Take 2 for the 2 Korean dragons

CHOCO-COLORED Tivoli is a sweet drive.

Photos by Tessa R. Salazar

The timing may just be right the second time around. The South Korean-made SsangYong brand has reentered the Philippine market, this time as a sister entity to Berjaya Auto Philippines, the exclusive distributor of Japanese brand Mazda in the Philippines.

SsangYong, which had a brief (and forgettable) stint in the Philippines years ago, hopes to make a much bigger splash this time around, now that it has been officially named SsangYong Berjaya Motor Philippines (SBMP).

Soon, the Philippine motoring public will begin to see more of the SsangYong brand of SUVs and MPVs on the road. (Interestingly, while the name “SsangYong” translates to “Two Dragons,” its logo resembles, graphically, a long-feathered bird whose wings are in the upward flight cycle, kind of like the Mazda logo showing a pair of wings poised in elegant mid-flap).

SsangYong is counting on the Pinoys’ newfound fondness for SUVs and MPVs, hoping that the local market would appreciate the fact that this Seoul-based carmaker is regarded as a 4×4 specialist, introducing in 1988 its Korando range (the name was simply shortened from the patriotic phrase “Korean Can Do”).

SSANGYONG Philippines “invades” Mt. Samat shrine.

“DAVE MAC” stakes his name on SsangYong.

To show what the SsangYong brand could do, 21 members of the local motoring press were invited to a 420-km ride-and-drive from Manila to Bataan and back on May 24 on board the 1.6-liter gasoline and diesel engine variants of the Tivoli crossover SUV, the 2.0-liter diesel Korando all-wheel-drive compact SUV, and the 2.0-liter all-wheel drive Rodius MPV.

The convoy of eight SsangYong vehicles made their way across Pampanga and Bataan via the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) and the Pampanga Megadike Access Road.

The convoy made stops at the Dambana ng Kagitingan Monument at Mt. Samat in Bataan, before proceeding to the final scenic stop at the Freeport Area of Bataan Dam in Mariveles.

Before the tour started, SBMP managing director David Macasadia said that “SsangYong has been known for its resiliency over the years. With over 60 years of manufacturing vehicles, SsangYong has evolved into a brand that dares to be different, as the vehicles you will drive today will attest.”

Macasadia, an industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience with other brands, such as Honda, Isuzu, Ford, and Mazda, confidently declared: “From our hardworking but luxurious people carrier, the Rodius; to our dependable and capable SUV, the Korando; and of course, our newest and most eye-catching compact crossover, the Tivoli—all of our models cater to the immediate needs of the Filipino family, the hippie, the millennial and even the practical everyday driver.”

SEOUL-MADE SUVs at the Mt. Samat National Shrine

SBMP opened its Quezon Avenue showroom and dealership this April. Three more full-service SsangYong dealerships are scheduled to open in Cebu, Davao and in Metro Manila.

SBMP aims for the SsangYong brand to become a top-of-mind choice among its Korean counterparts when it comes to styling, features, and value-for-money pricing.

Initial impressions

From this two-day getting-to-know-you trip with SsangYong, this writer could say that the build quality and vehicle performance (acceleration, handling, driving comfort) of the vehicles are comparable to Japanese and Korean brands, yet their introductory prices are competitive with the China brands.

The only question remains is its resale value, which would depend on owners’ feedback as time wears on.

The SBMP sales and dealer officers that Inquirer Motoring interviewed stressed that maintenance parts availability would pose no problem, as enough would be allotted for local consumption.

But collision parts (such as fenders and doors) would take up to three weeks to arrive, as these will come from Korea.

FIRST encounter between motoring media and SsangYong

They also guaranteed that the prices of parts would be no problem since the cost would be proportional to the price of the vehicles. Imported parts would be reasonably priced, too, due to the Philippine-Korea Free Trade Agreement.

“We have built up parts stock in our warehouse, and we have fully trained technicians. Prices are very competitive. Parts come from SsangYong Korea,” Macasadia  said.