SsangYong Rodius Review
Published: 25th September 2005
SsangYong Rodius
Ease of Use
Overall the Rodius is an easy vehicle to live with and all the controls are ergonomically laid out and easy to operate.
The SsangYong Rodius is very easy to drive when coupled to the automatic gearbox which leaves both hands free to steer the vehicle. It is a large MPV and does require you to concentrate on its large dimensions when driving for the first time. You do have to consider the Rodius' height when parking in underground car parks and height restricted areas but you do get used to it and thoughtfully it is equipped with parking sensors as standard.
The wide opening doors make the Rodius an easy vehicle to enter and exit making it an excellent choice for people with mobility problems. Side visibility was excellent all round but rear vision was poor.
The Rodius is a practical people carrier and which does its job extremely well. It can carry seven people in relative luxury and cleverly the seats are arranged in a two, two, three configuration leaving a useful gangway through the centre for entering and exiting the vehicle.
All the seats are forward facing, the 2nd row seats can be twisted
to face rearwards, they can also be folded to serve as tables and
folded totally flat for relaxation. The 3rd row seats can be flattened
or folded to increase luggage space or completely removed for maximum
storage. However, as with most MPV's the rear seats are heavy to
lift out of the vehicle and it is not something you would want to
do on a regular basis. The 1st and 2nd row seats feature integral
armrests that fold away when not required.
Both the 2nd and 3rd row seats can be folded for maximum 'stretch
out' comfort.
The Rodius is equipped with a foot operated parking brake which worked well freeing up valuable space but unfortunately the release mechanism was was not illuminated at night making it fiddly to operate - an inexpensive LED would solve this problem.
Like Mercedes-Benz vehicles the Rodius is equipped with speed sensing door locks which automatically lock at 31 mph - as this is a family orientated vehicle we would like the speed set a little lower maybe 10-15 mph.
As with any MPV practicality and storage is paramount and the Rodius features a centre storage console, seatback pockets, 2 x pop-out cupholders in the centre console, 2 x cup holders in the front doors, 2nd row seats cupholders in aircraft-style tables on the rear of front seats, 3rd row seats 2 x cup holders on either side of the seats, 12V DC power outlets x 2, front door bins, roof rails and illuminated glove box.
