
Review: SsangYong Turismo (2013)
Rating:
Restyled and reworked Rodius. Looks a lot better than its predecessor. Tremendously spacious. Now with seven-year warranty even for taxis. Vastly improved by 2.2 engine and 7-speed autobox.
Original 2.0 litre not good to drive, nor very economical nor very clean . Cabin materials not the best.
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Recently Added To This Review
SsangYong introduces upgraded warranty for all its models. Covers all major mechanical components including wheel bearings, suspension joints and bushes, steering joints and shock absorbers. Wearable... Read more
The capacious seven-seater has received a substantial front-end facelift to bring it into line with other models in the SsangYong range, complete with LED daytime running lights. The top-of-the-range... Read more
FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT MAY FAIL. Due to a manufacturing issue with the front lower ball joint, there is a possibility that the surface of the ball joint may be damaged while driving. If the vehicle is... Read more
SsangYong Turismo (2013): At A Glance
- New prices start from £20,495, brokers can source from £18,320
- Contract hire deals from £334.69 per month
- Insurance Groups are between 27–36
- On average it achieves 96% of the official MPG figure
The SsangYong Turismo is, beneath its new exterior styling, a heavily updated version of the Rodius. It may have been cheap but the Rodius was widely regarded as one of the ugliest cars ever produced and while the Turismo won’t win any beauty contests, it’s a huge improvement over its bizarre predecessor.
It’s not just a new name and some new clothes, though – the Turismo has undergone some more fundamental changes, including an improved interior and a simplified engine range. There was originally just one engine: a 155PS 2.0-litre diesel. It’s a bit gruff and it’s both unclean and inefficient by competitor’s standards, but it offers reasonable performance.
This was replaces in late 2013 by a 2.2 litre diesel developing 179PS and 400Nm torque. Better still, the original automatic transmission was replaced by a 7-speed torque converter auto.
The Turismo is fine if driven gently, like a taxi, but ponderous on roundabouts and while the ride is reasonably smooth it’s loud over potholes and the car can wallow through corner taken too quickly. It's relaxed rather than fun to drive. This is all beside the point though, because the Turismo is all about practicality.
And it’s very practical indeed. The cabin has space to accommodate a driver and six adult passengers comfortably and easily, along with all of their luggage. Both the centre and rearmost rows of seats can be moved backwards and forwards or folded to maximise useful space and there are plenty of cubbyholes and useful touches – for a big family or a taxi operator it’s great.
Furthering the no-nonsense appeal is a seven-year warranty (introduced in 2018), a very competitive price and some neat features like all-wheel drive on top models. There’s enough on offer for the Turismo to overcome many of its shortcomings. It’s hardly a fantastic machine, but it’s difficult to argue with the amount of space it offers for relatively little money.
What does a SsangYong Turismo (2013) cost?
List Price from | £19,320 |
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Buy new from | £18,320 |
Contract hire from | £334.69 per month |
SsangYong Turismo (2013): What's It Like Inside?
- Boot space is 875–3146 litres
Dimensions | |
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Length | 5130 mm |
Width | 1915 mm |
Height | 1850 mm |
Wheelbase | 3000 mm |
The SsangYong Turismo might not be the most accomplished all-round car on sale but it offers a lot of practicality – with some caveats – for relatively little money. It has seven seats in total, two up front, two in the middle and three at the rear, and they’re all capable of comfortably seating adults.
The layout means getting in and out of the back row is very easy - there’s no crawling through a tiny gap to reach the rearmost seats. It’s the ideal layout for families with more grown-up children, or for use as an airport taxi. Both rows slide forward and back to create the optimum blend of legroom and luggage space.
With most seven-seat people carriers, having the rear row in place means sacrificing most of the boot space. That’s not the case with the Turismo – even with the rear row of seats pushed right back there’s still 875 litres of load space, enough for plenty of luggage or a very large family shopping trip.
The load space can be extended to a colossal 3146 litres, but to make the most of it the rear rows of seats have to be completely removed, which isn’t much use if you don’t have a garage to store them in. Folding them forward does provide a useful amount of space though, which is fine for loading things like suitcases or flat packed furniture.
There are plenty of little touches to enhance practicality further too. Such as picnic tables in the seat backs and numerous bottle holders, pockets and cubbyholes, including a vast and well hidden storage bin between the front seats, ideal for hiding odds and ends out of sight.
Material quality is okay – the dashboard has a decent soft touch covering – but there are some old-fashioned plastics throughout the cabin and the grey leather upholstery would look more upmarket if it were black. Additionally the touchscreen navigation system offered by SsangYong is best avoided – it’s very confusing to operate and costs too much. You're better off with your own aftermarket system.
The other omission that might bother some buyers is the lack of sliding side doors, which usually improve access to the rear of the car massively. The doors on the Turismo are traditionally hinged, but they still open wide enough to offer reasonable access - so it’s not that much of a problem unless you're in a tight car park.
Being a value offering, standard equipment is reasonable. All cars come with seven seats and automatic air conditioning, electric front and rear windows, electric door mirrors, steering wheel mounted audio controls and roof rails. Some omissions include standard fit parking sensors floor mats, though both are offered as optional extras.
Standard equipment
Turismo S comes with automatic air conditioning, seven seats, Isofix mounting for middle two seats, 16-inch steel wheels, height adjustable drivers seats, fabric upholstery, electric front and rear windows, seat back tables, electric door mirrors, foot operated parking brake, CD player with iPod connection, Bluetooth and roof rails.
ES adds leather upholstery, privacy glass, 16-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, rear parking sensors and a full-sized spare wheel.
ES Auto models gain an automatic gearbox and cruise control.
EX gains selectable all-wheel drive with low-range, 17-inch alloy wheels, solar controlled glass, heated lower windscreen and automatic wipers.

Child seats that fit a SsangYong Turismo (2013)
Our unique Car Seat Chooser shows you which child car seats will fit this car and which seat positions that they will fit, so that you don't have to check every car seat manufacturer's website for compatibility.What's the SsangYong Turismo (2013) like to drive?
- Engines range from 2.0 e-XDi to 2.2 e-XDi
- Readers report Real MPG to be between 31–42 mpg
The Turismo is only offered with one engine choice - a 2.0-litre diesel with 155PS. It’s a bit rough and ready, lacking the refinement you’d expect from a manufacturer like Ford or Volkswagen, but it has enough torque at 360Nm to move the Turismo along at a perfectly reasonable pace.
Unfortunately it’s a thirsty engine, thanks in no small part to the Turismo’s huge size and weight. Fuel economy for two-wheel drive manual models is 37.2mpg and it drops to 34.9mpg if you choose the all-wheel drive automatic model. Emissions are high and that means steep VED – even the cleaner variant falls into band J with emissions of 199g/km.
The problems don’t stop there – the steering feels slow and ponderous, while the comfort-oriented suspension means corners and roundabouts aren’t taken with any kind of dynamism – there’s plenty of body roll and little lateral support from the seats.
Additionally, while the suspension offers a decent amount of ride comfort it doesn’t absorb potholes particularly quietly – the cabin can get quite noisy over rough surfaces and there’s plenty of wind noise at motorway speeds. Thankfully at higher speeds the engine is pretty quiet, if not entirely silent.
As standard the Turismo is sold with rear-wheel drive. That’s fine for most users but those who live out of town might be better off with the top-spec all-wheel drive automatic. It is a genuine all-wheel drive system with selectable high- and low-range and the smooth automatic gearbox has a winter setting, so it ought to cope with poor weather.
Because the Turismo is fairly heavy and has a good peak torque output it is rated to tow a braked trailer up to 2500kg. SsangYong even offers a relatively inexpensive tow bar kit as an optional extra, so in top-spec the Turismo is a good bet for those who regulary tow horse boxes or caravans, thanks to its all-wheel drive system.
While it’s safe to say the Turismo isn’t a fantastic car to drive its mechanical components ought to stand the test of time. SsangYong is so confident in its cars that it offers them with a seven-year warranty. Very few exclusions apply to the warranty cover and it’s even available to taxi drivers.
Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
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2.0 e-XDi | 37 mpg | - | 199 g/km |
2.0 e-XDi Automatic | 35–36 mpg | - | 205–212 g/km |
2.2 e-XDi | 38 mpg | - | 189 g/km |
2.2 e-XDi Automatic | 35–36 mpg | - | 196 g/km |
Real MPG average for a SsangYong Turismo (2013)

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
96%
Real MPG
31–42 mpg
MPGs submitted
10
Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.
What have we been asked about the SsangYong Turismo (2013)?
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