Tivoli speaks Ssangyong's next design language

Ssangyong Motor’s Tivoli SUV

By Park Jin-hai

Ssangyong Motor, the local unit of India’s Mahindra & Mahindra, has been making waves in the local market, with more than 8,000 preorders since its launch in January 13.

The carmaker’s first compact SUV has a 1.6-liter gasoline engine and offers what first-time buyers normally want: style, function and price.

The Tivoli represents a fresh start for the carmaker that almost went to the point of liquidation.

Defying the conventional image that SUVs are heavy chunks of metal, Ssangyong Motor wants to stay cool with a sharp and unique design.

The LED head lights give the car a stronger look, while its two-toned body reminds drivers of BMW’s MINI. Inside, along with the heated D-cut steering wheel, the two-toned seats conjures up images of a sports car.

The six color cluster that drivers can choose from as their mood changes is another thing customers in their 20s and 30s will love about the car.

The Tivoli is packed full of features, maximizing its functionality, but saving costs on less important features. It has the luxury of having heated back seats, while the CD player has been replaced with USB socket and smart mirroring technology that can mirror a smartphone’s screen onto the car’s seven-inch display.

Other features also include a dual zone air conditioning system, six clash sensors and a ventilated driver’s seat.

The trunk has a secret space for a spare tire and there is a small overhead compartment for sunglasses. The 423 liter trunk space is enough for three golf bags and is larger than its rival Renault Samsung Motors QM3.

The price remains the most attractive aspect of the car and is lower than its rivals such as QM3 and Chevrolet Trax, ranging from 16.3 million won ($14,818) to 23.7 million won. Compared with other mid-sized sedans such as Avante and SM3, it still has price competitiveness, ready to tap into those customers in the compact SUV segment.

Yet what also works greatly for the company is Ssangyong Motor’s signature sturdiness. Despite the lower price tag, the vehicle still bears its hallmark robustness. On top of seven airbags, including a knee airbag for the driver's seat, more than 70 percent of the car's body consists of an intense high-tension steel plate that would help mitigate shock to passengers in case of a crash.

The door plate also feels a bit heavy and stronger than other B-segment cars.

Driving performance and fuel efficiency have been better than one’s expectation.

Mated with the 1.6-liter engine and Japan’s AISIN six-speed transmission, the same one supplied to Ssangyong’s Koreando C and BMW MINI, the car enabled smooth and sound driving in a 90 kilometer round trip from Marina Club in Yeoido and Paju in Gyeonggi Province.

Although the marked fuel efficiency for the auto-transmission car has been 12 kilometers per liter, off on the road it has been better, posting 13.6 kilometers per liter.

All in all, the Tivoli has great features that can appeal to young drivers. Considering its price range, all the shortcomings such as a glossy center fascia panel and plastic buttons that didn’t look as premium and an inability to accelerate at higher speed seems minor.