AS far as full-blown SUVs go they don't come much more versatile and rugged - or offer such great value-for-money - than the seven-seater SsangYong Rexton.

With its "full-blown" all-wheel-drive capability - including low ratio gearbox - and built on the tried-and-tested steel ladder chassis principle, it offers a whopping three-tonne-plus towing capacity, making it not only a serious off-roader in its own right, but an excellent tow-car, complete with a raft of goodies and creature comforts we've come to expect from much more expensive machines of this ilk.

This third generation Rexton W was never going to be a huge seller and came aimed primarily at the caravanning, horsey, farming and sailing brigades.

Powered by SsangYong's own two-litre turbo-charged diesel engine - which had already been tried, tested and praised - it delivered maximum power of 153bhp at 4,000rpm along with a torque figure of 360Nm from 1,500 to 3,000 revs, providing bags of low-end pulling power while on or off the beaten track.

Available with the choice of either a six-speed manual or five-speed Mercedes-Benz T-Tronic automatic transmission, the five-model Rexton range came at a competitive price which even included a comprehensive, five-year warranty.

It also came kitted out with remote locking, cruise control, heated windscreen, automatic climate control, single CD/radio, stability control, alloy wheels and Bluetooth, along with electric windows and door mirrors as standard.

One model used Rexton buyers should look out for is a special 2014 edition marking the 60th anniversary of the car company's formation.

Based on the flagship EX specification, it added front parking sensors, an electric sunroof, heated seats front and rear, a power adjustable passenger seat, DAB satellite navigation system and came resplendent in its pearl white lily metallic paint finish.

Out on the black stuff, the big Rexton could get a bit getting used to and like all body-on-frame vehicles, it did tend to waddle a bit no matter what the surface or speed it is travelling.

The automatic gearbox also tended to take its time, so you couldn't expect instant gear changes. But hey, the Rexton was never designed to compete with a hot hatch or modern family saloon.

For its size and weight, fuel consumption figures proved quite remarkable, with an average 38.2mpg for the manual and 36.2mpg for the automatic. CO2 emissions, at 196g/km, put it in Band J for road tax purposes.

Expect to pay around £9,410 to £12,305 for a 2014 63-plate Rexton W 2.0 diesel in entry-level SX trim with around 30,000 miles on the clock and between £10,295 and £13,455 for a range-topping EX example.

Move on a year to a 64-plate and these prices rise to between £11,410 and £14,475 for the SX and around £12,445 and £15,785 for the all-singing, all-dancing EX.