SsangYong Turismo Review and Prices

The SsangYong Turismo is a large seven-seat MPV that’s worth a look if you’re after something affordable and spacious but don’t fancy a more expensive SUV from the likes of Volkswagen or Skoda.

Unfortunately, the SsangYong Turismo can’t match the likes of the VW Tiguan Allspace or Skoda Kodiaq in the looks department. The Turismo’s rather bland bumpers, plain grille and stingy chrome strips do little to disguise its large size and the daytime running lights look they’ve been pinched from an old Christmas tree.

Step inside and you’ll realise it isn’t just the SsangYong Turismo’s exterior which is bit outdated – its dashboard feels very old-fashioned, too. The big centrally mounted instruments are easy to read but the touchscreen infotainment system looks cheap and isn’t very intuitive to use.

The SsangYong Turismo’s cabin is made of cheaper-feeling materials than you’ll find in most alternatives, too, but at least you can pay extra for leather seats, if you fancy, and there’s enough adjustment in the driver’s seat to help you get comfy.

Unlike most seven-seaters, the SsangYong Turismo adopts a 2+2+3 seating configuration. This means your passengers in the very back don’t have a great deal of shoulder room, but at least they’ll have no trouble climbing in through a gap in the middle seats – a bit like walking down the aisle in a very small bus.

There’s ample space for six-footers to get comfy in the middle seats and even those in the back won’t feel too cramped thanks to the SsangYong’s large windows and relatively airy cabin. There’s plenty of space to lift in a few bulky child seats, too.

If it’s a large MPV with an absolutely huge boot and seating for seven you’re looking for, the cheap-and-cheerful SsangYong Turismo is worth considering.

It isn’t just passengers that the SsangYong Turismo can carry with ease, its absolutely huge 875-litre boot has more than enough room for a family’s luggage for a week away, too. If you need to carry some really bulky stuff – or need to help a friend move house – you can fold all the back seats down to open up a van-like 3,146-litre load bay – bigger than in almost any other car on sale.

The SsangYong Turismo’s diesel engine has just enough poke to haul around heavy luggage, but it’s far from the smoothest engine around and it isn’t particularly economical. It produces a fair 178hp, but it feels a little hesitant when you accelerate hard to join a motorway. Once you’re up to speed it’ll cruise along relatively quietly, though.

If your time behind the wheel is usually spent in heavy traffic, you’ll want to pay extra for the optional automatic gearbox. It isn’t particularly responsive but at least it saves you from making numerous gear changes in stop-start traffic.

The SsangYong Turismo’s suspension does a fairly good job ironing out bumps and potholes, but its tall body leans noticeably in tight corners – not ideal if your passengers are prone to feeling a little car sick.

You can’t get the SsangYong Turismo with any advanced driver assistance systems like the Skoda Kodiaq and the VW Tiguan Allspace, but its sheer size and relatively affordable price tag mean it’s still worth a look if you’re after a cheap and cheerful MPV.