SsangYong Rodius 2.7 ES auto

Aug 16 2009 Patrick James

SSANGYONG, in Korean, means double dragon. I'm not sure what it refers to, but perhaps it is something to do with size and, in the case of the Rodius, they don't come much bigger.

This is a vehicle that seats seven, pretty much all of them in comfort, and has quite a road presence.

There aren't many SsangYongs on the roads, so they all come in for some inquisitive looks, but the sheer size of the Rodius and its odd shape means this vehicle gets more attention than most. It almost looks like two cars welded into one and in terms of looks is no oil painting.

However, it is great value for money, particularly for those on a budget looking for acres of seating and stowage space and good economy, which this vehicle delivers.

Buyers can draw their own conclusions about the looks but the interior offers plenty for a starting price a fiver short of £15,000; very cheap for a car of this type.

And it is not bad inside either with a mixture of good and not so good.

The not so good includes exposed screw heads in fittings and sharp edges to some of the plastics.

However, the good far outweighs the bad with a well laid out, roomy interior that has two seats at the front, two swivelling captain's chairs in the middle and a rear bench seat that seats three and can be folded and pushed forward to increase stowage space.

The car is well equipped with a neat and tidy binnacle and dashboard, sturdy switchgear and dials.

Although some of the plastics are sharp, they are sturdy and would seem more than capable of surviving anything a family of young children could throw at it.

As with most MPVs there are a host of side wallets, drinks holders and cubby holes for extra storage.

The Rodius is powered by an economical, if slightly raucous 2.7-litre turbo diesel engine. This delivers around 163bhp through a five-speed, automatic gearbox and delivers good acceleration, particularly when overtaking on the motorway.

Official economy figures suggest around 29mpg, but the fuel gauge seemed reluctant to move during a week of motoring and actual consumption seemed better than the official figure.

A decent engine and a reasonably smooth gearbox is let down by a poor ride. The Rodius is badly upset by rougher roads, it crashes over potholes and wallows on corners which can make life uncomfortable for occupants.

Careful driving should, however mitigate this and significantly improve economy.

The 270 S is equipped with ABS, remote keyless entry, speed-sensing door locks, climate control and Kenwood audio system.

The Rodius 270 ES tested gains reverse parking sensors, automatic headlights, electric folding mirrors, privacy glass, alloy wheels, ESP and leather upholstery for only £2,000 more. The Mercedes T-Tronic transmission costs an additional £1,500.

Topping the Rodius line-up is the 270 EX Auto with torque-on-demand all-wheel drive.

A decent car that is well equipped, offers a good warranty and seriously undercuts the opposition on price, it's well worth a look if you're counting the pennies.

FAST FACTS

SsangYong Rodius 2.7 ES auto

Price: £18,495

Mechanical: 163bhp, 2,696cc, 5cyl diesel engine driving rear wheels via 5-speed automatic gearbox.

Max speed: 108mph

0-62mph: 15 seconds ,

Combined mpg: 29.1

Insurance group: 12

CO2 emissions: 247g/km

BIK rating: 35%

Warranty: 5yrs/ 250,000 miles