SsangYong Stavic

SsangYong Stavic at a glance

SsangYong launched the Rodius in late 2004 as the successor to its Istana van. The name was meant to combine "road" and "Zeus". The first generation was styled by Ken Greenley, a former head of automotive design at the Royal College of Art in London. He said he wanted to capture the feeling of a luxury yacht. The result was one of the most debated shapes of its decade: readers of the Daily Telegraph voted it the ugliest car on the road.

The second generation was revealed on 5 February 2013 and shown at the Geneva Motor Show that March. It kept the chassis, the long 3,000 mm wheelbase and the high roof, but received a new nose, bi-xenon headlamps and a tidier tail. Names varied by country: Korando Turismo in Korea, Turismo in the UK, Stavic in Southeast Asia and Australia, Stavic Rodius in Algeria.

Other SsangYong models of the period are the Rexton, the Kyron and the Actyon; the company story is in the history of SsangYong.

Diesel engines, gearboxes and four-wheel drive

The 2013 Stavic uses SsangYong's own 2.0-litre e-XDi turbodiesel with 114 kW (155 PS) at 3,400 rpm and 360 Nm (266 lb-ft) from 1,800 rpm. It came with a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic made by Mercedes-Benz. From 2016 the 2.2-litre e-XDi220 met the Euro 6 standard with 131 kW (178 PS) and was paired with a seven-speed Mercedes automatic, while the six-speed manual stayed available.

The first generation offered a Mercedes-licensed 3.2-litre six-cylinder petrol engine with 162 kW (217 hp) and 309 Nm, and a 2.7-litre five-cylinder common-rail diesel with 121 kW (162 hp) and 342 Nm.

Rear-wheel drive is standard. The 4WD versions use a selectable system, so the Stavic can tow and cope with wet fields and gravel tracks, but its long body and overhangs limit it off-road.

With 2,179 kg of kerb weight and 114 kW, the car carries about 19 kg per kW, a figure you can check against any other car in the power-to-weight calculator. That explains the leisurely acceleration: a typical family estate of the time had about 13–15 kg per kW. The 80-litre tank gives a range of nearly 1,000 km at the official consumption.

Size, seats and load space

At 5.13 metres, the Stavic is longer than most large MPVs and close to a long-wheelbase van. Seating plans include 7, 9 and 11 seats in three or four rows; Hong Kong even had a five-seater. The seats slide on rails, and the rear rows fold or can be removed. In a UK seven-seater the load space ranges from 875 to 1,975 litres, and the maximum figure with the rear seating out of the way is 3,240 litres.

The cabin is plain rather than plush. The driver's seat has more adjustment than the others, and the steering wheel adjusts for height only. Two-zone air conditioning, many cup holders and storage trays were standard on mid trims; the second row is comfortable for two adults, the third row less so.

Chassis and safety ratings

The second generation kept the Mercedes-derived running gear of the first, with double wishbones at the front, a multi-link rear axle and coil springs. The 2013 car has ventilated disc brakes at all four wheels. Stability control with rollover mitigation, ABS with brake-force distribution and brake assist were standard in most markets, as were front airbags and ISOFIX mounts.

ANCAP tested the 2013 Stavic. It scored 9.06 out of 16 in the frontal offset test and 15.49 out of 16 in the side impact. It received 0 of 3 points for seat-belt reminders and a Poor rating for pedestrian protection. Euro NCAP did not test the second generation.

Trims and equipment

Equipment depended on the market. The entry versions had air conditioning, heated front seats, front airbags, electric windows and mirrors, ABS and an audio system. Mid trims added stability control, roof rails and 16- or 17-inch alloy wheels. Higher versions, called Elegance or ELX in some countries, brought climate control, parking sensors, a rain sensor, a leather steering wheel with audio buttons and the automatic gearbox. The top trims had four-wheel drive, leather upholstery, an electric driver's seat and a sunroof.

Reliability and what to check

Reviewers praised the space, value and long warranty but criticised build quality, handling, ride and safety. Many Rodius and Stavic vans worked as airport taxis and minibuses, so high mileages are common. When buying, check:

1. The service history of the diesel, including the injectors and the turbocharger.
2. The automatic: the Mercedes five- and seven-speed units are durable but need fluid changes.
3. The 4WD transfer case and front axle engagement on 4WD cars.
4. All seat rails and fixings, especially on taxis.
5. Rust on the underbody and the tailgate.

Rivals: how the Stavic compares

Compare the dimensions with any rival in the 1cars comparison tool.