SsangYong Chairman

SsangYong Chairman: which version to buy

The buying choice on the SsangYong Chairman is seven named versions across two sedan generations: first generation (1997-10-01–2014-12-31) 2.3 AT, 2.8 AT, 3.2 AT, 3.6 AT, and second generation (2008-02-01–2017-12-31) 3.2 AT, 3.6 AT, 5.0 AT. Same names on both generations are not the same car: first-generation 3.2 AT is 220 hp and RWD; second-generation 3.2 AT is 225 hp and AWD.

The buying choice on the SsangYong Chairman is seven named versions across two sedan generations: first generation (1997-10-01–2014-12-31) 2.3 AT, 2.8 AT, 3.2 AT, 3.6 AT, and second generation (2008-02-01–2017-12-31) 3.2 AT, 3.6 AT, 5.0 AT. Same names on both generations are not the same car: first-generation 3.2 AT is 220 hp and RWD; second-generation 3.2 AT is 225 hp and AWD. First-generation 3.6 AT is 279 hp; second-generation 3.6 AT is 250 hp. The extra displacement always buys more peak power except on that 3.6 AT pair, where the older car is the stronger one on paper.

Generations: what actually changed when you step up

First generation (1997-10-01–2014-12-31) is a Sedan with four versions, all Automatic, 5 gears, RWD, Gasoline, 95, tank 80 L. Rear suspension is Dependent, spring on 2.3 AT, 2.8 AT, and 3.2 AT, and Independent, spring on 3.6 AT. Ground clearance is 180 mm on three versions and 192 mm on 2.8 AT. Kerb weight spans 1575–1750 kg. This is the lighter, taller, rear-drive Chairman.

Second generation (2008-02-01–2017-12-31) is a Sedan with three versions, all Automatic, 7 gears, AWD, Gasoline, 95, tank 83 L, Independent, spring front and rear, kerb 1840 kg, gross 2165 kg, clearance 150 mm. Versus the first generation you give up 30 mm of clearance (42 mm versus 2.8 AT), add 3 L of tank, add two gears, switch from RWD to AWD, and add 90–265 kg of kerb weight depending on which first-generation version you compare. Production of the two generations overlapped from 2008-02-01 to 2014-12-31; a 2008–2014 car is not identified by year alone.

Engine and specs: same badge, different numbers

All seven versions are Gasoline, No boost, 4 valves per cylinder, Distributed injection (multi-point), Automatic. Cylinder layout is Inline on every version that lists it. Engine position is Front, longitudinal where measured; first-generation 3.6 AT engine position is not measured.

Specific output (hp per litre of displacement): first-generation 3.6 AT 77.5 hp/L, first-generation 2.8 AT 70.4 hp/L, second-generation 3.2 AT 70.3 hp/L, second-generation 3.6 AT 69.5 hp/L, first-generation 3.2 AT 68.8 hp/L, first-generation 2.3 AT 65.4 hp/L, second-generation 5.0 AT 61.6 hp/L. The largest engine is the least dense; the first-generation 3.6 AT is the densest.

Kerb weight per horsepower: second-generation 5.0 AT 6.01 kg/hp, first-generation 3.6 AT 6.27 kg/hp, second-generation 3.6 AT 7.36 kg/hp, first-generation 3.2 AT 7.45 kg/hp, second-generation 3.2 AT 8.18 kg/hp, first-generation 2.8 AT 8.27 kg/hp, first-generation 2.3 AT 10.50 kg/hp.

Bore × stroke is measured only on first-generation 2.3 AT (90.9 × 88.4), 2.8 AT (89.9 × 73.5), and 3.2 AT (89.9 × 84). Compression ratio is 10.4 on 2.3 AT, 10 on 2.8 AT and first-generation 3.2 AT, not measured on the other four.

Performance, mpg, and what the extra engine buys

0–100 km/h, where measured: second-generation 5.0 AT 7.3 s, second-generation 3.6 AT 7.8 s, second-generation 3.2 AT 8 s, first-generation 3.2 AT 9 s, first-generation 2.8 AT 11 s, first-generation 2.3 AT 11.6 s. First-generation 3.6 AT 0–100 is not measured.

Top speed: both second-generation 3.2 AT and 3.6 AT 250 km/h; second-generation 5.0 AT 245 km/h (5 km/h lower despite +56 hp versus 3.6 AT and +81 hp versus 3.2 AT). First-generation 2.8 AT, 3.2 AT, and 3.6 AT 210 km/h; 2.3 AT 197 km/h.

Moving from first-generation 3.2 AT to second-generation 3.2 AT costs 200 kg (1640 → 1840) and 3 Nm (305 → 302) and buys +5 hp, −1.0 s to 100 km/h, +40 km/h top speed, two extra gears, and AWD instead of RWD. Combined fuel use is 13.1 L/100 km on both.

Moving from first-generation 3.6 AT (279 hp) to second-generation 3.6 AT (250 hp) is a 29 hp drop and a 90 kg kerb gain (1750 → 1840). You buy AWD, 7 gears instead of 5, and 250 km/h versus 210 km/h. Torque and 0–100 on first-generation 3.6 AT are not measured, so that sprint cannot be compared.

Inside second generation, 3.6 AT versus 3.2 AT is +25 hp and +41 Nm for −0.2 s to 100 km/h and the same 250 km/h; kerb, tank, drive, and gears are identical. 5.0 AT versus 3.6 AT is +56 hp and +98 Nm for −0.5 s to 100 km/h and −5 km/h top speed. 5.0 AT versus 3.2 AT is +81 hp and +139 Nm for −0.7 s.

Fuel consumption is measured on four versions only. First-generation 2.3 AT: 15.3 / 9.1 / 11.4 L/100 km (city / highway / combined). First-generation 2.8 AT: 17.3 / 9.8 / 12.5. First-generation 3.2 AT: 17.1 / 10.8 / 13.1. Second-generation 3.2 AT: 18.1 / 10.3 / 13.1. Combined is identical at 13.1 on both 3.2 AT cars; the second generation uses 1.0 L/100 km more in the city and 0.5 L/100 km less on the highway. Second-generation 3.6 AT, second-generation 5.0 AT, and first-generation 3.6 AT city, highway, and combined are not measured. CO2 and eco class are not measured on all seven.

Dimensions, weight, tank, wheels

Wheel sizes are not measured on any version.

Second generation is one set of masses for all three versions: kerb 1840 kg, gross 2165 kg, payload 325 kg, tank 83 L, clearance 150 mm.

First generation is not one car by weight. 2.3 AT: 1575 / 2160 kg, payload 585 kg, clearance 180 mm. 2.8 AT: 1630 / 2215 kg, payload 585 kg, clearance 192 mm (highest of the seven). 3.2 AT: 1640 / 2280 kg, payload 640 kg (highest payload). 3.6 AT: 1750 / 2230 kg, payload 480 kg, clearance 180 mm.

Brakes are Ventilated disc front and Disc rear on all seven. Front suspension is Independent, spring on all seven.

If the decision is ground clearance, first-generation 2.8 AT at 192 mm is 12 mm above the other first-generation versions and 42 mm above the second generation. If the decision is payload, first-generation 3.2 AT at 640 kg is 315 kg above any second-generation version. If the decision is tank range potential, second generation holds 3 L more (83 vs 80); combined mpg to turn that into distance is not measured on five of seven versions.

Which version to choose

Buy first-generation 2.3 AT if the job is the lightest Chairman (1575 kg), the only 4-cylinder, and the lowest measured combined use (11.4 L/100 km). You accept the weakest set: 150 hp, 220 Nm, 11.6 s, 197 km/h, 10.50 kg/hp. Versus 2.8 AT you give up 47 hp, 51 Nm, 0.6 s, 13 km/h, and 12 mm of clearance to save 55 kg and 1.1 L/100 km combined.

Buy first-generation 2.8 AT if clearance is the filter: 192 mm is unique in this catalogue. 197 hp, 271 Nm, 11.0 s, 210 km/h, 12.5 L/100 km combined, 1630 kg. It sits 27 hp and 34 Nm below first-generation 3.2 AT, 0.6 s slower to 100 km/h, 10 kg lighter, and 1.4 L/100 km combined better than that 3.2 AT’s 13.1. Rear axle is Dependent, spring, same as 2.3 AT and first-generation 3.2 AT.

Buy first-generation 3.2 AT if you want the first generation’s measured sprint and payload without the second generation’s AWD and 1840 kg: 220 hp, 305 Nm, 9.0 s, 210 km/h, 1640 kg, 640 kg payload, 13.1 L/100 km combined. Versus second-generation 3.2 AT you are 5 hp down, 3 Nm up, 1.0 s slower, 40 km/h slower on top speed, RWD not AWD, 5 gears not 7, 200 kg lighter, 30 mm higher.

Buy first-generation 3.6 AT if peak horsepower on RWD is the filter: 279 hp is 29 hp above second-generation 3.6 AT and 27 hp below second-generation 5.0 AT, at 1750 kg (90 kg below the second generation, 110 kg above first-generation 3.2 AT). It is the only first-generation version with Independent, spring rear suspension. Torque, 0–100, fuel use, power rpm, and engine position are not measured — do not treat those as zero; they are missing. Top speed is 210 km/h, 40 km/h below second-generation 3.6 AT.

Buy second-generation 3.2 AT if you want the second-generation chassis (AWD, 7-speed Automatic, Independent spring both ends, 150 mm, 1840 kg) with the only measured fuel figures in that generation: 18.1 / 10.3 / 13.1 L/100 km, 225 hp, 302 Nm, 8.0 s, 250 km/h. Versus 3.6 AT of the same generation you are 25 hp and 41 Nm down and 0.2 s slower; versus 5.0 AT you are 81 hp and 139 Nm down and 0.7 s slower, but 5 km/h faster at the top.

Buy second-generation 3.6 AT if you want 250 hp and 343 Nm in the AWD 7-speed sedan without the 4966 cc engine. 7.8 s, 250 km/h, same 1840 / 2165 kg as the other two. Fuel use is not measured, so economy cannot be the reason to pick it over 3.2 AT. Versus first-generation 3.6 AT you lose 29 hp and gain AWD, two gears, 90 kg, and 40 km/h of top speed.

Buy second-generation 5.0 AT if lowest kg/hp (6.01) and shortest 0–100 (7.3 s) are the reason. 306 hp, 441 Nm, 4966 cc, 6 Inline, AWD, 7-speed Automatic. Top speed is 245 km/h, not the 250 km/h of the two smaller second-generation engines. Fuel use is not measured. Displacement is 1767 cc above 3.6 AT and 1767 cc above 3.2 AT for 56 hp and 81 hp respectively — the lowest specific output of the seven.

Reliability is not measured in this data: there is no failure rate, service interval, or problem count to rank versions. Interior equipment is not measured. Price is not in the data, so “extra money” here is extra cubic centimetres, kilograms, gears, and driven wheels — not a sticker. For a 2017 car you are looking only at the second generation (it runs to 2017-12-31); for a 2003 or 2005 car you are looking only at the first generation. A used Chairman W / H search still maps onto these same seven names: match the badge to hp and drive (RWD vs AWD) before treating 3.2 AT or 3.6 AT as one car.