Ugliness Is Skin Deep
by David Finlay (11 Jul 08)

After its introduction to the UK in 1995, SsangYong has all but fallen off the map in recent years, but thanks to a relaunch by new importer and distributor Koelliker (a subsidiary of a successful and long-established Italian company) we're likely to be hearing a lot more about this largely Chinese-owned but still Korea-based brand in the near future.

Which means it's time to take a look at SsangYong's most notorious model, the Rodius seven-seat MPV which is widely regarded as the most godawful-looking son of a bitch you can buy in this country. Designer Ken Greenley has defended the styling of the Rodius by saying that it makes sense in Korea, but to western eyes it seems a villainous piece of work.

"If it looks right, it is right." If the opposite of that old saying is also true, it must follow that the Rodius is absolutely awful, and until this week I'd fallen into the trap of assuming that it probably was. Now that my Rodius virginity is a thing of the past, though, I've realised two things: first, it looks a lot better if it's painted in a very dark colour; and second, it's actually pretty good.

One of the things Koelliker has done is to take an axe to the old pricing structure, with the result that the entry-level Rodius - the 270 S tested here - now costs just £14,995. For that relatively modest sum (there are more expensive Volkswagen Polos, for example) you get an enormous device which can hold seven people and quite a lot of luggage at the same time, or two people and a thoroughly staggering amount of luggage, and which is powered by a rather good 163bhp Mercedes-derived five-cylinder turbo diesel engine.

To put some figures on this, the Rodius has a load volume of 875 litres with all the seats in place, and 3043 litres with five of them folded. That means it's nearly as roomy as a Chrysler Grand Voyager, but it also costs £2740 less than the cheapest Kia Sedona.

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