Ssang Yong Tivoli XLV

THE Tivoli XLV is available with either two or four-wheel drive and a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox. However, it comes in only one trim level, so it’s the £19,500 ELX model with allwheel drive and manual transmission we test here.

Styling 2.9/5

SSANGYONG has plenty of history when it comes to four-wheel drive, but the majority of its all-wheeldrive models up to now have been more utilitarian off-roaders, pick-ups or budget-focused. While the Tivoli XLV still retains some of these characteristics, it’s more of a crossover with some off-road ability than a full-on 4x4, and this is reflected in the car’s looks.

It doesn’t boast quite as much ground clearance as its rivals, so on our car’s £400 18-inch gunmetal grey alloy wheels, the Tivoli XLV’S deep front bumper sits relatively low. The model’s inherited the regular Tivoli’s design, but while the bluff front looks similar, some tweaks to the bumper – including the dark grey insert around the lower light clusters – add presence.

The big, square wheelarches give the Ssangyong a solid look and strong shoulderline, but the way these creases integrate into the longer body aren’t quite as elegant as on its smaller sibling. Both cars share an identical wheelbase, which explains why the larger rear overhang on the XLV makes it look a little awkward from some angles.

The large tail-lights are a simple design, and with the flat tailgate the rear isn’t quite as striking as the front. However, apart from a few minor details, the Ssangyong’s looks have remained fairly faithful to the design concept that was unveiled in 2015.

It’s a big positive for Ssangyong, as the XLV is a more modern, European-looking crossover. This premium focus is obvious once you climb aboard, too. Our test car’s Dandy Blue metallic paint comes with beige leather as standard – although you can go for grey as a no-cost option instead.

The two-tone colour scheme gives the interior a lift, while touchpoints such as the indicators and leather-wrapped steering wheel also feel high quality. However, there are solid plastics elsewhere – the dash is acceptable, but the buttons and knobs on the centre console feel cheap. The layout means it can be difficult to find the one you want at a glance, too.

At least there’s a good haul of equipment, as sat-nav, Bluetooth and DAB are part of the seven-inch touchscreen multimedia system. You also get heated seats in the front and rear, parking sensors and a reversing camera, which helps to justify this ELX model’s £19,500 price tag. However, it still seems expensive compared with other value-focused brands.

Driving 2.5/5

COMFORT and ride quality, rather than outright performance, tend to be top of the list for crossover buyers and the Tivoli delivers just enough refinement.

At speed on the motorway or on smooth surfaces the car is relatively composed, but once you turn off on to twistier, more undulating roads, the Tivoli loses a little of its poise. Hitting a bump mid-corner will knock the chassis off line, sending a thump through the structure as the wheel rebounds with a noticeable lack of control. It’s not the most agile crossover and it doesn’t have much grip, but the light steering at least means it’s not taxing to drive. The XLV features three steering modes – Comfort, Normal and Sport – but it’s best left in Normal, as Sport feels artificial and Comfort a little too light. The XLV’S extra bodywork over the rear isn’t too noticeable either, so it drives much like the standard Tivoli.

It also shares that car’s punchy 1.6-litre turbodiesel, which delivered decent performance at the track. However, rev the engine hard and its lack of refinement shows. If you’re more careful with the throttle and surf along on the XLV’S 300Nm wave of torque from 1,500rpm, progress is more relaxing.

In-gear acceleration is acceptable, but if you do have to work the box harder, the shift action isn’t the sweetest. It can sometimes obstruct you selecting gears – especially when slowing for junctions and going back into first. The four-wheel-drive system is selective, so the transmission diverts power to the rear wheels only when it senses a loss of grip. Most of the time the Tivoli sends drive to the front axle alone (although there is a function to lock it into 4x4 mode), so unless you definitely need all-wheel drive, we’d go for the front-driven model, which is £1,250 cheaper.

Ownership 3.0/5

SSANGYONG is hoping that the Tivoli and XLV will help strengthen its presence in the UK, and while the brand has sold more than 100,000 examples globally, it isn’t yet popular enough here to feature in our Driver Power customer satisfaction survey.

With a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, you’ll be well covered if anything should go wrong. The car hasn’t yet been put through its paces by Euro NCAP, either, but with seven airbags as standard safety should be adequate for a car in this class.

running costs 3.1/5

SSANGYONG’S already offering a competitive finance deal on the XLV. Go for the manual 4x4 model tested here and you’ll pay £224 a month over three years. But this is based on a relatively large £5,000 deposit, while the final balloon payment is also steep, at £9,025.

This compares to £234 per month for the Dacia over a longer four-year deal. But the Duster’s deposit and final payment are much lower, at £1,570 and £4,938 respectively, while the dealer will also throw in an extra £750 up front. Over the same time period you’ll have to find £255 per month for the Suzuki, with a £3,372 deposit and an £8,004 final payment.

Accounting for the different lengths of the deals, our calculations show that while buying on finance will close the price gap between the three, the total amount payable on the Duster will still be the least at £18,491, while the Tivoli will cost £21,870 in total. The Vitara deal comes in at £23,616.