Ssangyong Turismo 2.2 e-XDi ELX auto, car review: Attempt to take on MPV market proves big doesn't equal clever

It's a lot of car for your cash but the driving experience is poor, to be blunt

The Turismo is bigger and heavier than a Range Rover

If Ssanygong were ever to do a longer-wheelbase version of its seven-seat MPV, no doubt it would be called the Gran(d) Turismo. But that’s unlikely to happen, because if you were to make this thing any bigger each end would need its own postcode.

We’re talking about a car that’s bigger and heavier than a Range Rover. Perhaps not as good off-road, however – though it does now gain all-wheel drive to go with its new 2.2-litre diesel engine.

Producing 176bhp, the new unit is mated to a choice of six-speed manual and seven-speed auto boxes. The auto is a Mercedes unit, and selectable four-wheel drive is there for you with either.

The car is what you’d call enormous, inside as well as out

It’s the auto that we drove, and it lets the Turismo behave perkily enough at low speeds. Obviously, the engine is working pretty hard once you’re up to a cruise, and it lets everyone know what it thinks of that.

With wind, road and suspension noise all coming out in sympathy, faster speeds are never what you’d call subdued. It rides well enough, though – but with understeer in charge, and precious little feel through the steering wheel and brake pedal, it’s not what you’d call crisp to handle.

Ssangyong Turismo 2.2 e-XDi ELX auto

On sale now
Price £24,995
Engine 4 cyl, 2157cc, diesel
Power 176bhp
Torque 295lb ft
Gearbox 7-spd automatic
Kerb weight 2245kg
0-62mph N/A
Top speed 108mph
Economy 36.2mpg (combined)
CO2/tax band 205g/km, 37% 

It is what you’d call enormous, though, inside as well as out. Rather than a typical MPV, it almost feels more like a US-style dayvan with its elevated front seats and so much clear air between driver and dash that you have to watch for turbulence.

Behind you, the second row is made up of two more captains’ chairs. Then comes a rear bench that’ll seat three adults if they don’t mind rubbing shoulders a little. Leg and headroom is vast everywhere, cargo capacity is epic and there are lots of places to stash your odds and ends.

Other things there’s lots of include standard equipment and, did we mention this, cabin space.

The driving experience is poor, to be blunt. But the only other way you’re ever likely to see this many cubic feet moving from place to place is if your house gets hit by a landslide.

Ssangyong is pitching high in terms of space, and at the price, it's bound to sell

That makes the Turismo kind of unique. It’s the ultimate example of a lot of car for your cash, too, though you’re also likely to have experienced a lot of depreciation by the time you sell it on.

Still, the advent of the 2.2-litre engine and all-wheel drive transmission make this a better vehicle to drive than ever it was before. It comes with a five-year warranty, too, so there’s another big thing for you. But no, by and large big does not equal clever.

Rather than going against the established talents in the MPV market, what Ssangyong is doing is pitching high in terms of space in order to try and be different. And at the price, it’s bound to sell. Whether this is the way for the industry to move its offering forward is, however, another matter altogether.