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The SsangYong Turismo was launched in 2012 and replaced the old and ungainly Rodius. While it’s not a looker, it’s better than its predecessor and still offers the same qualities; namely, an enormous amount of space for very little money.
As a used buy the Turismo benefits from the fact it was so affordable new, since even fairly recent models can be bought for the kind of money that would get you something much older and more heavily-used from a more prestigious brand. It’s got seven proper seats and will cost you the same as a few-year-old supermini, and you can’t ask for much more than that.
The Hyundai i800 is similarly strong value, while van-based alternatives like the Volkswagen Caravelle and Ford Tourneo Custom are better to drive but also more expensive, like-for-like. Conventional people-carriers like the Ford Galaxy meanwhile are more stylish but ultimately not as big and practical.
Some cars you might buy for the way they look, others for the way they drive. The SsangYong Turismo you buy because it’s massive and doesn’t cost very much, which maybe aren’t the most exciting factors in choosing a car, but for some buyers will matter a great deal.
As will the standard fitment of seven proper seats, something you really have to look at van-based MPVs like the Volkswagen Caravelle to get these days, and a used Turismo is far, far cheaper than a used Caravelle of equivalent age.
It’s enough to forgive the SsangYong Turismo almost anything. It’s no looker (though it’s a lot easier on the eye than the SsangYong Rodius it replaced), the cabin design is a bit naff and plasticky, and it’s slow and ponderous to drive. It doesn’t ride brilliantly either and the diesel engines are coarse - but again, just look at how much car you’re getting for the money.
Factor in that the value proposition is even better as a used model than it was when new, thanks to pretty savage depreciation, and if you’re purely looking to buy something big, practical, and easy if not interesting to drive, then the Turismo should probably be on your shortlist.
We’ve already mentioned the Caravelle, but other large, multi-seat vehicles that you might want to consider are the Ford Tourneo Custom, conventional MPVs like the SEAT Alhambra and Ford Galaxy, and also the oft-forgotten Hyundai i800, another absolutely enormous Korean people-mover you can find for surprisingly little money.
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If you really want to maximise what the SsangYong Turismo has to offer then we’d point you in the direction of the top-of-the-range ELX. It got as much equipment as SsangYong was prepared to throw at it, from a touchscreen infotainment system to a reversing camera and a heated windscreen, but it also came only in automatic and 4x4 form. If all this sounds a little excessive, just check out the prices - there aren’t many other recent cars this big for such little money.
Later models also benefit from a 2.2-litre diesel engine which is more powerful than the earlier 2-litre, and a little smoother too. It’s the obvious one to go for if it’s in budget.
SsangYong chopped and changed its trim levels over the years but the three below are representative of those you’ll find on the used market. The basic SE looks a little mean with equipment and only the ELX has a touchscreen infotainment system, but the value here is more in the Turismo’s sheer size than in a well-stocked kit list.
The SsangYong Turismo’s dimensions are:
The SsangYong Turismo’s boot size is:
Post-April 2017 Turismos will cost a flat rate currently set at £180 per year to tax, while models registered prior to this are more expensive thanks to an unimpressive 212g/km CO2 rating; that’s enough to currently attract an annual bill of £395, and another reason to go for the later 2.2-litre car.
Of the later 2.2-litre models covered here, insurance starts in group 34, but only rises to group 36 for the top-spec ELX with the automatic gearbox and all-wheel drives. Some earlier Turismos may be cheaper to insure though, making up for their higher tax rating - a 2-litre diesel in S trim starts in group 27. Those ratings are similar to what you’d find with a Caravelle or Hyundai i800.
Read our full SsangYong Turismo review