SsangYong RodiusThe credit crunch has hit almost everyone hard, and motor manufacturers are in the impossible position of not being able to cancel the launch of a new car which has already taken years of preparation. So for the likes of SsangYong, a Korean manufacturer relatively new to the UK, their timing could not have been worse. They offer price-busting family cars that under normal circumstances would have been perfect for the stringent British purse holder, and in doing so have effectively taken over the bottom end of the market. Unfortunately for them the bottom end of the market has fallen over too. Not to be deterred, they are making a jolly good job of producing practical, comfortable and affordable MPVs. Take the Rodius for example that was my test car last week. A full blown MPV seven seater with either manual or automatic gearbox, a Mercedes Benz five speed T-Tronic one at that. Powering the Rodius into action is a 2.7-litre turbodiesel engine whose advanced fuel injection system boosts both power and efficiency. Three trims are on offer and the entry level S costs just under 15K yet comes with height adjustable leather steering wheel complete with audio remote controls for the CD/radio, height adjustable drivers seat, electric windows, two power outlets plus air conditioning with rear vents to keep the children cool, calm and collected.The Rodius shares all the same safety features as its slightly more expensive siblings bar ESP. So it comes with ABS with EBD, front and rear fog lights, dual front airbags and speed sensing door locks. My 270 EX test car also boasted cruise control, reverse parking sensors, privacy glass, 16-inch alloy wheels, roof rails and electric folding door mirrors. All for a couple of extra grand.So what’s the catch I hear you ask? Well in total fairness, the Rodius will not win any beauty contests. It’s a very large vehicle in all respects: height, width and, especially, length. Never was I so grateful for parking sensors on a car. Having said that, in order to accommodate seven seats without compromising on luggage space, any vehicle does have to be long. What is the point of having a seven seater for the family holiday with nowhere to put the luggage? At least with the Rodius you still have a whopping 875 litres of space when all seats are in place.SsangYong have really tried to make this car look attractive and in profile it kind of works. The sweeping glass windows, body coloured door handles, protective strips and flared wheel arches do look stylish. It’s the add-on to the rear that initially causes the shock. Yet bizarrely it soon grew on me. The rear glass windows wrap round to the sides and slant upwards, but they do break the mould and also aid manoeuvring, especially when reversing. Looks are not everything and as the SsangYong slogan goes: “It works for me”. The seating configuration sees two pilot seats in the second row with a walk through to the three seats in the third row. The second row seats swivel round to face the third row, fully recline, fold flat for extra large loads or double down into picnic tables. The third row seats also fold flat or can turn into a flat bed. I had to bring my trusty critics to inspect this car, the children. They absolutely loved this car, and loved the ease with which the seats could be moved around. The Rodius even has bag carriers by the drinks holder so their backpacks simply hooked onto those. Driving the Rodius did take a while to get used to, as it’s a large and heavy car that needed to be nurtured up to speed. Once there however, the Rodius really held its own and in some cases I found myself exceeding the speed limit by a considerably amount. That was all I needed. To be caught speeding in an MPV! Yet this car has not been designed to be chucked around like a rag doll. It has been designed to ferry the children all over the place, partake in the family holidays, go to the dump, buy the washing machine or take the bikes out for a ride.You may find you use the bikes more often for fuel consumption is not that healthy, coming in at 28.8 mpg on the combined cycle. That’s the downside of having a large engine, yet it is needed to get this large car going.Jackie VioletFebruary 2009
SsangYong Rodius
The credit crunch has hit almost everyone hard, and
motor manufacturers are in the impossible position of
not being able to cancel the launch of a new car which
has already taken years of preparation. So for the likes
of SsangYong, a Korean manufacturer relatively new to
the UK, their timing could not have been worse. They
offer price-busting family cars that under normal
circumstances would have been perfect for the stringent
British purse holder, and in doing so have effectively
taken over the bottom end of the market. Unfortunately
for them the bottom end of the market has fallen over
too.
Not to be deterred, they
are making a jolly good
job of producing practical,
comfortable and
affordable MPVs. Take the
Rodius for example that
was my test car last week.
A full blown MPV seven
seater with either manual
or automatic gearbox, a
Mercedes Benz five
speed T-Tronic one at
that. Powering the Rodius
into action is a 2.7-litre
turbodiesel engine whose
advanced fuel injection
system boosts both power
and efficiency. Three trims
are on offer and the entry level S costs just under 15K
yet comes with height adjustable leather steering wheel
complete with audio remote controls for the CD/radio,
height adjustable drivers seat, electric windows, two
power outlets plus air conditioning with rear vents to
keep the children cool, calm and collected.
The Rodius shares all the same safety features as its
slightly more expensive siblings bar ESP. So it comes
with ABS with EBD, front and rear fog lights, dual front
airbags and speed sensing door locks. My 270 EX test
car also boasted cruise control, reverse parking sensors,
privacy glass, 16-inch alloy wheels, roof rails and electric
folding door mirrors. All for a couple of extra grand.
So what’s the catch I hear you ask? Well in total
fairness, the Rodius will not win any beauty contests. It’s
a very large vehicle in all respects: height, width and,
especially, length. Never was I so grateful for parking
sensors on a car. Having said that, in order to
accommodate seven seats without compromising on
luggage space, any vehicle does have to be long. What
is the point of having a seven seater for the family
holiday with nowhere to put the luggage? At least with
the Rodius you still have a whopping 875 litres of space
when all seats are in place.
SsangYong have really tried to make this car look
attractive and in profile it kind of works. The sweeping
glass windows, body coloured door handles, protective
strips and flared wheel arches do look stylish. It’s the
add-on to the rear that initially causes the shock. Yet
bizarrely it soon grew on me. The rear glass windows
wrap round to the sides and slant upwards, but they do
break the mould and also aid manoeuvring, especially
when reversing.
Looks are not everything and as the SsangYong slogan
goes: “It works for me”. The seating configuration sees
two pilot seats in the second row with a walk through to
the three seats in the third row. The second row seats
swivel round to face the third row, fully recline, fold flat
for extra large loads or double down into picnic tables.
The third row seats also fold flat or can turn into a flat
bed. I had to bring my trusty critics to inspect this car, the
children. They absolutely loved this car, and loved the
ease with which the
seats could be moved
around. The Rodius
even has bag carriers
by the drinks holder so
their backpacks simply
hooked onto those.
Driving the Rodius did
take a while to get used
to, as it’s a large and
heavy car that needed
to be nurtured up to
speed. Once there
however, the Rodius
really held its own and
in some cases I found
myself exceeding the
speed limit by a
considerably amount.
That was all I needed. To be caught speeding in an MPV!
Yet this car has not been designed to be chucked around
like a rag doll. It has been designed to ferry the children
all over the place, partake in the family holidays, go to
the dump, buy the washing machine or take the bikes out
for a ride.
You may find you use the bikes more often for fuel
consumption is not that healthy, coming in at 28.8 mpg
on the combined cycle. That’s the downside of having a
large engine, yet it is needed to get this large car going.
Jackie Violet
February 2009
l
l
l
l
Home
New Models
Industry
Green News
Odds n’Ends
