What's the difference?
There’s a new name in the luxury upper-large SUV segment and it’s one many buyers will be unfamiliar with. Enter the Denza B8, a brand positioned to BYD much like Genesis is to Hyundai, or Lexus to Toyota.
The flagship B8 6S leans heavily into luxury, space and rugged, squared-off styling, but the big question is whether it does enough to stand out against established heavy hitters like the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, Land Rover Defender and Audi Q7.
And then there’s the bigger question - do we actually need an XL SUV with a plug-in hybrid powertrain? More to the point, who exactly is this pitched at?
KGM – formerly SsangYong – has revised its seven-seat Rexton range for 2026, with some minor changes throughout the Australian line-up and a name-change for the Adventure, which has now become the Advance.
The Advance is a seven-seat large SUV with high and low-range gearing, an auto-locking rear differential and 3.5 tonne towing capacity.
Is this a value-for-money rival for the likes of GWM Tank 500, Mahindra Scorpio and LDV D90, or could it be a viable (cheaper) alternative to the Isuzu MU-X, Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport or even Ford Everest?
The Denza B8 6S is a luxurious and well-equipped entry into the upper-large SUV segment, with space, comfort and technology that make it a serious contender. Even in six-seat form, it delivers strong family practicality and a level of kit that will appeal to buyers looking for something different in this space.
While the driving experience isn’t always fully convincing, particularly in terms of refinement and handling, its pricing and overall package do a lot of the heavy lifting.
On that basis, it’s a newcomer the established rivals will be wise to keep an eye on.
The KGM Rexton Advance is a large 4WD wagon packing an adequate amount of appeal.
It’s nice to drive on the open road, it’s comfortable and it signals continued incremental progress for KGM in terms of quality and functionality.
It’s fine for light off-roading but its 4WD efficacy is lacking. While it's not in the same class as something like the Ford Everest in terms of refinement, comfort, and general quality, ultimately, a lot of its rivals represent greater value for money and all-round driveability as family vehicles.
And even though it does offer owners a chance to take their urban-focussed SUV into the bush, its price is climbing, and other rival vehicles offer a more refined overall driving experience.