SsangYong Tivoli Review 2024

SsangYong Tivoli At A Glance

3/5
Honest John Overall Rating
The SsangYong Tivoli offers a lot of space and value for money, and comes with an impressive five-year, 100,000-mile warranty.

+Well equipped and seriously well priced. Hard to fault the build quality when you consider the price.

-Not the most recognisable brand name. Some of the material quality isn’t great. Petrol engine has fairly high emissions.

New prices start from £16,995
Insurance Group 16
On average it achieves 82% of the official MPG figure

The SsangYong Tivoli majors on great value in the small SUV sector, offering plenty of space at very keen prices. The diesel engine has been dropped from the range, leaving the slightly rowdy, quite high CO2-emitting petrol as the sole option. Some will be tempted by the SsangYong Tivoli’s low prices, while others will look to the MG ZS, the popular Dacia Duster or, best of the lot, the Ford Puma. Read on for our full SsangYong Tivoli review.

With a budget price tag and little-known badge, the SsangYong Tivoli might seem cheap and cheerful – but it’s much better than that. (And the little known badge is about to be replaced, anyway, as the firm rebrands to KG Motors).

Offering space for a family, plenty of standard equipment and impressive material quality, it’s easily the best car SsangYong has ever made – good enough to give rival small SUVs such as the Renault Captur and the Nissan Juke something to worry about.

It’s a more practical car than the similarly-priced Nissan Juke, with space in the back row for adults to sit in comfort and a good-sized 423-litre boot, which is only let down by a high load lip.

In the cabin there are plenty of cubby holes and usefully-sized storage bins, including a glovebox designed to house a laptop and a centre storage bin big enough for an iPad.

The interior quality of the Tivoli is head and shoulders above anything SsangYong has made previously. Materials throughout the cabin are fairly plush and durable, plus there is good quality leather upholstery on all but entry-level Ventura models.

It also gets heated seats, Bluetooth connectivity and a user-friendly, well-integrated touchscreen system.

The single 1.6-litre petrol engine comes with manual or automatic gearboxes. The 163PS petrol needs to be worked quite hard and it isn’t the most frugal engine on the market, but it has enough power for rural roads or motorways.

Ride comfort is good, while grip levels and handling are acceptable. An enthusiastic driver won’t necessarily relish driving the SsangYong Tivoli, especially compared to the Nissan Juke, but most will find it perfectly capable and easy to drive, whether in town, on the motorway or on a rural road.

It might have a few shortcomings, but thanks to a well-made, family-friendly cabin and a very generous level of standard equipment, they are easily forgiven.

Factor in the very competitive pricing from a little more than £20,000, along with an impressive five-year warranty, and the SsangYong Tivoli holds plenty of appeal.

Fancy a second opinion? Read heycar’s SsangYong Tivoli review.

Ask Honest John

Why do you never recommend the SsangYong Tivoli as a practical value for money SUV?

"Why do you never recommend the SsangYong Tivoli as a practical value for money SUV? Having owned two top of the range models, one diesel and one petrol. I have found the car, reliability and dealership superb."
You're not alone - SsangYong was named the best performing manufacturer in our 2018 Satisfaction Index. We do recommend the Tivoli a lot to people looking for a good value crossover. It's still a niche choice, though - many buyers might be better catered for with a Suzuki Vitara or Honda HR-V.
Answered by Andrew Brady

What automatic SUV should I buy on a £10,000 budget?

"I am looking for a small or medium automatic SUV 2012 or newer for under £10k. I do about 18-20k miles per year. What would you recommend? Is mileage a big factor as I appreciate for my budget it may be high. Should I raise my budget for lower mileage or if nothing is available for under £10k look at a smaller car with lower mileage?"
I'd recommend a SsangYong Tivoli. It's a good budget SUV and £10,000 will get you a 2016 model with the diesel engine and automatic gearbox. Also consider a Dacia Duster.
Answered by Andrew Brady

Is there a no-nonsense SUV with genuine 4x4 ability?

"I'm looking for a robust, no-nonsense SUV. I don't need loads of gizmos, just a good solid motor for me and my dogs. A working vehicle, that's comfortable on a journey and economical. Is there such a vehicle?"
We'd recommend a SsangYong Tivoli. It's not a serious off-roader but is 4x4 and will cope with fields and farm tracks without an issue. Also consider a Dacia Duster or a Suzuki Vitara.
Answered by Andrew Brady

Is the Skoda Yeti auto gearbox problematic?

"My wife favours a used Skoda Yeti petrol auto for local, rural journeys and the occasional long trip. I hear that the Yeti automatic gearbox can be iffy. Any recommendations?"
Believe what you heard. The only decent DSG in the Yeti is the DQ250 wet clutch 6-speed and you only get that in the 2.0-litre TDI. Small automatics with reliable automatics include the Honda Jazz CVT-7, the Toyota Yaris hybrid epicyclic CVT, all Mazda from the 2 to the 6 with 6-speed torque converter autos, all Peugeot and Citroen with EAT6 torque converter autos, the Suzuki Baleno, Suzuki Swift and Suzuki Vitara with 6-speed torque converter autos, and the Ssangyong Tivoli with 6-speed torque converter auto.
Answered by Honest John
More Questions

What does a SsangYong Tivoli cost?