The SsangYong Istana is a minivan and minibus based on the Mercedes-Benz MB100 ‘Bus’ variant, offered in 2, 9, 12 and 15-seat configurations and with most of the options of the German original. The name Istana is the Malay word for palace or castle, the title of the presidential residences in both Singapore and Indonesia.
SsangYong Istana at a glance
| Maker | SsangYong Motor, South Korea |
|---|---|
| Basis | Mercedes-Benz MB100 Bus variant |
| Body | minivan and minibus |
| Seats | 2, 9, 12 and 15 |
| Equipment | most of the Mercedes-Benz MB100 options |
| Name | Malay for palace or castle |
| Use | family transport, shuttle and police vehicles |
Based on one short source, the English Wikipedia article on the SsangYong Istana.
History of the SsangYong Istana
A licensed Mercedes van
The Istana was SsangYong’s version of the Mercedes-Benz MB100, a van developed in the 1980s and built in several countries under licence. SsangYong took the ‘Bus’ variant as the basis and offered the vehicle with most of the MB100’s options, which made it usable both as a family minivan and as a small bus for shuttle work.
Seating and markets
Depending on the body, the Istana was sold with 2, 9, 12 or 15 seats. That spread covered private buyers who wanted a large people carrier as well as operators who needed a compact minibus. The van found buyers in Asia and was also used by police and tourist services, and examples survive in Cambodia and elsewhere in the region.
The name
SsangYong chose a Malay word for the model: istana means palace or castle, and it is the name of the presidential residences in Singapore and Indonesia. It sat alongside the company’s car-derived models as its main van offering of the period.
Design and features
- Mercedes-Benz basis: the body, drivetrain and options came from the MB100, a proven light commercial van.
- Wide seating range: from a two-seat load carrier to a 15-seat minibus.
- Dual role: equally suited to family transport and to shuttle or police work.
SsangYong Istana versions
- Istana 2-seat: van for carrying goods or equipment.
- Istana 9-seat: minivan for larger families.
- Istana 12-seat: intermediate minibus.
- Istana 15-seat: the largest minibus version.
The Istana was SsangYong’s van alongside the passenger cars; see also the Musso and the rest of the SsangYong collection.
Video: SsangYong Istana 15-seat minibus
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- SsangYong Istana, English Wikipedia: basis, seating, name
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