SsangYong chose the Planetarium at Wits University in Johannesburg to launch its latest import from Korea. Stavic means "rising star" in the Korean tongue; to South Africans it means a big, luxury seven-seater for less than R300 000 and one of its target markets will be the undertaking trade.
Nope, that's not a joke, and SsangYong SA's general manager Hennie Bekker confirmed it - the black models will be ideal to carry loved ones to their last resting place in something way more unconventional than the mournful wagons usually used.
In fact a fleet, en route to cemetery or crematorium with body and bereaved on board, should stop the traffic without assistance from a traffic department's finest.
Just one, the black one I was driving on Monday, was sufficient to turn heads on Jozi's freeways. There just isn't anything else like the Stavic on our roads and it's my bet that debate on its strange looks will go on for the rest of this year as more and more take to the highways.
It should also find favour with hotels, chauffeur services and as corporate chauffeured transport for executives. And, of course, big families.
The rear-wheel drive Stavic SV270 rides on the same chassis as SsangYong's Merc-lookalike Chairman limousine (not available in SA) and has the same 2.7-litre Mercedes turbodiesel engine as the locally available Rexton 4x4.
This five-cylinder engine is capable of 121kw at 4000rpm and delivers 340Nm of torque from 2400rpm with the aid of Mercedes' third generation common-rail injection system. SsangYong claims it's one of the most robust engines in its class.
Only one model will be available for now, an automatic equipped with a Mercedes five-speed manual sequential gate, but Bekker says a 3.2-litre Mercedes straight-six will come later - probably in August.
The wagon is available in other markets with all-wheel drive but in South Africa that demand for extra traction is already covered by SsangYong's all-wheel drive
The big MPV rides on double-wishbone front suspension and a 10-link set-up at the rear - something, the automaker says, usually found only on top-end vehicles such as Jaguars, Mercedes and BMW's.
It all hangs together very well and the ride on Jozi's freeways and back roads was comfortable and quiet - though that Merc turbodiesel gets a trifle vocal if pushed hard from the lights or through the traffic.
Despite its bulk - the Stavic is 5.125m long, 1.915m wide and 1.82m high - it pushes on well thanks to its turbo even up on the Highveld and is light of steering and pedals. As a family car, with its four multi-adjustable - and reversible - first and second-row seats and a three-across bench at the rear it's simply impossible to beat at the price.
The finishes are a bit plasticky, the upholstery cloth - Bekker admits the SA model was down-specced to achieve the prices of R299 900 - and the instrumentation hard to read in bright sunlight but as a "budget" package it works well.
'It's like a luxury yacht'
The body design, however, is weird. The three-barred SsangYong corporate grille looks distinctly Mercedes-ish and - though its usefulness is not in question - the high, glassed rear section looks like an attic window tacked on as an afterthought over the beautiful curve beneath.
SsangYong, however, says "the sleek side view conjures up the image of a luxury yacht".
The wheels look too small for the body but SsangYong has opted for four normal side doors and scorned the concept of sliding items. The rear-door windows also wind (almost) fully down.
The large headlights, the maker says, are "high-intensity" and can be supported by a pair of foul-weather lights buried in the bumper.
The instrument cluster (speedometer, rev counter, fuel and coolant temperature gauge) is in the centre of the fascia - something I don't like because it takes the driver's eyes too far and too frequently off the road - but keeps costs down by supporting either left or right-hand drive.
Directly ahead of the driver is a comprehensive array of warning lights.
High-grade sound
There's a third display, up above the rear-view mirror and consequently even more difficult to read, that gives journey time, average speed, date and time and - nice one! - atmospheric pressure, height above sea level and direction of travel.
The sound system is high-grade and includes a CD player, tape deck, equaliser and six speakers with remote controls built into the big, comfortable, leather-clad steering wheel.
The Stavic is a b-i-g vehicle so front and rear passengers have their own air-conditioning vents and controls - though the driver can override the temperature - and airflow comes not only from fascia panels but from vents in the headlining of the roof.
The middle-row seats have armrests and are space to allow walk-through from those in the front and the middle and rear seats can be slid forward or backward for increased legroom or to greatly increase luggage space.
Driver and front passenger crash bags are included in the package, along with anti-lock disc brakes equipped with electronic brake pressure distribution. The screen wipers and headlights - the latter adjustable to compensate for load - can be set for automatic operation.
- The SsangYong SV270 is priced from R299 900, which includes a three-year or 100 000km warranty and a three-year or 60 000km maintenance plan.