The SsangYong Rodius, sold in Australia, New Zealand, South America, South-East Asia and Africa as the Stavic, was a large multi-purpose vehicle released in late 2004. Its name is a portmanteau of ‘road’ and ‘Zeus’, intended to mean ‘Lord of the Road’, and the car was offered in seven-, nine- and eleven-seat layouts.
SsangYong Rodius at a glance
| Maker | SsangYong Motor, South Korea |
|---|---|
| Production | 2004–2019 |
| Other names | Stavic; Korando Turismo in Korea; Turismo in Britain |
| Body | five-door MPV |
| Seats | 5, 7, 9, 10 or 11 depending on market |
| Petrol engine | 3.2-litre six, 162 kW (217 hp), 309 N·m |
| Diesel engines | 2.7 common-rail (162 hp); 2.0 e-XDi (155 PS) |
| Cargo volume | up to 3,240 litres in the second generation |
| Designer | Ken Greenley |
| Award | Best MPV Design, Grand Prix Thailand, 2014 |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the SsangYong Rodius. The record catalogued as ‘Ssangyong stavic’ is the export version of the same car.
History of the SsangYong Rodius
A yacht on wheels
The first-generation Rodius went on sale in late 2004. It was designed by Ken Greenley, former head of the automotive design course at the Royal College of Art, and the brief was to capture the essence of a luxury yacht. It was powered by a Mercedes-Benz licensed 3.2-litre six-cylinder petrol engine of 162 kW (217 hp) and 309 N·m, or a 2.7-litre five-cylinder common-rail diesel of 121 kW (162 hp) and 342 N·m. The seats could fold into tables, double-fold for cargo, turn to face each other and slide forwards and backwards.
The styling problem
Reviewers attacked the car’s appearance in unusually direct terms, calling it ‘awkward-looking’, ‘pot-bellied’ and even ‘the ugliest car ever’. Top Gear magazine gave it its 2009 ‘WTF’ award, Jeremy Clarkson described it as an ‘unholy merger’ of a coupe and a removal van, and readers of the Daily Telegraph voted it the ugliest car on the road with 29 per cent of the vote. Motoring writers nicknamed it the ‘Odious Rodius’. SsangYong denied that the car was ugly and said it came with a strong emotional component that made it the focus of attention wherever it went. In 2017 Top Gear built a ‘SsangYacht’ by combining a pre-facelift Rodius with a boat chassis.
Sales career
A facelift in August 2008 softened some of the criticism, but poor popularity led to the Rodius being withdrawn from Europe on 31 December 2011 without a direct successor. It returned on 2 July 2012 as the Rodius Euro with a 155 PS e-XDi200 diesel and a six-speed manual or Mercedes-Benz 5G-Tronic automatic. Reviewers criticised build quality, handling, refinement, performance and interior finish, but praised its space, practicality, value, seat count, four-wheel-drive availability, Mercedes-Benz mechanicals and warranty; many became airport taxis. In 2015 the first-generation car became popular in banger racing thanks to its high centre of gravity and strength, and in 2017 it was banned from the sport.
Second generation
The second-generation Rodius, called Korando Turismo in Korea, was revealed on 5 February 2013 and shown at the Geneva Motor Show that year. It came in nine-, ten- and eleven-seat configurations in addition to the five- and seven-seat variants and offered up to 3,240 litres of cargo volume. Power came from a 2.0-litre turbo diesel with a six-speed manual or a five-speed Mercedes-Benz automatic; from 2016 the Turismo used a seven-speed Mercedes-Benz e-Tronic and met Euro VI. The car kept the platform of its predecessor and was badged Turismo in Britain because of the earlier model’s reception there. In March 2014 the Stavic was named Best MPV Design in the 2014 Car of the Year awards of Grand Prix magazine at the Bangkok International Motor Show.
Design and features
- Up to eleven seats: the Rodius could be configured with three or four rows, and its seats folded, swivelled and slid.
- Mercedes-Benz engines: a licensed 3.2 straight six and 2.7 five-cylinder diesel in the first generation.
- Yacht-inspired design: Ken Greenley’s brief was to capture the essence of a luxury yacht.
- Space and value: reviewers disliked the car but praised its room, price and warranty.
- Stavic name: sold as the Stavic in Australia, New Zealand, South America, South-East Asia and Africa.
SsangYong Rodius versions
- Rodius first generation (2004–2013): 3.2 petrol and 2.7 diesel, facelifted in 2008.
- Stavic: export name used in Australia, New Zealand and other markets.
- Rodius Euro (2012): e-XDi200 diesel with six-speed manual or 5G-Tronic automatic.
- Korando Turismo (2013–2019): second generation for Korea.
- Turismo: the British name for the second generation.
- SsangYacht: the 2017 Top Gear one-off built on a Rodius body.
The Rodius was the largest people carrier in a range that included the Rexton and Kyron. More models are in the SsangYong collection.
Video: SsangYong Rodius review
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- SsangYong Rodius, English Wikipedia: history, engines, styling criticism, second generation
