Good: comfortable and controlled chassis, low running costs, spacious.
Not so good: unknown residual values, switchgear could be better.
The first example of the SsangYong Tivoli I drove, a couple of years ago now, was powered by a petrol engine and was fitted with an automatic gearbox. I was less than impressed. The engine, while perky enough, was loud, uncouth and generally horrid, made worse by the old-school transmission. In my short drive I barely noticed the rest of the car so dominated was the experience by the poor drivetrain.
So I was pleasantly surprised when it came time to try out the Tivoli in diesel, manual format. The 1.6-litre engine isn't the quietest of its type, but neither is it the loudest and its modest 115hp is more than compensated by a useful 300Nm of torque from just 1,500rpm. Hence it gets up to speed quickly and maintains its pace with little effort. On the motorway, it cruises relatively quietly in sixth gear with plenty of performance to spare. That six-speed manual gearbox is actually enjoyable to use too, so it'll surprise some with its cross-country ability. Admittedly the three-mode power steering system feels artificial, but the suspension and brakes are as good as anything else in the class. The damping and body control deserve a special mention, as they're better than good, meaning it's fun to hustle the Tivoli along a twisty road, even if it's bumpy.
But we don't expect buyers of small crossovers to prioritise driving dynamics, so think of it as a bonus rather than a reason to buy the SsangYong. No, the Korean company will need a lot more than that if it has any chance of breaking into this growing sector. Style is arguably the number one priority here, followed closely by running costs and specification. I'll concede that the Tivoli looks interesting and it stands out from the crowd, but it's not what I'd call conventionally attractive. There are plenty of colour options that dramatically change how it looks, including two-tone finishes, so spend some time thinking that over before paying a deposit.
The Tivoli's upright profile hides a distinctly spacious cabin, one of the largest in the segment I reckon, while the 434-litre boot is among the leaders too. The rest of the interior will be a shock to the system for buyers coming from more established brands, as it's not as modern looking and some of the switchgear is baffling to understand and use, never mind its positioning. With time, that becomes less important and it seems well enough made and quite comfortable on a longer journey.
Now, I bet you're expecting me to conclude by saying that the Tivoli is a little different, but it's worth a punt because it's such good value for money. I'm afraid not. The headline-grabbing starting price of a fiver under twenty grand is for that dreaded petrol variant (though I suspect it's far more palatable with a manual gearbox), while the diesel Tivoli starts at €21,495. That undercuts the similarly leftfield Kia Soul, but the latter is a far more polished car. Diesel versions of the Renault Captur and Nissan Juke are about the same price as the Tivoli and they're known quantities. If you plan on holding onto the Tivoli for a long time then it may be worth the outlay, especially as it's very well equipped, but we'd worry about residual value in a three-year trade-in cycle. Nonetheless, if you like what you see, do your best to haggle a little more off the price. And whatever you do, don't go for the automatic petrol option.
