from the general silhouette, slab-sided body, low-profile rubber, and doors that run all the way down the sill. And despite the questionable design of past Rextons or SsangYongs for that matter, this one’s actually pretty handsome. Park it next to any other PPV and it can stand tall and proud. It’s peppered with design cues from its smaller brother, the Tivoli XLV, minus any of the oddities.

Winner: SsangYong Rexton

Interior

The Terra’s Plain Jane design could have been forgiven if only they produced an SUV with a cabin worthy of a P 2.1-million price tag. Sadly, that’s not the case. Climbing aboard (made extra hard because there are no grab handles on the driver’s side) means taking a trip back to ten years ago or when the first-generation PPVs came out. There’s not an ounce of style in here, just a straightforward execution. There are no soft plastics here, too. Knock on the dashboard, the door panels, the center console—they’re all hard to the touch. It’s a shame because the build quality is actually pretty solid and there are been genuine efforts to spruce things up from the full-featured infotainment system and plush brown leather seats.

On the other hand, the Rexton continues to school the Terra with its stellar interior execution. Visually it already satisfies with its horizontal control motif, quilted leather seats, and abundance of piano black accents. Then it simply takes the whole SUV experience to the next level. Open the door and the driver’s seat automatically slides backward for easy entry (and there’s actually a roof-mounted grab handle too). A welcome chime, along with some fancy gauge animation from the programmable 7-inch high-res LCD screen embedded in the instrument cluster greets the driver. Then he discovers the ventilated seats, moon roof, and a whole lot more. This here feels like the absolute opposite of utilitarian. Having said that, the Rexton’s not entirely infallible. There are still some plasticky bits, but there are few and far between.

Winner: SsangYong Rexton

Space and Practicality

Dimensionally, almost nothing separates the Terra and the Rexton: the former is longer overall and taller, while the latter is wider with a longer wheelbase. True enough, they end up pretty even in real life. With the extra width and wheelbase, along with the more supportive seats (across all three rows, actually), the SsangYong’s better when the head count’s limited to five. However, because the second row doesn’t slide and tumbling them to get to the third row is a cumbersome three-step affair, the utility of the third row is quite limited. While the rearmost seats have a better pitch compared to the Nissan’s, the occupants here will find their hairdos tussled by the headliner while keeping their knees up throughout any trip.

Funny, because the opposite is true for the Terra. Despite its famed Zero Gravity Seats, it loses to the Rexton in terms of overall comfort, in as far as the first two rows are concerned. Yet, the compromise has increased its flexibility. With second row seats that tumble down with a single lever (or via a button on the center console), getting into the rearmost seats is much easier. It’s also more habitable with acceptable levels of headroom and a floor that’s been scooped out to keep the knees down. Moreover, the second row also slides fore and aft allowing more freedom in maximizing space across all three rows of seats. Oh, and while both have pretty good climate control systems, it must be said that the Terra’s air vents are spread across all three rows on the ceiling, while the Rexton makes do with a console-mounted one on the second row and side-blowing one on the third row.

Moving onto the cargo hold, it’s surprising that neither SUV could provide a completely flat luggage area; requiring a secondary “floor” instead. Visually, it seems the Rexton can hold wider stuff (say, two full-sized luggage side-by-side), while the Terra can hold taller stuff (the same two luggage placed one on top of the other); though the difference doesn’t seem much. Funny though that the SsangYong’s third row folds with one single pull tab while the Nissan takes two.

Winner: TIE

 Performance and Fuel Economy

In the process of engineering the Terra, without a doubt Nissan benchmarked other PPVs. As a result, it’s currently one of the top choices in the segment. Limited by its pickup-based platform which was, mind you, engineered to have a rear coil spring setup from the get-go, it rides well enough, especially when going over larger obstacles like humps and crater-sized potholes. However, it gets easily upset with smaller imperfections, shimming as opposed to gliding through them. Nonetheless, given the typically low ride comfort standards of a PPV, it scores pretty high.

The arrival of the Rexton therefore is very unfortunate for an SUV that’s supposedly the cushiest one around. It easily trounces everyone with a well-tuned suspension that irons out the choppiness typically associated with body-on-frame SUVs. The shock absorber’s rebound stroke could be better tuned, but at least the seats are able to absorb most of the impact. Both have weighty hydraulic-assisted steering, but the SsangYong’s is slightly lighter.

Hand-in-hand with the Rexton’s superb ride is its 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine. It’s down on both horsepower and torque versus the Terra’s 2.5-liter 4-cylinder unit, but not by much. The powerplant feels more responsive while also offering NVH isolation that puts the SsangYong on a whole different level. Whereas the Nissan’s diesel rattle is vocal and the shudders transmitted through the floor and to the pedal box, the Rexton has none of them. However, both SUVs suffer from indecisive 7-speed gearboxes, though at least in the Rexton’s favor, it doesn’t end up lurching the entire vehicle in stop-and-go traffic. With similar weights, power outputs, and amount of forward gears, it’s no surprise that fuel economy between these two are closely matched with the Rexton doing 7.69 km/L at 16 km/h, while the Terra doing 7.14 km/L at a slower 13 km/h average.

Winner: SsangYong Rexton

Value for Money

Utilitarian the Terra may be, but Nissan used this as an opportunity to introduce its Nissan Intelligent Mobility to the mass market. Thus, it takes the lead here with driver assistive tech such as Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Warning, a camera for the rear-view mirror (Intelligent Rear View Mirror) and a 360-degree camera with Moving Object Detection. It also has tire pressure monitoring and a video monitor for the rear seats. Among the two, it’s also more trail-ready with a locking rear differential and LSD.

As cool as all the tech in the Terra is, can it sway buyers from more traditional forms of luxury offered by the Rexton? Features like larger wheels, tilt/telescopic steering wheel, powered ventilated seats with three-setting memory for the driver, one-touch up/down windows, moon roof, electronic parking brake with auto hold, and a power tailgate are exclusive features on the SsangYong for an additional P 124,000 (P 2,230,000 versus P 2,106,000). This doesn’t even include the Rexton’s all-inclusive 3-year free PMS package that alone saves buyers around P 50,000. Perhaps the only thing going against the SsangYong is its questionable residual value and limited dealer footprint (there’s only one for now). Still, with such a large disparity in features versus price, the Rexton may be a good new car gamble.

Winner: SsangYong Rexton

If the Rexton had not appeared in its current shape, form, and price, the Terra would have kept its position as an easy to love, easy to recommend mid-sized SUV. Its impressive list of driver assist features gives it a slight advantage against the competition let down by its run-of-the-mill design and terribly pedestrian-looking interior. If only the goalpost were placed further than it current is, then the Terra could have been king. As it stands though, Nissan just wanted to be a notch above the competition, and the Terra did so, if only just.

Sadly, in the game for SUV supremacy, the rule of the Terra is short-lived and the new ruler comes from an unlikely source. The SsangYong Rexton may be the newest kid on the block, but it’s managed to arrive with guns blazing. There may be some uncertainties connected to the brand, and they’re well-founded; but as far as products go, this Korean has successfully upset the Japanese. The Rexton is the mid-sized SUV’s new king. Long live the king.

Winner: SsangYong Rexton

2019 Nissan Terra VL 4x4 vs 2019 SsangYong Rexton 4x4
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Ownership	2019 Nissan Terra VL 4x4	2019 SsangYong Rexton 4x4
Year Introduced	2018	2019
Vehicle Classification	Mid-sized SUV	Mid-sized SUV
The Basics
Body Type	5-door SUV	5-door SUV
Seating	7	7
Engine / Drive	F/4WD, part-time, low	F/4WD, part-time
Under the Hood
Displacement (liters)	2.5	2.2
Aspiration	Turbocharged	Turbocharged
Fuel Delivery	Common Rail Direct Injection	Common Rail Direct Injection
Layout / # of Cylinders	I4	I4
BHP @ rpm	190 @ 3,600	181 @ 4,000
Nm @ rpm	450 @ 2,000	420 @ 1,600-2,600
Fuel / Min. Octane	Diesel	Diesel
Transmission	7 AT	7 AT
Cruise Control	Yes	Yes
Fuel Economy @ Ave. Speed	7.14 km/L @ 13 km/h	7.69 km/L @ 16 km/h
Dimensions and Weights
Length (mm)	4,885	4,850
Width (mm)	1,865	1,960
Height (mm)	1,835	1,800
Wheelbase (mm)	2,850	2,865
Curb Weight (kg)	2,118	2,105
Suspension and Tires
Front Suspension	Independent, Double Wishbone	Independent, Double Wishbone
Rear Suspension	Five-Link, Coil Springs	Five-Link, Coil Springs
Front Brakes	Vented Disc	Vented Disc
Rear Brakes	Drum	Disc
Tires	Bridgestone Dueler H/T 684 II 255/60 R 18 H (f & r)	Hankook Dynapro HP2 255/50 R 20 H (f & r)
Wheels	Alloy	Alloy
Safety Features
Airbags	6	6
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)	Yes	Yes
Traction / Stability Control	Yes	Yes
Front Seatbelt	3-pt ELR with pre-tensioner x 2	3-pt ELR with pre-tensioner x 2
Traction / Stability Control	3-pt ELR x 3 (2nd row), 3-pt ELR x 2 (3rd row)	3-pt ELR x 2 + 2-pt Lapbelt x 1 (2nd row), 3-pt ELR x2 (3rd row)
ISOFIX Child Seat Anchor	Yes	Yes
Parking Sensors	Yes, Rear, with 360-degree camera	Yes, Front & Rear, with Camera
Other Safety Features	Hill Start Assist Hill Descent Control Tire Pressure Monitoring System Lane Departure Warning Blind Spot Warning	Hill Start Assist Hill Descent Control
Exterior Features
Headlights	LED	HID
Fog Lamps	Yes, Front	Yes, Front (LED), Rear
Auto Lights	Yes	Yes
Rain-sensing Wipers	Yes	Yes
Interior Features
Steering Wheel Adjust	Tilt	Tilt/Telescopic
Steering Wheel Material	Leather	Leather
Seating Adjustment (driver)	8-way Electric	8-way Electric, with Memory, Vented
Seating Adjustment (front passenger)	Manual	4-way Electric, Vented
Seating Surface	Leather	Leather
Folding Rear Seat	Yes, 60/40 (2nd row), 50/50 (3rd row)	Yes, 60/40 (2nd row), 50/50 (3rd row)
On-Board Computer	Yes	Yes
Convenience Features
Power Steering	Yes	Yes
Power Door Locks	Yes	Yes
Power Windows	Yes	Yes
Power Mirrors	Yes, with Fold	Yes, with Fold
Climate Control	Automatic, Dual (Front), Manual with Vents (Rear)	Automatic, Dual (Front), Manual with Vents (Rear)
Proximity Key	Yes	Yes
Audio System	Stereo MP3 Aux USB Bluetooth Apple CarPlay Android Auto Rear Monitor	Stereo MP3 USB Bluetooth Apple CarPlay Android Auto
# of Speakers	6	6
Steering Controls	Yes	Yes