SUPERSMALL SUVs are big business right now. In fact, you pretty much can't move for them. Visit a car showroom – any car showroom – and you'll find a B-segment SUV.

Nissan started the rush with the hugely successful Juke and other manufacturers have piled in – Renault, Fiat, Jeep, Chevrolet, Ford and Vauxhall all joined the party in the past couple of years.

Car manufacturers love 'em because they appeal to younger, more affluent, drivers and are a great way to add a bit of pizazz to an otherwise dull range.

Ironically, recent studies suggest this belief may be misplaced. Research in the US found that the majority of B-segment SUVs are actually bought by drivers aged 55 and over.

In the States, you're more likely to find a walking stick in the boot of a pocket-sized off-roader than a surf board.

Nevertheless, this is one of the fastest growing car segments right now (20 per cent of the overall SUV market with no sign of a slow down) and every manufacturer is looking to join in.

Latest entrant is Korean cut-price car company Ssangyong with the new Tivoli, which goes on sale in the UK this month.

According to Ssangyong the Tivoli also represents a step-change in how its cars will be perceived in the future.

Say goodbye to 'cheap 'n cheerful' and hello to 'robust, speciality and premium'.

That's a big ask for that company that launched the Rodius MPV.

However, to give the Tivoli a fighting chance it has engineered an all new platform, designed a new body and brought forward two new engines.

It takes its name from the Italian town near Rome which, says Ssangyong, has a reputation for style thanks to a beautiful location and a bountiful cultural heritage, It's a pity Ssangyong felt unable to name it after a city from its own country, but Kia already has first dabs on the Soul (nee Seoul) and Gimpo, Iksan, Nonsan and Ulwang (all notable South Korean cities) don't translate too well.

So Tivoli it is.

Tivoli is the first new model to be launched following the merger of SsangYong and the Indian company, Mahindra & Mahindra.

It has taken 42 months of development and an investment of £200m to design a car that will compete strongly on design and reliability, safety, interior space and practicality,.

However, the big scoop is the availability of all-wheel drive which will differentiate it from other SUVs in the sector.

First impressions are good. The Tivoli has eye-catching lines, not so wacky as the Juke but not as boring as a Panda. With its generous wheel arches (especially on the 18-inch alloys option) and chiselled chin it looks like it means business from every angle.

Inside the cabin's interior width of 1,795mm makes Tivoli one of the widest in its class.

The leather-wrapped steering wheel is electrically heated for warm hands in winter and the instrument cluster illumination can be personalised to any of six subtle background colours: red, blue, sky-blue, yellow, white and black.

Semi-bucket style seats are ergonomically formed with two levels of firmness to provide comfort and stability while driving and especially when cornering.

The new 1.6 litre diesel unit offers strong performance, and is clean and quiet. Tivoli also gets a newly developed 1.6 litre petrol engine designed for fuel efficiency. Both can be combined with the choice of manual or automatic transmission, and either a 2-wheel or 4-wheel drive system.

Tivoli is a practical car, too. The generous luggage space of up to 423 cubic litres is enough to carry three full size golf club bags, and the second row of seats can also be folded fully flat for further carrying capacity.

The second row seats are inclined at an angle of 27.5 degrees, and the virtually flat floor ensures rear seat passenger comfort even on long journeys. The rear seats also offer various folding combinations including fully level and a 60:40 division. Tivoli also provides numerous storage spaces in different parts of the car including the centre console which is large enough for an iPad, the glove box and inner tray, an open tray and luggage tray. There’s also space to carry a 1.5 litre drinks bottle in each of the front and rear door side pockets.

Paul Williams, CEO of SsangYong Motor UK says: “This is a car that will really put SsangYong on the map and change brand perceptions.”

And with prices starting at a just £12,950 he might just have a point.