First-gen Ssangyong Rodius: Early 2000s funk 

In the global car market, there’s no doubt that MPVs have moved out of just focusing on practicality. Style-wise, they have gained an equal footing on their larger SUV cousins, and some have become as stylish as some sedans and crossovers. 

Behold, the first-gen Rodius. Do you agree with what the media says about this MPV?

Back in the early 2000s however, most MPVs sure had some birthing pains design-wise. One clear example of this was SsangYong Rodius. Sure, it looks decent now, but the one sold locally from 2004 to 2012 can be described as...funky.  

SsangYong Rodius: The eye of the beholder 

Despite bearing the name which was meant to mean the “Lord of the Road”, its design didn’t really reflect that. As the UK-based Sunday Time Driving magazine has put it, it was awkward. Top Gear UK even gave it the 2009 “WTF” award. Another publication said it looked like a “surprised hippopotamus.” 

The strange proportions are more apparent from this angle

While harsh, we could see why the mass media at the time was particularly keen on the first-generation Rodius. The huge headlamps didn’t exactly pair well with the rather stout hood and tiny tapered grille. The rear of the car also looks ungainly with its massive window which was accented by an eye-catching d-pillar leaning at an acute angle. In an article about SsangYong’s old vehicle designs, we ourselves even called its proportions “cartoonish.” 

Of note, the designer intended for it to look like a luxury Yacht. But many of you might agree that it’s like a hodge podge to two or three different car types put together. As Jeremy Clarkson had put it, it was somewhat the result of the unholy combination of a coupe and a commercial van. And yes, the new Rodius that’s currently sold by the Korean marque right now is a very far cry from the older version in question. 

SsangYong Rodius: Features and mechanical bits 

For the Philippine version, the Rodius actually had an ample amount of space for up to 11 people. Mind you though, the aforementioned version was cramped especially when filled to capacity. The nine-seater version however, provided more elbow room.  

It also came with nice features like a tilt and telescopic steering column, automatic headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, a power-adjustable front driver’s seat, among others.  

Some versions even had wood trim pieces

Then again, it was a bit spartan on the safety side of things. Considering that it came in a nine- or 11-seater configuration, it only had two airbags. It did, however, get anti-lock braking with electronic brake-force distribution. 

As for what’s under the hood, the first-gen Rodius, like many Ssangyong models at the time, came with a Mercedes-Benz engine. Specifically, it uses a 2.9-liter turbodiesel inline-5 engine that’s capable of making up to 162 horsepower and 340 Nm of torque.  

For transmissions, both the 9-seater and 11-seater versions used a five-speed automatic gearbox. A five-speed manual tranny was then added for the 11-seater version that was sold from 2009 to 2012.  

Going back to its powerplant, one might think that it made a decent amount of power. But do consider that the first-generation Rodius did have a hefty curb weight of 2,240kg. This meant that it was far heavier than its Toyota Previa rival, which had a curb weight of 1,650kg. Even the Chrysler Town and Country it also went against was lighter at 1,983kg. 

At least it looks marginally better in black

To this end, the 2004 to 2012 Rodius was described as slow. The five-speed automatic version even had a 0-100 km/h of 15 seconds. And according to sources, the top-heavy SsangYong exhibited a lot of body roll. That quality was then combined with the heavy curb weight, large dimensions, and a sloshy suspension thus resulting in a drive that’s far from fun.  

Do consider however that the Rodius did have a towing capacity of up to 2,500kg. With the seats folded down, it could also provide up to 3,043 liters of cargo space. On that note, we think the 2004 to 2012 Rodius could’ve done better if it was marketed and geared as a commercial vehicle, right? 

The new second-gen SsangYong Rodius looks far better than its predecessor

SsangYong Rodius: You want one? 

If for some reason you’ve fallen in love with this thing, then you can check our car for sale section. Be aware though that finding a surviving first-gen Rodius in decent shape might be hard nowadays.  Also, note that space parts for the Merc engine might be hard to find too. And yes, it is also possible that the said parts might also carry a premium considering its make.