Ssangyong Motor unveils 2018 Tivoli SUV

A model poses with the new Tivoli Armour during Ssangyong Motor’s event at SJ Kunsthalle in Seoul, Monday. The SUV model has been updated for 2018. / Courtesy of Ssangyong Motor

By Jhoo Dong-chan

Ssangyong Motor unveiled its 2018 Tivoli Armour, Monday, aimed at solidifying the model’s position as Korea’s best-selling compact SUV.

To draw more drivers in their 20s and 30s, Ssangyong Motor is offering what it calls “My Only Tivoli,” a customized vehicle for style-conscious consumers.

“The Tivoli Armour Gear Edition model, offered through the My Only Tivoli service, is especially designed for those who actively express their characters and identities in trends,” a Ssangyong Motor official said.

Building on the design philosophy of the previous model, the updated Tivoli features a masculine new bumper design, which the official said is inspired by shoulder pads worn by American football players. The futuristic bumper also applies chrome-line molding with a new light-emitting diode (LED) fog lamp on the top.

New 17-inch diamond-cutting wheels are a perfect fit for the model, the official said.

The new Tivoli also reduced its noise and vibration levels by expanding the vehicle’s undercoating, which provides a more comfortable driving experience.

The Tivoli sports a new gasoline powertrain engine, the e-XGi160, which produces a maximum 126 horsepower with 16.0 kgf.m torque. The engine offers top performance for in-city driving, the official said.

The Tivoli Armour is also available with an e-XDi160 diesel engine, which produces a maximum 115 horsepower with 30.6 kgf.m torque.

The two engines come with six-speed transmissions, while the Ssangyong Motor-developed four-wheel-drive system delivers driving force, depending on road conditions, he added.

The 2018 Tivoli Armour is priced between 16.51 million won ($14,637) and 24.2 million won.

The Ssangyong Tivoli debuted in January 2015, and sales topped 100,000 in less than three years. This surpassed competitors Chevrolet Trax and Renault Samsung QM3, making the Tivoli the top-selling compact SUV. It still leads Korea's compact SUV market with a 55.1 percent share.

Following Ssangyong Motor’s success in the compact SUV market, the nation’s largest carmakers, Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors, introduced models in the segment.

Hyundai unveiled the Kona, and Kia revealed its Stonic SUV this month. The two models are both compact SUVs designed to challenge the Tivoli’s dominance in the nation’s booming SUV market.