Comfort comes at a price

Petrol-powered MPV pampers its passengers but punishes at the pump

Published on January 23, 2008

Car

It could be that the Ssangyong Stavic is the weirdest-looking multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) to be found in the market, but then, it comes with a purpose.

Behind the strange looks (is it retro or modern?) is a spacious cabin that can accommodate a large family in comfort.

Distributor Ssangyong Thailand already offers the Stavic SV270, which is powered by an economical 2.7-litre diesel engine, but recently it decided to introduce a petrol version: the 320S.

The 320S is powered by a 3.2-litre petrol engine supplied by Mercedes-Benz, capable of producing 220 horsepower and 310Nm of torque. It makes me wonder why Ssangyong would even consider offering the 320S in Thailand when there is widespread concern about saving fuel. The 320S has an appetite for fuel like a hungry whale.

While the diesel version sips an average of 9.7 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres, the 320S gulps an average of 15.6, while the amount of carbon dioxide it coughs out is also significantly higher: at 365 grams per kilometre, compared with 247.

Ssangyong Thailand executives admit fuel economy is not one of the highlights of the 320S, and targeted customers are those who, for whatever reason, hate diesels.

Power goes through a five-speed automatic gearbox that features steering-wheel-mounted shift buttons and is delivered to the rear wheels.

Trying to drive the Stavic at speed is an exhausting business, because the vehicle sways left and right even with small steering movements, and the engine noise on kick-down is more than you would expect from a six-cylinder power plant. Fortunately, there are many electronic driver-assistance systems, such as an electronic stability program, traction control and brake assist.

However, the suspension - double wishbones up front and a 10-point multilink in the rear - offers excellent comfort. The best place to be in the vehicle is in the second-row seats, which come with foldable armrests and lots of amenities, including trays with cup holders, a separate air-conditioning system and a large LCD screen for watching DVDs.

When it was someone else's turn to drive the Stavic on our recent test drive to Cha-am, I was able to doze off comfortably, something that would not happen in a vehicle with stiffer suspension settings.

As mentioned, there is plenty of room inside, and the seating configuration can be changed in many ways. There are actually four rows of seats (2-3-3-3), and you can fold or totally remove the fourth row to provide luggage space.

Among the standard features are dual front air bags, automatic locking doors and a rear-view camera for backing up.

The Stavic 320S will appeal to those looking for a spacious and comfortable MPV and who have no concern about fuel consumption. Those who are more conscious of fuel economy can always opt for the diesel version.

Specifications:

Ssangyong Stavic 320S

Engine: Six-cylinder in-line

DOHC 24-valve

Displacement: 3,199cc

Bore and stroke: 89.9 x 84mm

Compression ratio: 10.1:1

Max power: 220hp at 6,100rpm

Max torque: 310Nm at 4,600rpm

Transmission: Five-speed automatic

Ratios: 3.951/2.423/1.486/1/0.833

Suspension (f/r): Double wishbone/multilink