Why buy the Ssangyong Tivoli?
The Ssangyong Tivoli is a small SUV that offers a lot of passenger space and a generous helping of features included as standard for a much lower price than you’ll pay for many other small SUVs. It has a usefully large boot and a manufacturer’s warranty from new that covers it for five years or 100,000 miles (whichever comes first).
Ssangyong Tivoli range and updates
The Tivoli was first sold in the UK in 2015. It’s had many over the years, adding to the list of standard features with things like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone support. The Tivoli XLV was also added to the range – it’s a longer, more practical version of the car with a bigger boot.
The most recent round of updates (in 2020) included refreshed styling details and new engine options. Those are 1.2-litre and 1.5-litre petrol engines, which replaced the old 1.6-litre petrol and 1.6-litre diesel. You can choose from models with manual or automatic gearboxes, and front- or four-wheel drive. There’s also a broad spectrum of trim levels available, ranging from value-focused to rather lavish.
Ssangyong Tivoli tech and features
Every Tivoli comes pretty well equipped considering its relatively low price. Even the entry-point SE trim level has manual air con, cruise control, four electric windows and a touchscreen media system with a radio and aux-in/USB input sockets. The popular, mid-range ELX adds to that with automatic dual-zone air con, a reversing camera, Bluetooth and, in models sold after 2019, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto support. On top of all that, top-of-the-range Ultimate models get built-in TomTom sat nav, leather upholstery and heated front seats.
Ssangyong Tivoli running costs and value
The older 1.6-litre petrol engine that was available in the Tivoli from 2015 to 2020 can give average fuel economy of 39mpg with a manual gearbox or 37mpg with an automatic gearbox, according to official figures. Diesel manual models can give as much as 62mpg and diesel automatics can give 47mpg. The official figures show the 1.2-litre and 1.5-litre petrol engines can each give 40mpg if they have a manual gearbox, while the 1.5-litre automatic can give you 36mpg.
Fuel economy for the diesel engine is competitive with other small, diesel SUVs, but the petrol engines are less fuel-efficient than many rival cars. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are either average or higher than average for this type of car.
Ssangyong Tivoli vs rivals
Other small SUVs you might want to consider include the Dacia Duster, the Suzuki Vitara and the Citroen C3 Aircross. Compared with them, the Tivoli is a solid all-rounder and it’s particularly useful if you need a lot of passenger space.
