Ssangyong Rodius 2016 - Review

SsangYong is entering the Philippine market and what better model for its debut than the Rodius. The Rodius is a portmanteau of “road” and “Zeus” which translates into “King of the road.”

The SsangYong Rodius is a large MPV that incorporates some SUV styling cues. It comfortably seats seven adults plus luggage. With one of the most flexible interiors on the market, the Rodius delivers a new level of luxury, comfort and convenience.
The exterior and interior are designed to stand out aesthetically and maximize functionality. SsangYong’s designers have gone to great lengths to create a distinctive and innovative look to this new MPV. The brief was to create a ‘sporting’ while at the same time ‘luxurious ’ tone to suit this MPV’s numerous roles.

Combining strength and fluidity, the front of the car has a robust look and feel due to its hexagonal shaped radiator grille and trapezoidal bumper. And yet, the overall design is not dominated by its large exterior volume.

This boldness is reflected in the interior, with the instruments mounted in a large, centrally mounted pod. The dashboard is well laid out and functional. Climate control and keyless entry are interesting features. Overall, the cabin is made to be robust. The overall practicality of the Rodius is unbeatable – especially for the remarkably spacious interior. The main attraction is the space – the Rodius is huge – over 5 meters in length. It’s a very spacious 7-seater, in a 2-2-3 layout and 9-seater in a 2-2-2-3 design. It offers all sorts of adjustments making the interior very flexible.

Removing the various chairs and benches isn’t an easy operation, requiring more than one pair of hands, but the result is a van-like carrying capacity of 3,043 liters. The cargo can accommodate all the possible luggage of the occupants plus more – with 875 liters of space.

The Rodius is powered by SsangYong’s own 2.0-liter turbo charged diesel engine, delivering a strong performance and NVH that has already been tested, proven and praised in the marketplace.

This new engine offers maximum power of 155 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 360 Nm of torque at 2,800 rpm. On the road, it has superior low-end torque perfect for any weather or road condition.

It’s easy to drive, thanks to the high set driving position, good visibility, and light controls. Given the size of the vehicle, the Rodius is actually easy to handle. Suspension is firm and the ride is quite smooth.

For safety, it has an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) that incorporates Hill Start Assist (HSA), and Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) along with dual airbags, and reverse parking sensors with a rear camera.

The Rodius MPV has been developed to combine multi-role flexibility and the drive comfort of a luxury saloon, within an all-new shape. With key features such as its innovative and flexible design layout, luxurious interior and competitive position in the market place, the new Rodius offers a dynamically strong and distinctive look. With the Rodius, SsangYong is sending a strong message to its competitors: that SsangYong is coming in strong and to get ready for them.