SsangYong Tivoli XLV (2016 – 2021) Review

The SsangYong Tivoli XLV falls tantalisingly short of being one of the best value crossovers you can buy. It offers practicality in spades, a comprehensive list of standard equipment and an extremely competitive price. Launched in 2016 and updated in 2018, the Tivoli XLV is like a Nissan Qashqai with the boot space of a Dacia Logan MCV. Sounds like a match made in heaven, but the car is let down by slightly awkward styling and a pair of inefficient 1.6-litre engines. That’s not to say that the Tivoli XLV isn’t worth a look, because few cars offer such a compelling blend of price and practicality.

‘Extra-long vehicle’. That’s what the XLV in the SsangYong Tivoli XLV stands for. Don’t worry, you’re not going to require a detailed logistics report before venturing into the city, but the XLV is longer than the standard SsangYong Tivoli.

If you haven’t heard of the Tivoli, it’s a thoroughly competent compact crossover with a comprehensive list of standard equipment, a long warranty and a spacious cabin. The Tivoli XLV takes all of the car’s strengths and weaknesses, but adds a bigger boot. It’s what would happen if a compact crossover had intimate relations with a small estate car.

Which means it’s hard to pigeonhole the SsangYong Tivoli XLV. On the one hand it’s a rival to cars like the Nissan Qashqai, Suzuki Vitara and MG ZS, but it’s also a competitor to the cavernous Dacia Logan MCV estate car.

Put it this way: you’re unlikely to need more space than you’ll find in the Tivoli XLV. The boot is large, there’s room in the cabin for five adults, and there are plenty of storage pockets and compartments. Pound-for-pound, you won’t find a better value crossover with this amount of space.

There’s also a very long list of standard equipment. Because the Tivoli XLV only comes in the lavish Ultimate trim, nothing is left on the options list. Stylish 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, keyless start, heated seats, seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are just some of the features that are making us sweat over our allocated word-count.

It gets better, because all this could cost as little as £20,000 if you opt for the 1.6-litre petrol version, but no more than £23,000, even if you opt for the 1.6-litre diesel with an automatic transmission. A cavernous crossover for the price of a top-end small hatch – where do we sign?

As you might have guessed, there are one or two drawbacks. Starting with the engines, which lack the efficiency, smoothness and punch of the modern breed of small turbocharged engines. The combination of high CO2 emissions and only reasonable fuel economy puts a large dent in the car’s appeal.

Then there’s the interior, which is okay for the price, but lacks the fit and finish of the car’s Japanese and European competitors. It’s likely to be hard-wearing, but the plastics feel cheap and hollow, so you’re advised to keep your hands on the key touch-points, which feel reasonably good. We’d also argue that the Tivoli XLV looks a little awkward from some angles.

If nothing else, we’d recommend adding the Tivoli XLV to your shortlist. If you can live with the car’s obvious shortcomings, you’ll appreciate the extra-long benefits.

It all feels very mature and grown-up, with light controls, a great driving position and reasonable ride quality. It’s actually more comfortable than the regular Tivoli, although it tends to crash over potholes and pitted surfaces.

You’re unlikely to chuck the Tivoli XLV into a bend the same way you would a sports car, which is just as well as you’ll be greeted with plenty of body-roll and protests from the tyres.

It’s hard to criticise the car for this, because if you stay within its limits, this is a thoroughly pleasant car to drive. This is especially true in towns and cities, where the Tivoli XLV is easy to park and manoeuvre.

Don’t get too excited about the so-called ‘Smart Steering’, as you’re unlikely to notice the difference between the three modes. At a push, the Comfort mode helps a little when parking.

The engines are the Tivoli XLV’s weak point. The 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines aren’t bad in isolation, they just lack the punch and efficiency of the modern breed of small turbocharged engines. It’s no surprise that the all-new Tivoli comes with a 1.2-litre turbocharged unit.

At least you have a choice. If you spend most of your time in the city or cover up to 10,000 miles a year, the 1.6-litre petrol is the best option. It produces a measly 128PS and 160Nm of torque, so the car struggles when you’re carrying a full load, but it will be fine for most people.

The 1.6-litre diesel is the engine to choose if you cover long distances. Although 115PS is nothing to write home about, the 300Nm of torque is most welcome, especially when towing or carrying a boot full of luggage. Both engines are noisy and coarse when pushed hard.

The SsangYong Tivoli XLV was awarded a four-star safety rating when it was crash-tested by Euro NCAP in 2016. A score of 82 percent for adult occupant protection is respectable, but 62 percent for child occupant protection is poor for a car in this segment.

On the plus side, there are two Isofix points in the back, seven airbags, forward collision warning with autonomous emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, traffic sign recognition and high beam assist. This is an excellent list for a new car costing around £20,000.

The maximum braked towing capacity is 1000kg in the petrol version and 1500kg in the diesel. Both cars offer an unbraked capacity of 500kg. A detachable tow bar is available via the SsangYong accessories catalogue.

The SsangYong Tivoli XLV is huge. The boot offers 720 litres of luggage space when all five seats are in use. Although this is based on the floor to the roof, you’re unlikely to require more room in the boot. For some context, the standard Tivoli boasts a 423-litre boot. For more space, the rear seats fold 60:40, although entry to the boot is hampered by a high loading lip. 

There’s enough room for five adults in the cabin, with plenty of headroom and legroom on offer, even in the middle rear seat. We only wish SsangYong had fitted a sliding rear bench to the Tivoli XLV to take advantage of the cavernous interior space.

Elsewhere, there are plenty of storage pockets and bins throughout the cabin, including some bizarre storage straps on the backs of the front seats

The plastics used for the dashboard and doors feel cheap and flimsy, with an overall look that’s too shiny.

It’s far better than SsangYong models of old, but the comprehensive list of standard equipment feels like its masking the car’s deficiencies in other areas. Everything needs to be reviewed in the context of the price, because the Tivoli XLV is a very cheap car. Try finding a new car with this much equipment and space for such an affordable price.

The Tivoli XLV features a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with DAB digital radio, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a TomTom sat-nav system. You also get steering wheel mounted controls, six speakers and a rear-view camera.

It’s a simple to use system, helped in no small part by having some of the functions available via buttons located below the screen. This makes the system easy to operate while on the move. The display is a little dated and lacks clarity, but switching to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto helps to improve things.

The SsangYong Tivoli XLV Ultimate costs £20,145 when powered by a petrol engine. The diesel version adds £1,500 to the price, while the diesel automatic costs just £22,645. That’s it – there’s no entry-level version or trim ladder to climb. SsangYong has thrown everything but the kitchen sink at the Tivoli XLV. Ultimate by name, ultimate by nature. Or something.

At the time of writing, SsangYong is offering a £3750 discount off the price of a Tivoli XLV, which takes it down to £16,395. Whichever way you cut it, that’s exceptional value for money. You need to remember that an entry-level Vauxhall Corsa costs £16,415 in 2020, while you’ll pay at least £16,640 for a Ford Fiesta.

Used prices start from around £10,000. For this price you’re looking at an early 2016/2017 car with up to 50,000 miles on the clock. Because the Tivoli XLV tends to be purchased by private rather than fleet customers, you’re unlikely to find an example with loads of miles on the clock.

Tivoli XLV models registered on or after 1 October 2018 are covered by SsangYong’s excellent seven-year warranty, so it pays to buy one of these. Prices start at £13,000, but the car will be backed by a manufacturer’s warranty until 2025.

Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) plans tend to be more expensive, primarily because the Tivoli XLV suffers from steep depreciation. An alternative would be to fund the purchase using traditional finance. A five-year deal on a Tivoli XLV 1.6 petrol works out at £259 a month after a deposit of £3,125.

You can buy an early used example for around £200 a month on a PCP deal, rising to as much as £500 a month for a 2020 car.

Fuel economy isn’t a Tivoli XLV strong point. Although the car launched with some impressive on-paper figures, the switch from NEDC to the more realistic WLTP standard shone a light on the car’s true efficiency. Don’t be fooled by the figures when looking at a used Tivoli XLV.

Things are worse if you drive the 1.6-litre petrol, with figures of 37.2mpg for the manual and 34.9mpg for the automatic.

High CO2 emissions result in first-year Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) rates of between £540 and £1,305. These are extremely high for a car of this size and price point, but the cost falls to a more reasonable £150 from year two.

At the least the Tivoli XLV should be cheap to insure, with the car slotting into groups 11 to 15. This means it’s actually cheaper to insure than the standard SsangYong Tivoli. It’s also worth pointing out that the cars are backed by a seven-year warranty. SsangYong also has an excellent reputation for reliability and dependability.

Buying a SsangYong Tivoli XLV is easy because there’s only one trim level. The Ultimate spec means that everything comes as standard. This just leaves you to select the most appropriate engine and your favourite colour.

The list of equipment includes 18-inch alloy wheels, front and rear LED daytime running lights, seven-inch touchscreen, DAB digital radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, rear-view camera, dual-zone climate control, heated seats, heated steering wheel… the list goes on.