SsangYong’s Tivoli has rapidly become the top seller for South Korea’s oldest vehicle-maker, and to help it compete with larger cars such as the Nissan Qashqai, there is now an extended version with more luggage space.
Called the Tivoli XLV, it costs £1,000 more than the smaller Tivoli ELX but provides up to 720 cubic litres of loadspace, including a hidden compartment beneath the boot floor, and plenty of head and shoulder room.
All Tivolis have impressive standard equipment, including leather seats — heated in the front — sat-nav, seven airbags, reversing camera and a raft of electronic safety aids. It is also decent to drive and comfortable, although the ride can be a bit jiggly on some surfaces.
Power is from a 113hp 1.6-litre diesel engine working through a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox, there is a choice of two or four-wheel-drive and there is a five-year unlimited mileage warranty. The XLV costs between £18,250 and £20,500, which, for what it is, is a pretty good deal. The only downside about the extended version is that it is not quite as pretty as the ELX — SsangYong describes the XLV as an SUV estate. But few people would choose a SsangYong as a style statement, so maybe that doesn’t really matter.
As with the ELX, the version which rides best is the 4x4, where the weight distribution smoothes out irregularities rather well.
Overall, this is a likeable, keenly priced and practical car, which can be specced up to be as plain or as fancy as you like with the firm’s My Tivoli programme. It’s a hit for SsangYong, and it deserves to be.
SsangYong Tivoli XLV manual 2WD
Top speed: 109mph;
CO2: 117g/km;
0-62mph: 12 secs;
Price: £18,250
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