IS it possible for a single model to turn around the fortunes of a car manufacturer?
The Golf certainly transformed VW when it arrived in 1974, while the 944 kept Porsche off the endangered species list ten years later. More recently, the DB7 probably saved Aston Martin from the knacker’s yard and where would Fiat be without the 500?
What’s this got to do with the Ssangyong Tivoli? Well…
When Ssangyong bosses announced that their next car would be a compact SUV no one was losing sleep at Nissan, Renault or Skoda. The company’s track record – Musso, Rodius and Rexton – gave no hint the company's designers possessed the kind of flair a new entrant requires in order to make its mark in such a congested and closely fought market segment.
The Tivoli doesn’t turn heads like the Juke did when it first hit the road, but it doesn’t leave you gagging, either. It’s a smart and contemporary design. Several times during the test a stranger approached to ask what it was, and I heard one bloke confidently telling his wife that it was “that new Volvo”.
Heck, the Tivoli has even been shortlisted for the 2016 World Car of the Year title, the first ever nomination for a Ssangyong.
ON THE ROAD
The Tivoli is available with a choice of 1.6 petrol or diesel engines. Naturally, the petrol is the cheapest, but we think canny buyers will go for the diesel.
An all-new four-cylinder powerplant, the e-XDI produces 115PS at 3,400rpm and 300Nm from just 1,500rpm. Although the 0-62mph figures are nothing to get excited about, the Tivoli diesel feels a lot faster on the road – particularly in third and fourth where it responds with real enthusiasm.
On the move there’s a bit of road roar from the tyres but the engine is always impressively quiet, even when it is cold. The brakes’ over-eagerness requires a degree of recalibration but otherwise the driveline is as smooth and easy to use as anything from Ssangyong’s Japanese rivals.
ON THE INSIDE
The Tivoli confounds expectations inside the cabin. It’s fair to describe Ssangyong’s earlier efforts as lacklustre at best with their swathes of cheap ‘n’ scratchy black plastics and flimsy trim, but the Tivoli marks a welcome departure from this depressing template.
It’s good to find a simple pull-on handbrake, but the lack of reach adjustment for the steering is a demerit and the radio/heating controls have too many buttons (and a hard-to-read font) where twiddly knobs would be more intuitive.
The number of bings and bongs when you start the engine is vaguely disconcerting, though. Someone at Ssangyong probably thought it was a good idea to emulate a mobile phone’s start-up routine but it quicklygot on my nerves. There’s another little jingle when you switch-off too and the usual radar-inspired cacophony when you reverse.
HOW PRACTICAL IS IT?
Unusually for a B-segment compact SUV, the Tivoli can seat three adults across the back seat and all of them can expect a decent amount of leg and knee room. Room in the front is excellent and the seats are very comfortable. The steering wheel adjusts for reach but not rake. Headroom is excellent wherever you are sat.
There are several useful spaces in the cabin – the door bins can accommodate a can of drink, there are cup holders in the centre console and a modest lidded storage bin, a glovebox and a handy shelf sitting above it.
The boot is a decent size, even with a space-saver spare tyre, and the seat back folds forward. At 423-litres it beats the Juke (354 litres) and the Peugeot 2008 (350 litres) but the boot lip is rather high and the seat doesn’t fold flat with the boot floor, leaving a substantial hump where the two meet unless you meet the false floor. The diesel engine has a maximum towing capacity of 1.5 tonnes.
The steering has three settings, including a Sport mode which stiffens everything up nicely. Body control is fine whatever your choice of driving mode. There's a bit of lean, but nothing to get excited about. The Tivoli is no better - but crucially no worse - than its rivals in this respect.
WHAT DO YOU GET?
Considering the price, the Tivoli is well equipped. There are three models: entry-level SE, the EX and the posh ELX.
Every Tivoli gets cruise control, 16-inch alloy wheels and Bluetooth telephone connectivity. The mid-range EX adds dual-zone climate control, a reversing camera, bigger 18-inch wheels and leather upholstery.
For the top-of-the-range ELX, Ssangyong has bought in a touch screen sat nav solution from Tom Tom – Europe’s leading mapping exponent – which is easy to use and reliable. All-round parking sensors and automatic wipers are also standard on top-of-the-range models.
RUNNING COSTS
Ssangyong’s mpg claims are short of the Juke and you can knock at least 15mpg off them in the real world. We averaged 47mpg which is okay but, not top drawer. Adding an automatic gearbox (the same unit as also found in a MINI Countryman) or four-wheel drive will reduce that further and increase the Tivoli’s CO2 exhaust emissions. The all-wheel drive option is only available if you buy the diesel and even then only on the top two trim levels.
VERDICT
The Tivoli is the first Ssangyong you’d buy out of choice rather than cheapness. And by selling a new compact SUV for the price of a secondhand one I reckon the company could have something of a sleeper hit on its hands.
It might not be enough top wipe out memories of previous Ssangyong horrors - but it's a bloody good try.
SSANGYONG TIVOLI ELX diesel.
Price: £17,250.
SPEC: Engine: 1.6-litre/four-cylinder, turbodiesel Power: 115PS Torque: 300Nm Top speed: 109 mph 0-62mph: 12.5 seconds CO2: 113g/km (ELX, manual, 2WD) Fuel consumption: 47mpg on test (65.7mpg official)
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