Driven: 2017 Ssangyong Tivoli XLV 1.6 Diesel ELX Style Review
The 2017 SsangYong Tivoli XLV could be the coolest car to ever come out of SsangYong. Find out what we thought of the car below.
What is the SsangYong Tivoli XLV all About?
The SsangYong Tivoli XLV is a fun and arguably stylish car from the brand. If you are looking for a small SUV but you still want good boot space, this is where the XLV comes in.
The car we have on test here is in Tech Grey and I have to say certainly looks the part. I think the chunky styling from the brand works well. This car has the additional styling pack that includes black 18″ alloy wheels, black roof bars, spoiler and body colour mirrors. This a £400 option, but I think makes all the difference to the appearance of the car.
The powertrain unit in the Tivoli XLV is a 1.6 litre Euro 6 compliant inline-4 turbodiesel. It puts out 115 PS, quite good for a car of its size, and 300 Nm of torque. There is a 6 speed manual gearbox and for the majority of the time, the car remains in two wheel drive to optimise fuel efficiency. When sensors detect a potential loss of grip, the system switches to four wheel drive mode.
The Tivoli will be able to get from 0-60mph in 12 seconds and will do a top speed of 107 mph. Fuel efficiency figures for this car are also pretty good with a combined figure of 57.6 mpg and 127g/km of CO2.
How Does it Drive?
Settling into the driver’s seat of the Tivoli I was instantly impressed with how comfortable the car was. Getting into gear and moving off with the 1.6 litre diesel engine there was a significant amount of power. I feel the 115 PS diesel engine is a good match for the car. It works nicely on the road and pulls the car at a good pace, but it will still return decent MPG figures.
When we talk about driving dynamics the SsangYong is a bit reserved with regards to giving feedback from the road. But this does help the refinement of the car in a way. Inside the cabin, the car is actually quite refined and comfortable. To me, the road noise inside the car was considerably quiet.
We must also consider this small SUV as a true off-roader. I got the chance to test the car on an off-road course and I was blown away by just how capable this car is. On road tyres the car is capable of taking on extreme slopes, small obstacles, and even muddy waters. The only real restriction is the ground clearance. Furthermore, the car gripped all surfaces easily with the SsangYong 4×4 system. I never expected it to be as good as it is.
The Tivoli is pretty well up-to-date when it comes to technology. The car includes Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keeping Assist. There is also Traffic Sign Recognition, Electronic Stability Programme and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System. Finally, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution – Anti-Brake System and Brake Assist System.
After listing all that you would think I was talking about the latest Tesla, but now we can get all of this tech on a reasonably priced mid sized SUV. How crazy is that? A couple of things worth mentioning is the Lane Keep Assist, which we got a good opportunity to test. It will certainly help ease your arms on long journeys and help you maintain a lane on the motorway, without swerving over the lines if you make an error. The other is the Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking System, which we got the opportunity to test. We drove straight at a inflatable car at around 35 m/hour and the car completely auto braked by itself. It left over a metre of space in front of the car. It was incredible to see this technology work first hand.
What’s it Like Inside?
So taking the first look inside the car, you will notice the test car includes the red leather pack. Some will like this and some wont. But this is an option and takes away from a lot of those black plastics. The leather itself is a reasonable quality and does add a touch of premium quality to the interior.
The set up inside the car is decent. You will notice there is now a 7 inch touchscreen as an entertainment system, which works pretty well. Additionally, it includes all you would expect like Bluetooth phone integration, sat nav and DAB radio.
The one thing that is a real winner with this car is the sheer amount of usable internal space. Passengers front and back have plenty of leg and headroom and the moment you open the boot, it overwhelms you with the amount of storage the car has. It is a great compromise of space and practicality.
The Experience
The experience of the SsangYong Tivoli ELX felt like a bit of a guilty pleasure. Part of me didn’t want to like it from day one but I was soon won round by all its reasonable, rational and very practical characteristics. These helped create a solid overall package.
Verdict
The SsangYong Tivoli ELX 4×4 completely exceeded my expectations. The basic driving experience is very good and certainly ticks all the basic requirements. The interior practicality and technology are also in abundance. Overall it is a solid package; it’s stylish, practical and economical. What more can you ask for?
Video Highlights
Specification
- Price: £20,450
- Engine: 1.6-litre inline-4 turbodiesel
- Power: 115 PS
- Torque: 300 Nm
- Transmission: 6-speed manual
- 0-62mph: 12 Seconds
- Top speed: 107 mph
- Weight: 1,405 kg
- Economy combined: 57.6 mpg
- CO2: 127 g/km
Author: Paul Hadley
