| SsangYong Rodius | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | SsangYong Motor Company |
| Model code | A100 |
| Production | 2004–2019 |
| Assembly | South Korea:Pyeongtaek,Gyeonggi Province |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Minivan |
| Body style | 5-door MPV |
| Layout | Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive Front-engine, four-wheel-drive |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | SsangYong Istana |
TheSsangYong Rodius (Korean: 쌍용 로디우스, sold in Australia, Chile, New Zealand, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Morocco, Singapore and South Africa as theStavic) is an automobile released in late 2004 by the South KoreanautomakerSsangYong Motor Company. Rodius is an inaccurate portmanteau of the words road andZeus, which is intended to mean "Lord of the Road."[1]Considered amulti-purpose vehicle (MPV), it is available in 7, 9 and 11 seat configurations (3 or 4 rows), a 5-seater version is also available in Hong Kong.[2] The seats can be folded to act as tables or folded further (double folded) to add extra cargo area. They can be turned around, encouraging conversation and can be slid forward and backward.[3]
| First generation | |
|---|---|
 First generation Rodius (pre-facelift) | |
| Overview | |
| Also called | Micro Stavic (Sri Lanka)[4] SsangYong Stavic (Southeast Asia) SsangYong Rodius Euro (2012) Daewoo Rodius |
| Production | 2004–2012 |
| Designer | Ken Greenley |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 3.2 LM104I6 (petrol) 2.7 LOM612I5 (turbodiesel) 2.0 Le-XDi 200I4 (turbodiesel) |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual 5-speed automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 3,000 mm (118.1 in) |
| Length | 5,125 mm (201.8 in) |
| Width | 1,915 mm (75.4 in) |
| Height | 1,821 mm (71.7 in) |
| Curb weight | 2,300 kg (5,100 lb) |
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The engines are theMercedes-Benz licensed 3.2 L 6-cylindergasoline engine (162 kW (217 hp) & 309 N⋅m (228 lb⋅ft)) and the 2.7 L 5-cylindercommon raildiesel engine (121 kW (162 hp) & 342 N⋅m (252 lb⋅ft)). The diesel engine was criticised as 'old-school' and 'dated',[5] but praised for 'solid Mercedes underpinnings'.
The car was designed by Ken Greenley,[6] former head of the automotive design course at theRoyal College of Art in London. The design goal was to capture the essence of a luxury yacht.[7][8]
In August 2008, the Rodius received a facelift which reduced criticism concerning its appearance, however the styling was still widely panned.[9][10] Afterwards, because of poor popularity, the Rodius was discontinued in Europe without a direct successor on December 31, 2011. However, on July 2, 2012, the Rodius returned with the new nameRodius Euro which comes with the e-XDi200 diesel engine that produces 155PS of power,[11] available with either a 6-speed MT or a5G-Tronic automatic unit sourced from Mercedes-Benz.[12] The manual transmission was often criticised by reviewers for a poor gearchange.[13]
The car was criticised on release by many reviewers for poor build quality,[14] handling,[15] refinement, emissions, performance,[16] safety,[17] ride,[5] and interior finish,[18] but praised for its space, practicality, value for money,[19] low price, number of seats, after-sales service,[16] the availability of four-wheel-drive, Mercedes-Benz mechanicals, and generous warranty terms.[20][21] Many were used as airport taxis due to the generous warranty and large space available, enabling the car to transport entire families while carrying luggage. In 2015 the first generation Rodius became one of the most popular vehicles on theBanger racing circuit due to its high centre of gravity and high strength in a collision, eventually leading to a ban from the sport in 2017, the second vehicle to be banned from Banger racing after theChrysler Imperial in 2016.[22]
In themass media, the vehicle received some negative reviews of its aesthetics, with many describing it as the 'ugliest car ever'.[23][24][25][26][27][28] The styling was described by contemporary reviewers and pundits as 'awkward-looking',[16] 'curious',[20] 'pot-bellied', 'abysmal', 'distinctive',[29] 'challenging',[10] 'hideous', 'controversial', 'oddball',[18] 'outrageous',[30] 'strange', 'weird',[31] 'unusual',[32] 'gopping', and an 'ocular insult'[33] with a 'gormless face',[34] 'barn-door' rear-end, 'shopping-trolley wheels', and 'grotesquely oversized front features'.[14]
The styling was also notably condemned byTop Gear regarding the appearance of the standard wheel trims and 'gloopy front', saying that 'the whole rulebook on what is ugly has been rewritten'.[35][36][37][38] As a follow-up, the car won the 2009 'WTF' award fromTop Gear Magazine, which said that it 'looks like it got bottled in a pub brawl and stitched back together by a blind man'.[39][40]Jeremy Clarkson described the car as an "unholy merger" of a coupe and a removal van, with 'wheels... the size ofSmarties',[41] whileRichard Hammond criticised it as 'rather ugly'.[19]
Due to its appearance, the car was quickly dubbed the 'Odious Rodius' by automotive journalists, some of which described the car as a 'surprised hippopotamus' that was 'so ugly it could frighten small children'.[42] The car was voted by readers of theDaily Telegraph as the ugliest car on the road, taking 29% of the vote, commenting that 'even its own mother would call it ugly'.[43][42] In Australia, the car was described by theSydney Morning Herald as looking like 'a collapsing bus shelter', and byWheels as 'having a face like a burnt thong'.[30]
In response to this criticism, SsangYong denied that the car was ugly, and replied that the vehicle 'comes with a strong emotional component that will make it the focus of attention wherever it goes'.[14][42]
In 2017, the British motoring television seriesTop Gear attempted to realise Greenley's design aspirations by combining a pre-facelift Rodius with a boat chassis to create a luxury yacht, which they named the SsangYacht. It was tested inMonaco harbour and reviewed by presenterEddie Jordan forBoat International.[44][45]
| Second generation | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Also called | SsangYong Turismo (United Kingdom) SsangYong Korando Turismo (South Korea) SsangYong Stavic (Southeast Asia) SsangYong Stavic Rodius (Algeria) |
| Production | 2012–2019 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2.0 Le-XDi 200 (155 Hp)I4 (turbodiesel)[46] 2.2 Le-XDI 220 (178 Hp)I4 (turbodiesel)[47] |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual 5-speedNAG 5G-Tronic automatic 7-speedNAG 7G-Tronic automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 3,000 mm (118.1 in) |
| Length | 5,130 mm (202.0 in) |
| Width | 1,915 mm (75.4 in) |
| Height | 1,850 mm (72.8 in) |
| Curb weight | 2,411 kg (5,315 lb) |
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The second generation Rodius, called theKorando Turismo (Korean: 코란도 투리스모) in South Korea, was revealed on February 5, 2013 and was first shown at the2013 Geneva Motor Show with sales commencing soon after. The new model comes in nine-, ten- or eleven-seat configurations (in addition to the standard 5 and 7 seat variants) and offers up to 3,240 liters of cargo volume. Powering the new Rodius/Korando Turismo is a 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine connected to either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 5-speed Mercedes-Benz-sourced automatic transmission.[48] The current 2016+ Turismo offers an updated 7-speed Mercedes-Benz e-Tronic gearbox with the same 6-speed manual available. The 2016+ Turismo also complies with Euro VI emissions standards.[49] The car is based on the same platform as its predecessor.[50]
This generation of the car is badged as theTurismo in the United Kingdom due to the particularly negative reception of the previous model in the UK regarding its styling.[50]
In March 2014, the second generation Stavic was awarded “2014 Car of the Year – Best MPV Design” byGrand Prix, the most famous automotive magazine in Thailand, at the 35th Bangkok International Motor Show 2014.[51] The styling was praised as a significant improvement on its predecessor.[30][50][52][53]
In July 2018, the final facelifted version was launched with smaller headlights, a new front grille, a new front bumper, a resigned bonnet, a redesigned front fenders, a new steering wheel and new infotainment unit.[54][55]
In 2019, Ssangyong discontinued the Rodius/Stavic without any successor planned citing poor sales and implementation of theEuro 6D-Temp standards as both the 2.0L e-XDI 200 I4 and 2.2L e-XDI 220 I4 diesel engines offered on the Rodius are unable to be modified further to comply with the new emission regulations. The discontinuation of the Ssangyong Rodius/Stavic will allow Ssangyong to now put its focus on crossovers, SUVs, and pickup trucks.[56]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)'The whole of the rulebook on what is ugly has been rewritten by a company called SsangYong with this'... 'Look at the tyres, the wheels are only 9 inches big'... 'Look at this big gloopy front, I might be sick'
'...the Ugliest Car of the Year! And the nominations are... The SsangYong Rodius'
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)'Ssangyacht'
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