SsangYong Turismo EX 2.0 AT RWD 2014

It’s larger than an average MPV but not quiet a people carrier. SsangYong, now under the wing of India’s Mahindra Motors, has introduced the Turismo in the UK. At over 5m long and with a 3m wheelbase, the Turismo is an MPV, a luggage carrier and a soft-roader all rolled into one .

It is a seven-seater – two front seats, two in the middle and a three-seater bench at the rear. It has a luggage space of 875 litres which can be extended to 3,146 litres with rear seats folded up. Designed to appeal as family, leisure and business transportation, the Turismo tries to find the middle ground between multi-role functionality, ride quality and the equipment levels of a luxury saloon.

The front of the car has a robust stance thanks to its hexagonal shaped radiator grille and trapezoidal bumper. The Turismo is powered by the 2.0-litre turbo charged e-XDi200 diesel engine offering a maximum power of 155PS at 4,000rpm and maximum torque of 360Nm at 2,800rpm. There’s a choice of 6-speed manual transmission and a 5-speed Mercedes-Benz T-Tronic automatic transmission. While rear wheel drive features across the range, the top of the range EX includes selectable 4×4 with low ratio as standard.

Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Active Roll over Protection (ARP), Brake Assist System (BAS), dual front and side air bags and two high strength sub-frames fitted to the front and rear of the car are the safety features included in the Turismo. Other features on the inside include electrically operated and heated door mirrors, a leather covered steering wheel and gear knob, a top-end entertainment system, leather upholstery, electrically adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, rear parking sensors, heated lower windscreen, solar controlled glass, rain sensitive wipers and eco cruise control.