Engines: gasoline 2.3–3.2 liters (150–220 hp).
Transmission: 5-speed automatic.
Options: basic level + options.
Price: $ 55, 000–70, 000.
The Gelendavagen, rushing past, braked sharply and handed back. “What is this?” A voice came from the window that opened. “The Sanyon Charman.” The owner of the Mercedes raised his eyebrows: he obviously heard the name for the first time. However, he was not the only one surprised to meet the “Chairperson” on the street (the name of this model is translated from English) …
The predecessor of the current Chaireman appeared at the end of the last century, when the brand belonged to the Daimler-Chrysler concern. It is quite natural that many components and assemblies were borrowed from Mercedes, and the body contours resembled models with a three-beam star.
A little over a year ago, the Cheyrman was updated. The front part was decorated with new headlights under plastic caps and LED direction indicators, a different shape was given to the hood and wings. The taillights have become more compact, but the trunk lid, on the contrary, is wider, which facilitated the loading of bulky items.
The size of the Charman is closer to the Mercedes-S, but the power units were taken from the E-class. It is curious that versions with the most powerful motors carry the “six hundredth” Cm600 nameplate. The car in this version came to us for a test.
ON THE DRIVER'S SPACE
Sitting behind the wheel of a representative limousine, you feel like a professional driver of an important person. Have to get used to a temporary job! The leather seats are comfortable, and the adjustments are quite logical. You can adjust the pillow in length, height and angle with one handle. The other two are responsible for the position of the back and lumbar support. To the left of the steering wheel is a lever with a characteristic pictogram: moving it in four directions, it is easy to find a convenient position for the helm in height and in the longitudinal plane. Again quietly buzzed electric drives - I adjust mirrors. It's funny, you don’t need to touch the inside cabin either - you control it from the same joystick. I wonder where the manufacturers forgot to build motors?
I’ll get to know the rest of the wisdom during the test - “Cheyrman” gradually drives out onto the road. The engine runs quietly, and noise insulation drowns out sounds from the outside. Only the obsessive hum of winter studded tires breaks the silence. The suspension is soft and comfortable - the class is obligatory. True, small joints and pits are given on the body (it is possible that the reason again lies in the tires). As an option, Chairman customers are offered an adaptive ECS suspension. Having interviewed many sensors, the electronics adjust the stiffness of the shock absorbers, thereby maintaining the optimal balance between handling and comfort.
The electronic gas pedal clearly conveys the driver’s commands. If the chef is in no hurry, you can slowly sail in the right lanes - such a ride does not cause any discomfort. It was necessary to spur the “horses” - a 220-strong herd comes to life under the hood, the automatic transmission smoothly shifts to a lower gear and then without tangible jerks to the next steps.
From the avenue, abundantly watered with this, as his … liquid reagent, we drive out onto a snowy free path. I repent, specially provoked the “chairman” to go into a skid … The stabilization system was ahead of me - strangling the engine and “pressing” the brakes, she forced the car to keep the trajectory. Artificial intelligence worked quickly and clearly. I wonder if the passenger in the back seat would spill coffee.
Electronics helps out with dynamic acceleration, if there is no dry asphalt under the wheels. At first, she silently blinks the indicator on the dashboard, and when the situation threatens to get out of control, she turns on the buzzer. By the way, so that the stabilization system grumbles less, click the toggle switch near the selector of the automatic box. The winter inscription on the dashboard lights up: “automatic” switches to winter mode. Even with dynamic acceleration, the car starts off in second gear and gently shifts to reduce wheel slip.
Well done! This "Cheyrman" turned in one sitting on a narrow path. I did not expect such agility from a car with an impressive base. The turning radius of the elongated versions, of course, is more than half a meter.
REQUEST STOP
While the photographer is looking for a shooting point, there is time to pull different handles and levers. Still, not every day you ride a representative limousine stuffed with interesting equipment. On the center console is a 7-inch LCD monitor. The driver will watch the television program only in the parking lot when the car is on the handbrake, more precisely on the “scissor” - the third pedal under the “dashboard” in the left corner. In motion, pictograms appear on the screen, by clicking on which you control a radio or CD player.
It is necessary to translate the selector to the "R" position, a picture appears on the monitor that facilitates reversing maneuver. True, the angle of view of the camera is quite large, because the image is distorted. At first it’s not very convenient, then you get used to it.
What a strange little button in the glove compartment? It looks like a trunk lock. So, you can not worry about its contents, leaving the car at a service station. Of course, if at the same time you close the "glove box" with a key.
And the climate system disappointed. No, the controls are clear, and it works flawlessly. But such a rich decoration implies separate climate control, at least for the front and back rows. The boss wants to soak up the heat - then the driver will have to sweat.
WAITING FOR THE CHEF
It is known who is the main one in the executive car - the man in the back seat. A folding table is fixed on the back of the front seat. Overhead - an individual ceiling, and in the middle of the seat - retractable (naturally, electric!) Cup holders. By the way, in one of the offices stands a portable ashtray with backlight. If I had more time to communicate with “Charman”, I would love to write this material without leaving my car.
If you are tired of business, just press a few buttons - the right front seat will move forward, and the back seat will prepare to receive you in a reclining position. The curtains on the windows will hide from daylight and prying eyes. Moreover, the one that closes the rear window is equipped with an electric drive - not only the owner, but also the helpful driver can “close” the curtain. The cozy atmosphere lulls even those who do not want to sleep.
Those who prefer a more active holiday during the trip can enjoy light music from their favorite disc or listen to the radio. On request, a liquid crystal monitor will be installed in the rack between the seats. You can watch not only one of the TV programs: film lovers can enjoy a real home cinema: a DVD player, 252-watt amplifier and 13 (!) Speakers for surround sound.
So, the first speech of the “chairman” took place. Will Sanyon Cheyrman survive in the company of eminent competitors? In front of most classmates, he has a very powerful trump card - a low price among cars of this class. However, German cars, which are one step lower, also often fulfill the functions of executive class cars, and in terms of cost they are almost the same as the Cheyrman.
SUMMARY
SsangYong Chairman is another attempt by Koreans to grow a competitor to German brands. You will have to fight for a place in the upper class - they are not born as chairmen, they are elected.
+ Good dynamics, comfortable handling and energy-intensive suspension, attractive price.