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Ssangyong Tivoli XLV 1.6 (A) Review
22 Aug 2016|31,006 views
You might remember the Ssangyong Tivoli, the Korean automaker's compact crossover Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) offering that marked a distinct step forward for the brand. Now, the brand is offering this XLV variant.
XLV stands for eXciting Lifestyle Vehicle, the way the brand wants to pitch this model. No, it doesn't stand for eXtra Large Vehicle, although one could argue it technically is. Rather, it's made for drivers who require additional space to comfortably accommodate their lifestyle habits.
Remember how a picture featuring Kim Kardashian's bum almost broke the Internet? Well, the new Tivoli XLV has a similarly well-endowed booty, and while we don't think it will necessarily break the Internet, the brand certainly hopes that it will help to further break into our local market.
The restyled front fascia is notably more sharp and masculine
Up close and Personal
The car is certainly larger than the Tivoli Compact (as its smaller sibling is affectionately termed). It is 45mm taller and 238mm longer, with all that extra length at the rear. This means that boot space is an impressive 720 litres, a significant 297 litres more than the Compact.
The exterior has been slightly restyled for a more aggressive and grown-up look, with a lot of straight, muscular lines. The front fascia features a bold shoulder wing design that integrates the radiator grille and head lights, and the rear combination lamps are noticably bigger.
XLV stands for eXciting Lifestyle Vehicle, the way the brand wants to pitch this model. No, it doesn't stand for eXtra Large Vehicle, although one could argue it technically is. Rather, it's made for drivers who require additional space to comfortably accommodate their lifestyle habits.
Remember how a picture featuring Kim Kardashian's bum almost broke the Internet? Well, the new Tivoli XLV has a similarly well-endowed booty, and while we don't think it will necessarily break the Internet, the brand certainly hopes that it will help to further break into our local market.
Up close and Personal
The car is certainly larger than the Tivoli Compact (as its smaller sibling is affectionately termed). It is 45mm taller and 238mm longer, with all that extra length at the rear. This means that boot space is an impressive 720 litres, a significant 297 litres more than the Compact.
The exterior has been slightly restyled for a more aggressive and grown-up look, with a lot of straight, muscular lines. The front fascia features a bold shoulder wing design that integrates the radiator grille and head lights, and the rear combination lamps are noticably bigger.
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Add all of that to the XLV's increased dimensions and its overall boxy demeanour, and you certainly get a more 'manly' car. Is it 'good-looking', though? Well, that's entirely subjective, but in this day and age of curvaceous lines and sloping silhouettes, the Tivoli XLV certainly stands out with its bold angularity.
The seats in the spacious interior are now all decked out in leather, combined with red stitching, which adds a touch more quality. The funky patterns on the backrests echo the 'lifestyle' sentiment in the car's name.
The additional height also means that there is now more headroom in the cabin. The rear seats can also be reclined further, up to 32.5 degrees, allowing the rear passengers to ride in amples amount of comfort.
There is also a fair amount of equipment. The comprehensive aftermarket infotainment system comes with the likes of navigation and bluetooth connectivity, and you also get dual-zone air-conditioning. Our only bugging complain is that the car lacks a USB port.
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The Drive
The Tivoli XLV is fitted with the same 1.6-litre engine as the Tivoli Compact, making 128bhp and 160Nm of torque. However, due to the extra size and additional weight, the engine does struggle somewhat on the roads. You tend to get a lot more sound than shove, with the car taking a little while to gather speed.
However, once you get over the lack of initial pickup, the car generally drives well. The six-speed Aisin transmission is smooth and shifts between gears effortlessly. The car is easy to pilot, especially with the light steering. It actually does a good job of hiding the its size - it does not feel cumbersome, and body roll is kept reasonably in check. The steering weight can also be adjusted between three settings - Comfort, Normal and Sport - via a button on the centre console.
The 1.6-litre engine will huff and puff, especially when you push it a little
Like most of the other cars in its class, the Tivoli XLV excels as a people-carrier on the road, and is certainly nicer for the other four passengers than the driver.
After a full day of driving the Tivoli XLV, we managed a fuel economy figure of 12km/L. This falls slightly shy of the listed figure of 13.1km/L, but it is still nonetheless impressive given the car's size and weight.
The car certainly needs some extra power - we suspect the upcoming diesel variant (which kicks out a healthy dose of 300Nm of torque) will be significantly better to drive, if driveability is your cup of tea.
The Tivoli XLV is fitted with the same 1.6-litre engine as the Tivoli Compact, making 128bhp and 160Nm of torque. However, due to the extra size and additional weight, the engine does struggle somewhat on the roads. You tend to get a lot more sound than shove, with the car taking a little while to gather speed.
However, once you get over the lack of initial pickup, the car generally drives well. The six-speed Aisin transmission is smooth and shifts between gears effortlessly. The car is easy to pilot, especially with the light steering. It actually does a good job of hiding the its size - it does not feel cumbersome, and body roll is kept reasonably in check. The steering weight can also be adjusted between three settings - Comfort, Normal and Sport - via a button on the centre console.
Like most of the other cars in its class, the Tivoli XLV excels as a people-carrier on the road, and is certainly nicer for the other four passengers than the driver.
After a full day of driving the Tivoli XLV, we managed a fuel economy figure of 12km/L. This falls slightly shy of the listed figure of 13.1km/L, but it is still nonetheless impressive given the car's size and weight.
The car certainly needs some extra power - we suspect the upcoming diesel variant (which kicks out a healthy dose of 300Nm of torque) will be significantly better to drive, if driveability is your cup of tea.
Conclusion
Once you look past the humdrum engine and the lack of badge desirability, this is a car that should have no problem holding its own against its stiff competition.
It is certainly not without its flaws, but at this price-point, every car has flaws. This is price-point engineering, where the designers and engineers sit in meeting rooms and decide what to keep and what to throw out to allow the model to remain affordable. And in this respect we have to say that the Tivoli XLV certainly will not shortchange potential customers.
The Tivoli XLV is an interesting alternative for those looking for a crossover, especially with its exceptional boot space
This is an honest car with straightforward intentions that's aimed at the family driver needing a blend of style, space, road presence and comfort. Its one calling card, the huge ass boot, will certainly appeal to those who need that additional hauling capacity.
If you are in the market for a family crossover, but need something a little more bootylicious, then the Tivoli 'Kardashian' XLV could just be the one for you.
Once you look past the humdrum engine and the lack of badge desirability, this is a car that should have no problem holding its own against its stiff competition.
It is certainly not without its flaws, but at this price-point, every car has flaws. This is price-point engineering, where the designers and engineers sit in meeting rooms and decide what to keep and what to throw out to allow the model to remain affordable. And in this respect we have to say that the Tivoli XLV certainly will not shortchange potential customers.
This is an honest car with straightforward intentions that's aimed at the family driver needing a blend of style, space, road presence and comfort. Its one calling card, the huge ass boot, will certainly appeal to those who need that additional hauling capacity.
If you are in the market for a family crossover, but need something a little more bootylicious, then the Tivoli 'Kardashian' XLV could just be the one for you.
You might remember the Ssangyong Tivoli, the Korean automaker's compact crossover Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) offering that marked a distinct step forward for the brand. Now, the brand is offering this XLV variant.
XLV stands for eXciting Lifestyle Vehicle, the way the brand wants to pitch this model. No, it doesn't stand for eXtra Large Vehicle, although one could argue it technically is. Rather, it's made for drivers who require additional space to comfortably accommodate their lifestyle habits.
Remember how a picture featuring Kim Kardashian's bum almost broke the Internet? Well, the new Tivoli XLV has a similarly well-endowed booty, and while we don't think it will necessarily break the Internet, the brand certainly hopes that it will help to further break into our local market.
Up close and Personal
The car is certainly larger than the Tivoli Compact (as its smaller sibling is affectionately termed). It is 45mm taller and 238mm longer, with all that extra length at the rear. This means that boot space is an impressive 720 litres, a significant 297 litres more than the Compact.
The exterior has been slightly restyled for a more aggressive and grown-up look, with a lot of straight, muscular lines. The front fascia features a bold shoulder wing design that integrates the radiator grille and head lights, and the rear combination lamps are noticably bigger.
XLV stands for eXciting Lifestyle Vehicle, the way the brand wants to pitch this model. No, it doesn't stand for eXtra Large Vehicle, although one could argue it technically is. Rather, it's made for drivers who require additional space to comfortably accommodate their lifestyle habits.
Remember how a picture featuring Kim Kardashian's bum almost broke the Internet? Well, the new Tivoli XLV has a similarly well-endowed booty, and while we don't think it will necessarily break the Internet, the brand certainly hopes that it will help to further break into our local market.
Up close and Personal
The car is certainly larger than the Tivoli Compact (as its smaller sibling is affectionately termed). It is 45mm taller and 238mm longer, with all that extra length at the rear. This means that boot space is an impressive 720 litres, a significant 297 litres more than the Compact.
The exterior has been slightly restyled for a more aggressive and grown-up look, with a lot of straight, muscular lines. The front fascia features a bold shoulder wing design that integrates the radiator grille and head lights, and the rear combination lamps are noticably bigger.
Add all of that to the XLV's increased dimensions and its overall boxy demeanour, and you certainly get a more 'manly' car. Is it 'good-looking', though? Well, that's entirely subjective, but in this day and age of curvaceous lines and sloping silhouettes, the Tivoli XLV certainly stands out with its bold angularity.
The seats in the spacious interior are now all decked out in leather, combined with red stitching, which adds a touch more quality. The funky patterns on the backrests echo the 'lifestyle' sentiment in the car's name.
The additional height also means that there is now more headroom in the cabin. The rear seats can also be reclined further, up to 32.5 degrees, allowing the rear passengers to ride in amples amount of comfort.
There is also a fair amount of equipment. The comprehensive aftermarket infotainment system comes with the likes of navigation and bluetooth connectivity, and you also get dual-zone air-conditioning. Our only bugging complain is that the car lacks a USB port.
The seats in the spacious interior are now all decked out in leather, combined with red stitching, which adds a touch more quality. The funky patterns on the backrests echo the 'lifestyle' sentiment in the car's name.
The additional height also means that there is now more headroom in the cabin. The rear seats can also be reclined further, up to 32.5 degrees, allowing the rear passengers to ride in amples amount of comfort.
There is also a fair amount of equipment. The comprehensive aftermarket infotainment system comes with the likes of navigation and bluetooth connectivity, and you also get dual-zone air-conditioning. Our only bugging complain is that the car lacks a USB port.
The Drive
The Tivoli XLV is fitted with the same 1.6-litre engine as the Tivoli Compact, making 128bhp and 160Nm of torque. However, due to the extra size and additional weight, the engine does struggle somewhat on the roads. You tend to get a lot more sound than shove, with the car taking a little while to gather speed.
However, once you get over the lack of initial pickup, the car generally drives well. The six-speed Aisin transmission is smooth and shifts between gears effortlessly. The car is easy to pilot, especially with the light steering. It actually does a good job of hiding the its size - it does not feel cumbersome, and body roll is kept reasonably in check. The steering weight can also be adjusted between three settings - Comfort, Normal and Sport - via a button on the centre console.
Like most of the other cars in its class, the Tivoli XLV excels as a people-carrier on the road, and is certainly nicer for the other four passengers than the driver.
After a full day of driving the Tivoli XLV, we managed a fuel economy figure of 12km/L. This falls slightly shy of the listed figure of 13.1km/L, but it is still nonetheless impressive given the car's size and weight.
The car certainly needs some extra power - we suspect the upcoming diesel variant (which kicks out a healthy dose of 300Nm of torque) will be significantly better to drive, if driveability is your cup of tea.
The Tivoli XLV is fitted with the same 1.6-litre engine as the Tivoli Compact, making 128bhp and 160Nm of torque. However, due to the extra size and additional weight, the engine does struggle somewhat on the roads. You tend to get a lot more sound than shove, with the car taking a little while to gather speed.
However, once you get over the lack of initial pickup, the car generally drives well. The six-speed Aisin transmission is smooth and shifts between gears effortlessly. The car is easy to pilot, especially with the light steering. It actually does a good job of hiding the its size - it does not feel cumbersome, and body roll is kept reasonably in check. The steering weight can also be adjusted between three settings - Comfort, Normal and Sport - via a button on the centre console.
Like most of the other cars in its class, the Tivoli XLV excels as a people-carrier on the road, and is certainly nicer for the other four passengers than the driver.
After a full day of driving the Tivoli XLV, we managed a fuel economy figure of 12km/L. This falls slightly shy of the listed figure of 13.1km/L, but it is still nonetheless impressive given the car's size and weight.
The car certainly needs some extra power - we suspect the upcoming diesel variant (which kicks out a healthy dose of 300Nm of torque) will be significantly better to drive, if driveability is your cup of tea.
Conclusion
Once you look past the humdrum engine and the lack of badge desirability, this is a car that should have no problem holding its own against its stiff competition.
It is certainly not without its flaws, but at this price-point, every car has flaws. This is price-point engineering, where the designers and engineers sit in meeting rooms and decide what to keep and what to throw out to allow the model to remain affordable. And in this respect we have to say that the Tivoli XLV certainly will not shortchange potential customers.
This is an honest car with straightforward intentions that's aimed at the family driver needing a blend of style, space, road presence and comfort. Its one calling card, the huge ass boot, will certainly appeal to those who need that additional hauling capacity.
If you are in the market for a family crossover, but need something a little more bootylicious, then the Tivoli 'Kardashian' XLV could just be the one for you.
Once you look past the humdrum engine and the lack of badge desirability, this is a car that should have no problem holding its own against its stiff competition.
It is certainly not without its flaws, but at this price-point, every car has flaws. This is price-point engineering, where the designers and engineers sit in meeting rooms and decide what to keep and what to throw out to allow the model to remain affordable. And in this respect we have to say that the Tivoli XLV certainly will not shortchange potential customers.
This is an honest car with straightforward intentions that's aimed at the family driver needing a blend of style, space, road presence and comfort. Its one calling card, the huge ass boot, will certainly appeal to those who need that additional hauling capacity.
If you are in the market for a family crossover, but need something a little more bootylicious, then the Tivoli 'Kardashian' XLV could just be the one for you.
Photos by Low Fai Ming
Car Information
Ssangyong Tivoli XLV 1.6 2WD (A)
CAT A|Petrol|13.2km/L
Horsepower
95kW (128 bhp)
Torque
160 Nm
Acceleration
12.7sec (0-100km /hr)
This model is no longer being sold by local distributor
All Used Ssangyong Tivoli XLV
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