Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Ssangyong Korando Turismo

Back in 2004, Ssangyong launched a multipurpose vehicle that some say, would be the take against other popular people carriers made by top Korean carmakers. When the Rodius first launched, this was the first MPV from Ssangyong that some say captures the essence of a luxury car and the practicality of the multipurpose passenger vehicle. Sadly though when one man caught the attention of the Rodius, one comment spurred onto his mind...IT'S UGLY.

Yes, the Rodius is one ugly specimen built by the Koreans despite the fact that it was designed by a Brit. So ugly, it was named "the ugliest car ever made" according to CarData. Too many criticisms spurred about its hideous looks so in 2011, the Rodius was axed...but in the summer of 2012, it came back (oh no) and it comes with the e-XDi200 diesel engine that produces 155PS of power and is available in either a 6-speed MT or an E-Tronic Benz 5-speed AT.

After being on the block for 9 years, it seems that the Rodius finally gets a replacement and what could that be? Something that is better looking than the Rodius? Well, ladies and gents, Ssangyong's new MPV, the Korando Turismo, is the answer and...

2014 Ssangyong Korando Turismo

2014 Ssangyong Korando Turismo

...just as I thought. For a minivan that once "that looks like it got bottled in a pub brawl and stitched back together by a blind man", seems that the design flaw's getting worse than I expected. I mean look at the front view, that's not quite very nice. Another thing that is not nice is when someone's in a Speedo and middle-aged people started to scream and the police warned him of gross indecency. The new Korando Turismo though is just another gross indecency on the road ahead. Despite calling this a much-improved version of the Rodius it replaces, I wouldn't mind calling it another candidate for being "the worst car in the history of the world".

2014 Ssangyong Korando Turismo interior

2014 Ssangyong Korando Turismo interior

On the inside, heh, same old Rodius interior with the same old 11-seater capacity. Seems that there's nothing special about the new Korando Turismo's interior here but still, 11-seaters on a minivan is quite a rare feast for those who love people carriers. Imagine that, you can bring the whole family on a vacation trip to Jeju Island, take a ski trip to Pyeongchang, or cruise in style at Gangnam or whatever you want but in the Korando Turismo, I'm sorry to say that these don't work because it's still even uglier than the Rodius it replaces.

Powering the Korando Turismo is the same old e-XDi200 diesel engine as the old Rodius. You still expect the same 155HP of power output and the same transmission choices of either a 6-speed manual or an E-Tronic Benz 5-speed AT. In terms of driving feel, this is worse than I thought. Even though you are in a standard FR layout or with the 4WD layout, the feeling of driving a Korando Turismo is like something's bothering your ear. Feels like your ear's going to clog with some watery stuff and no matter how many times you're trying to unclog it with either your finger or a cotton swab, it clogs again. It's as difficult as pinching your pimples from your face until that yellowy stuff from your pimples is blown away.

So what we have here is a new MPV that looks even worse than the Rodius it replaces while retaining the same Rodius interior and the same engine that powers it but sadly though, this is not recommended for those who need clever sophistication. Besides, I wouldn't want one of these in my whole life unless someone's gonna use it for target practice in a remote province. The Korando Turismo from Ssangyong is horrid in the driver's eyes and even horrid for those who owned one. End of discussion.

AVAILABLE COLORS: Grand White, Space Black, Fine Silver, Cyber Gray, and Wine Black.

PRICE LIST:

코란도 투리스모 GT 2WD A/T - 29,480,000 Won
코란도 투리스모 GT 4WD A/T - 31,180,000  Won
코란도 투리스모 LT 2WD A/T - 26,770,000  Won
코란도 투리스모 LT 4WD A/T - 28,540,000  Won
코란도 투리스모 RT 2WD A/T - 33,940,000  Won
코란도 투리스모 RT 4WD A/T - 35,640,000 Won
코란도 투리스모 LT 2WD M/T - 24,800,000 Won

Photo: Ssangyong Motor Company

1 comment:

Richard Joash Tan said...

and you are more horrid for bashing Ssangyong because I'm biased towards it