- Doors and Seats
4 doors, 7 seats
- Engine
2.7DT, 5 cyl.
- Engine Power
121kW, 340Nm
- Fuel
Diesel 8.7L/100KM
- Manufacturer
RWD
- Transmission
Manual
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
SsangYong Stavic
After a spell away from the Australian market, SsangYong is back and pushing hard to carve out a stable future. Last year saw the brand relaunch with the Rexton 4WD, and the new product has continued with the arrival of the Chairman sedan, the Korean manufacturer's first attempt here at selling something other than a 4WD.
Now the Stavic people mover is expanding the boundaries. On paper, it mounts a credible case. It is big, has seating for seven and is powered by a Mercedes-designed five-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that drives the rear or (as an option) all wheels - something unique in this class. Pricing starts at a competitive $35,990 for the manual rear-drive.
Dig deeper, however, and value is less compelling. While standard equipment (climate control, CD, power windows, power-heated mirrors, alloy wheels and, on autos, cruise) is up to scratch, safety isn't, consisting of only twin airbags, ABS and rear parking sensors. You can option stability/traction control, as well as other trinkets, but side and curtain airbags are not available.
Then there's the looks. Generally we steer clear of what is, after all, a very personal thing, but the Stavic takes aesthetics well beyond the subjective.
There's a big, bulbous nose, while from the side and rear, where the strange double-decked windows dominate, it's decidedly odd. It certainly stands out, arguably too much so, especially for traditionally conservative Australian tastes.
Rear vision is marginal, while vision in the final row of seats is limited, with the controversial pillar leaving just two tiny windows to peer out of. It's spacious, but children may not enjoy the bunker-like feel.
In most respects, though, the Stavic handles the needs of families. The centre two seats are comfortable, if slightly narrow for large folk, and can slide, swivel backwards to face the back row or fold to make tables. With the final row occupied, boot space is acceptable, if not up to swallowing a full seven-person load.
Cabin space is ample but hardly remarkable in light of the mammoth exterior. The rear seats can't be folded flat or away into the floor as they can in other people movers.
The driver's seat is too high for taller people, something the limited adjustment doesn't solve. Throw in the plasticky ambience and average quality and you've got a workspace with more misses than hits.
With 342 Nm of torque at just 1800 rpm from the 2.7-litre turbo-diesel five-cylinder, the Stavic doesn't need to be whipped for respectable acceleration. It's no sprinter, nor as refined as petrol rivals in the heat of acceleration, but the welcome slug of low-rev pulling power could be handy if you plan to fill it to capacity or tow regularly. Hooked up to the optional five-speed automatic, the Stavic returns good economy, averaging about 10 L/100 km in combined urban/highway driving. In Mercedes fashion, the auto is a smooth operator and manual shift is easily accessed by flicking the gear lever left to right. Pity, then, the lever is so noisy.
Despite inheriting its platform from its Chairman sibling, the Stavic's road manners are unlikely to be mistaken for those of a car. Ride quality, which is mostly firm but acceptable around town, gets a bit busy on undulating or broken surfaces, pitching occupants noticeably. The ponderous feel, the woolly steering's slow reactions and - in the wet - the tail's propensity to break loose under pressure also make a busy job for drivers trying to wring out some back-road satisfaction.
In the end, the Stavic looks destined to sell on virtues other than outright talent. It's affordable, roomy, has a gutsy diesel engine and is the only available 4WD in the class, but you don't have to look far to find much more sophisticated, enjoyable and stylistically palatable MPVs.