Ssangyong seems to enjoy courting controversy, especially when it comes to car design. When the Korean firm launched the first-generation Stavic nearly a decade ago, there were all kinds of remarks about the way this large MPV looked.
Fast forward to 2013 and the wraps came off the second-gen model that ditched practically every debatable design detail. The end result? Another controversy, to put it bluntly.
While being given a test run for this report, the new Stavic certainly attracted a lot of attention, but we couldn't be sure exactly what those spectators were thinking.
The chunky front lights and angular C-pillar themes, in particular, are styled like nothing else. So, once again, you may have to be your own judge as to whether the Stavic is a bull or a bear.
Although this is a redesign, the Stavic's interior appearance hasn't changed that much. The basic fascia architecture is the same as before, but it's the fine details that distinguish it from its predecessor.
There are restyled buttons on the console and a new digital display behind the steering wheel which relates vehicle and road information. And, just like before, there's a set of conventional dials located centrally on top of the dashboard. It's quite a peculiar set-up because it's not logical from an ergonomic point of view.
Ssangyong has introduced some new plastics to lift the cabin ambience, as well as a wood-like floor to make it feel like you're sitting in a yacht which, of course, you aren't.
The seating arrangements are just like before. There are four rows of seats to accommodate a total of 11 people, but the vehicle feels cramped when filled to its maximum capacity. Nor are all the seats the same size. The outer occupants in the second row get bigger seats than the others, while the centre seats in all tiers are like those foldable perches you find on tour buses. And anyone relegated to the latter seats will also have to make do without a head support and three-point seatbelt.
You have to do a lot of moving around in the interior to get the full benefit of the vast cabin space. The seats can fold, slide or even be removed altogether in order to increase the size of the cargo area.
It's too bad that Ssangyong didn't think it necessary to equip the Stavic with sliding doors, a very practical feature for MPVs, especially when the driver is forced to use a tight parking space, and one that is found in virtually every other rival on the Thai market.
According to some people at Ssangyong, the designers wanted to give the Stavic a car-like appeal and were anxious to avoid the "commercial" feel of, say, the Hyundai H1 or the Toyota Alphard. There may be a grain of truth in that, but it certainly doesn't hold water when it comes to the actual driving bit.
Despite the use of modern mechanical underpinnings, the Stavic doesn't handle like an ordinary passenger car, let alone a smaller MPV. The softly sprung suspension creates a substantial amount of body roll at speeds and when taking corners and the problem is compounded by steering that feels vaguely imprecise. The unresponsive chassis and lack of body control make it feel like you're driving a minibus.
The Stavic's driving characteristics simply aren't sharp enough. You frequently find yourself needing to give a lot more attention to the steering when the road starts to bend and you probably never want to find out how this vehicle would react if, say, there was a sudden need to change lanes! However, when driven in a restrained fashion _ a mode which Ssangyong obviously believes all future owners will adhere to _ the Stavic is quite comfortable.
The boat-like ride irons out bumps quite well, even if the secondary ride suffers a little from vibration. And for highway cruising, the Stavic does have quite good external-noise suppression. That's partly because the diesel engine that powers it is reasonably refined and not as vocal as that in the previous model.
The engine under discussion, by the way, is a new four-pot 2.0-litre diesel-turbo (which replaces the older 2.7-litre inline-five). This new feature is said to have been developed in-house. It is no longer being sourced from Mercedes-Benz, although the five-speed automatic transmission is still supplied by them.
The 155hp Stavic isn't as powerful as its predecessor, but it gains with more useable power, thanks to bigger torque reserves achieved lower down the engine's speed range. In fact, this is a most sensible strategy for workhorses like large MPVs. At all kinds of real-world speeds, the Stavic performs adequately.
On the fuel economy front, however, its performance is far from spectacular: on a family drive to Hua Hin, we only managed 10kpl. But at least its large (80 litre) fuel tank will help extend the touring range. Here are two figures worth noting: the manufacturer claims the new Stavic can do 12.8kpl, something of a letdown compared to its predecessor's figure of 13.3kpl.
But the financial aspect that will probably matter most to potential clients is the price tag of 1.78 million baht _ no change compared to the outgoing SV270.The reason for the unusually low asking price is the rate of excise tax levied: no duty is charged on vehicles that have more than 10 seats, regardless of whether that vehicle is bolted together in Thailand or imported in completely built-up form. That's why the seven-seat Honda StepWGN costs in excess of 2 million baht and the Toyota Alphard goes for over 3 million.
Having said all that, the Stavic remains a somewhat compromised MPV when you take the 11-seat packaging and its driving manners into account. But if you're shopping for a large MPV and you can sort out your priorities _ as those who bought its predecessor must have done _ then there's no reason why the new Stavic shouldn't feature on your list of options.
But it's definitely not a vehicle that we find remotely rousing.
AT A GLANCE
Styling ............................... 6/10
It looks completely different compared to the first-gen model, but it's still bound to stir controversy.
Performance and economy... 7/10
The downsized diesel motor has more tractable power lower down the engine speed range, but the fuel economy is so-so.
Handling and ride................ 5/10
At low speeds, the soft ride will delight, but backfires due to soggy handling at other times; steering is too aloof.
Practicality......................... 7/10
It's a tight fit with 11 people on board; unwanted seats can either folded away or removed altogether.
Safety kit............................ 6/10
ABS brakes, but there are only two airbags up front and only eight of the 11 seats are properly kitted out.
VERDICT ............................ 6/10
The Stavic scores with a big package priced under 2 million baht. But you need to tailor the interior layout to your individual taste and its driving manners are compromised. All like before, in fact.
The Stavic can carry 11 people, but filled to capacity it feels very cramped; unwanted seats can be either folded away or removed altogether.
The unresponsive chassis and lack of body control make it feel like you’re driving a minibus
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