By Ian Strachan.
If you are planning on buying a small crossover vehicle, the chances are the SsangYong Tivoli won’t be top of your choice list.
Which is a shame, as this car is a stylish, value-for-money alternative to more traditional models. It has a restyled exterior and a new interior, and is full of thoughtful touches.
There’s the underfloor storage in the luggage area, the forward collision warning and autonomous emergency braking, and the smart steering system which varies the amount of effort needed to steer.
The first thing you notice about the nicely-styled Tivoli is its smart squared-off rear-end and attractive side contours. It also has attractive 18-inch alloys and a high front end with an imposing black grille.
I drove the top-of-the-range specification with a new, gutsy 163PS 1.5 litre petrol engine. This engine pulls smoothly and willingly throughout the range. It’s not the most economical engine, with fuel consumption figures of 40.4 mpg in mixed driving, but it’s a flexible and forgiving unit married to a pleasant six-speed automatic transmission.
The Tivoli also handles well, with minimal roll around corners and you always feel in touch with the road, aided by Tivoli’s smart steering system.
Equipment on the Ultimate spec which I tested is impressive. Standard features on this specification include heated leather seats, heated steering wheel, rear parking camera, electronic cruise control, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, automatic headlights and wipers, all-round electric windows and electric folding mirrors.
You also get remote keyless entry, satellite navigation and DAB radio controlled via a nine-inch touchscreen, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition and 60/40 split rear seats. You also get a seven year, 150,000 mile warranty.
The Tivoli Ultimate GDTi petrol automatic comes at £23,800 on the road and the range starts at just £13,765, which is excellent value for such a highly specified and versatile vehicle.
