2015 Mara Rodyna 4.0 GLX
The Mara Rodyna (‘family’) 3-row MPV was a new addition to the Mara lineup in the early 2010s. The Rodyna was based upon the long wheelbase (2.8m) 3rd gen SUV (Kanyon) and ute (Bizon) platform and could therefore benefit from both the additional emphasis on comfort as well as - to an extent - the built-in off-road capabilities of that platform. It was the longer brother of the Mara Ekskurs.
Peculiarly, the 3rd gen Kanyon/Bizon/etc. platforms switched to transverse engines in the interest of cheaper packaging for the surprisingly popular FWD variants. Ordering the top-of-the-line GLX trim package and 4.0 V8 engine essentially meant ticking all available boxes on the ordering sheet. While V8 automatically meant AWD, the MPV version was - unlike the SUV and ute - available only with an open differential.
Notably, the V8 engine for the 2015 model year was carried over from the previous generation due to packaging and teething issues with the new Efektyv DOHC V8. The DOHC just doesn’t fit the 2.8m wheelbase body’s engine bay transversely; it easily fits into the 2.6m and 3.0m versions though….