The Korean carmaker SsangYong tried to get a spot between the top off-road carmakers in the world and introduced the first generation of the Rexton in 2001.
With a design signed by Giugiaro and a drivetrain carried over from Mercedes-Benz, it shouldn’t be a problem. Yet, it was. Despite its bargain-priced vehicles, the SsangYong couldn’t make it too far on the market. Its name was utterly unknown and, moreover, it was more challenging to pronounce.

The Koreans didn’t know that if Giugiaro designed some successful vehicles, its design studio was not experienced in the 4x4 market. The result was a car that looked like a station wagon bolted on a chassis. Its body-on-frame construction was not that helpful either against other European SUVs. Its headlights swept back over the front fenders, and the broad chromed grille didn’t impress the customers.

Inside, the carmaker tried to offer luxurious packages such as the leather upholstery, the wood trims on the dashboard, door panels, and center stack. It provided an option for seven seats, with jump seats in the trunk. But the interior room was small. It could barely match a compact-sized Skoda Octavia station wagon in terms of cargo space.

Under the bodywork, the Rexton featured a Mercedes-Benz drivetrain. The carmaker offered a choice of gasoline and diesel engines paired to a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic gearbox. Its two-speed transfer case was an excellent help while off-roading, but its rigid rear axle was not the best solution for a street vehicle.