Photo: SsangYong
The SsangYong Rodius is a very practical, very affordable, well-built and spacious large MPV from Korea. However, it has never and will never be a real success, simply because it looks ugly and disproportionate, from every angle.
Now, SsangYong have announced the inclusion of an all-new diesel powerplant under the bonnet of the Rodius, for the 2013 model-year. It is an in-house unit, displacing two liters, with an output of 155 hp and 360 Nm of torque, between 1,500 rpm and 2,800 rpm. It allows the big MPV to return 38.7 UK mpg, or 7.3 l/100km, on the combined cycle, making it adequately efficient.
It can be coupled to either a six-speed manual gearbox, or a five-speed Mercedes-Benz sourced autobox, and the power is transmitted to the front wheels. With the diesel engine, the Rodius costs just £15,995, in the UK, and the price rises to £21,995, for a top-spec model with leather, all-wheel drive, standard automatic gearbox, privacy glass, alloy wheels and a lot more.
If you buy this, people will know you place value for money and practicality at the top of your priorities list, and that the lack of style is not an issue - there is a car for everybody, and the Rodius has found and will keep finding buyers, simply because it is still a good, honest MPV.
Still, SsangYong can make a nice-looking vehicle, and their latest model, the compact Korando stands testament to that - it also features the same engine, but since it is lighter, both performance and efficiency are improved.
It can be coupled to either a six-speed manual gearbox, or a five-speed Mercedes-Benz sourced autobox, and the power is transmitted to the front wheels. With the diesel engine, the Rodius costs just £15,995, in the UK, and the price rises to £21,995, for a top-spec model with leather, all-wheel drive, standard automatic gearbox, privacy glass, alloy wheels and a lot more.
If you buy this, people will know you place value for money and practicality at the top of your priorities list, and that the lack of style is not an issue - there is a car for everybody, and the Rodius has found and will keep finding buyers, simply because it is still a good, honest MPV.
Still, SsangYong can make a nice-looking vehicle, and their latest model, the compact Korando stands testament to that - it also features the same engine, but since it is lighter, both performance and efficiency are improved.
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