Mitsubishi Shogun v Ssangyong Rexton (or else?) for towing 3.5t

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NinaLupina

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New car is due soon, my 4-horse trailer is on order, so what are everyone's thoughts on Shogun v Rexton? Both have an advertised 3.5t towing capacity and sit comfortably within my budget (car can't be older than 2 years as it's a company car). The Ssangyong is tempting price wise, but not sure whether I want to trust something as cheap! I'm not allowed a truck, and Grand Cherokee, Audi Q7, BMW X5, Disco, VW Touareg are slightly more than I'd want to spend... unless someone tells me that Shoguns/Rextons are an absolute no-go... ;)
 
I have a Korando (one step down from the Rexton) and it's been great. I used to have a Shogun many years ago and it was an excellent towing vehicle. So I would say either would be great but the Rexton is probably better value and probably comes with more as standard (plus 5 year warranty, free servicing etc).
 
As far as reliability goes, everything I hear says you can trust the Rexton 200%. I know three people who have had them and found them totally bombproof - including one who regularly used his XC at 50mph!

Have driven one a couple of times and found it not very nice to drive, but neither is the Shogun tbh.

So test drive both and if you like the Rexton, go for it.
 
I have a Rexton, 3yrs old and automatic. It's a very nice car. I drive over 300 miles a week and it's effortless. I also tow a 510 up and down steep Devon hills and it's also effortless. Wouldn't hesitate to buy another. It's has a massive boot as well which is very useful. I've never had a Shogun so can't compare but always liked the look of them, although the SWB has a tiny boot.
 
I have a Rexton and love it - excellent value for money, reliable and comfortable. It has a Mercedes gearbox and Mercedes type styling, and one person recently was under the impression it is a rebadged Mercedes.
 
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I'm not fully sure either of them tow 3.5t. The only vehicles I can think of that do are a hilux or the classic landrover/range rover/defender perhaps but not a freelander. I could be way wrong though and maybe the newer ones do, as we were looking last year and at older models, so they possibly improved the towing capacity.
 
rachk89 said:
I'm not fully sure either of them tow 3.5t. The only vehicles I can think of that do are a hilux or the classic landrover/range rover/defender perhaps but not a freelander. I could be way wrong though and maybe the newer ones do, as we were looking last year and at older models, so they possibly improved the towing capacity.
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You are indeed very wrong Rexton and LWB shogun can tow 3.5 ton. The Hilux cant its about 2.7-2.9 model dependant you may be mixed up with land cruiser.
Nissan NP300 pick up and isuzu both have 3.5 ton towing as well.

For what its worth and I wouldnt have either, the Shoguns drivetrain is far superior to the Rexton and if about the same money thats the one I would suggest.
 
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I have had 2 Shoguns, both towed beautifully. Both reliable. I would not hesitate to have another, as the weight was nothing to them. I had 2 full size horses no problem.

I only ever had one ride in a Rexton, at Chatsworth HT, they used them to ferry competitors around as the dressage/box park was such a log way from the main area. I had no idea what it was, and presumed it was a high priced vehicle as it was rather nice. Can't comment on reliability from that though!
 
The modern LWB Shoguns (ours is a 14 plate SG3) are much nicer to drive than the old ones. They are awesome towing vehicles and are also fine as everyday cars. The turning circle, which is massive on the old ones, is very tight and nifty on the modern ones. Ours have been very reliable (also have a year 2000 one, now sorn'd and still in regular use towing the arena leveller).

I've towed up to c2300kg (Ifor 510 with two horses up), you'll certainly need a beefy proper tow car to tow 4, and IMHO the Shogun will do the job.
 
I had a Rexton and it was absolutely gutless to tow 2 in a511. Not even good with 1 big horse when confronted with a hill! 4wd was also unreliable. I think we had a 'Friday afternoon' car as I know others who love them but I wouldn't touch another one. Now have a lwb Shogun and love it - feels like it has at least 1t more towing capacity.
 
I loved my shogun but only towed trailer for 2 so can't comment on that, only sold it as a disabled family member was fairly immobile and even with the side step it was a problem for them and me so needed something more suitable, I would have another shogun

Not sure if Mitsubishi still run their owners club but that is a dream (or was), clay shooting, purpose built off road to have a go on (I've never felt almost vertical in a car, such an adrenaline rush) plus the VIP experience of Badminton with free passes, priority parking etc.... had so much fun going to some of the owners club events :)
 
we recently bought a 2011 model LWB shogun to replace our Nissan Pathfinder and just loving it so far. tows two horses and my Ifor 510 trailer effortlessly and is comfortable to drive long distances. fuel consumption will always be an issue as it is a 3.2 engine. but it appears no thirstier than my 2.5TD Pathfinder . cant comment on driving the Rexton personally, but a few friends have and like them very much.. for me though the Shogun feels so much more solid and substantial.
 
The empty weight of the trailer is less than 1500kg with a MAM of 3.5t so I definitely won't be towing any more than 3.5t. In fact, I've only got 3 horses anyway and two of those being ponies, so realistically the trailer will never weigh more than around 2800kg (plus water, hay etc) so should be well within the limit. And if I was to ever buy a fourth horse (and that means to pass the hurdle of other half agreeing, lol!), even then it's highly unlikely I'd ever tow them together, and even then only if safely within the 3.5t limit, obviously. :)

Lanky Loll said:
That's what I thought! FWIW Shogun's are great for towing but can't see how a 4 horse trailer is going to be under the weight with a more than 2 on board
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The empty weight of the trailer is less than 1500kg with a MAM of 3.5t so I definitely won't be towing any more than 3.5t. In fact, I've only got 3 horses anyway and two of those being ponies, so realistically the trailer will never weigh more than around 2800kg (plus water, hay etc) so should be well within the limit. And if I was to ever buy a fourth horse (and that means to pass the hurdle of other half agreeing, lol!), even then it's highly unlikely I'd ever tow them together, and even then only if safely within the 3.5t limit, obviously. :)

Tiddlypom said:
What will a huge trailer plus 4 up weigh? Can you get that in under 3.5t?
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Thank you - you're the first person I come across who owns a Rexton so good to hear!
fabbydo said:
I have a Korando (one step down from the Rexton) and it's been great. I used to have a Shogun many years ago and it was an excellent towing vehicle. So I would say either would be great but the Rexton is probably better value and probably comes with more as standard (plus 5 year warranty, free servicing etc).
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I double- and triple-checked that, and both the new Shogun LWB and Rexton W are good to tow 3.5t :)

rachk89 said:
I'm not fully sure either of them tow 3.5t. The only vehicles I can think of that do are a hilux or the classic landrover/range rover/defender perhaps but not a freelander. I could be way wrong though and maybe the newer ones do, as we were looking last year and at older models, so they possibly improved the towing capacity.
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Out of interest as you said you wouldn't have either - which car would you choose for this? :)

popsdosh said:
You are indeed very wrong Rexton and LWB shogun can tow 3.5 ton. The Hilux cant its about 2.7-2.9 model dependant you may be mixed up with land cruiser.
Nissan NP300 pick up and isuzu both have 3.5 ton towing as well.

For what its worth and I wouldnt have either, the Shoguns drivetrain is far superior to the Rexton and if about the same money thats the one I would suggest.
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Thank you, very interesting. Which year was yours (the Rexton)?

KittyH said:
I had a Rexton and it was absolutely gutless to tow 2 in a511. Not even good with 1 big horse when confronted with a hill! 4wd was also unreliable. I think we had a 'Friday afternoon' car as I know others who love them but I wouldn't touch another one. Now have a lwb Shogun and love it - feels like it has at least 1t more towing capacity.
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That sounds fun :) :) :)

Cecile said:
I loved my shogun but only towed trailer for 2 so can't comment on that, only sold it as a disabled family member was fairly immobile and even with the side step it was a problem for them and me so needed something more suitable, I would have another shogun

Not sure if Mitsubishi still run their owners club but that is a dream (or was), clay shooting, purpose built off road to have a go on (I've never felt almost vertical in a car, such an adrenaline rush) plus the VIP experience of Badminton with free passes, priority parking etc.... had so much fun going to some of the owners club events :)
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We have a newish shogun and it's an awesome vehicle to tow with, just don't know the trailers there. Having taken it to tour round Scotland last year it was good to drive and not so thirsty as expected.
 
KittyH said:
I had a Rexton and it was absolutely gutless to tow 2 in a511. Not even good with 1 big horse when confronted with a hill! 4wd was also unreliable. I think we had a 'Friday afternoon' car as I know others who love them but I wouldn't touch another one. Now have a lwb Shogun and love it - feels like it has at least 1t more towing capacity.
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Was that an older Rexton? I regularly tow two horses in my 511 and up and down very steep hills and my Rexton is effortless.
 
Driven both with a box (even did my test in a Rexton), liked them both but Shogun felt more powerful. Friend has a short base Shogun and towed a 16.1 and a 17.2 no problem. Only reason they got rid was it was ageing.
 
I bought a new shogun last Sept and love it, replaced a Land rover discovery 3 which was too unreliable! Tows just as good as the Disco (including the disco 4 as the in laws have one I have towed with). Easily tows 2 big horses(on and off road!) I also use it as an everyday car, yes it is a big vehicle but as said before has a great turning circle and if you have the model with rear camera/sensors you cant go wrong. It can do 30mpg on a long journey but about 24mpg around town and towing.
 
I love my Rexton its a 58 reg and had it 3 years. It spends most of its time towing 2 big horses in a bateson trailer and all we've done to it in that time is an exhaust. Its not too hideous on fuel and is fairly smart/ comfortable as an everyday car except the large turning circle which can make car parks interesting but that's the same for all 4x4. Tows effortlessly and has got me out of some very muddy fields eventing when other trailers were being tractored off! Only note of caution is that I thought some of the newer models had less tow capacity? I could be wrong but check carefully. I would definitely have another I hadn't seen one before we got ours just asked our garage to find us a commercial ( ours has no back seats) that could tow in excess of 3 tonnes and he came up with this.
 
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