Ssangyong Tivoli review

How do you stand out from the crowd? For small SUVs, like the Ssangyong Tivoli, it’s becoming increasingly difficult. This lucrative market is being populated by more and more manufacturers, all launching new models and all vying for the same pot of buyers.

And for Ssangyong, being still a relatively unknown brand in the UK, it’s even more difficult. However, the Korean manufacturer has made its Tivoli cheaper than all of its key rivals, with the exception of the Dacia Duster and MG ZS. So for those on a tighter budget, or overwhelmed by the choices and some of the prices involved, the Tivoli’s low cost is a definite attention grabber.

Other than the Duster, what other options are there? Well, you have the good-value Skoda Kamiq, the Renault Captur, Nissan Juke and several Volkswagens: the T-Cross and larger T-Roc. Plus, there’s our 2020 Car of the Year, the Ford Puma. 

They all aim to offer the look and feel of an off-roader, but with performance and running costs more akin to a small hatchback. Some, such as the T-Roc, offer four-wheel drive, but most, including the Tivoli, are two-wheel-drive only. There's also the Tivoli XLV estate-inspired model with even more boot space; we’ve reviewed that model separately. 

So read on over the next few pages to get our in-depth impressions of the regular Tivoli, along with our recommendations for which trims and engines make the most sense. And whichever small SUV you fancy, head to our New Car Buying pages to make easy work of finding a great deal.