What’s not?

• The Tivoli feels well-made, but the plastics are hard, there’s too much shiny piano black trim that we reckon won’t look quite so sharp quickly and the switchgear sometimes feels brittle.
• The 1.6-litre e-XGi160 petrol is smooth, refined, but no fire ball and gets noisy when worked. Part of the reason why performance is lacking, is that there appears to be no mid-range torque. The 149g/km CO2 figure and 39.2mpg fuel figure mean a rather lacklustre 24% charge, which is going to be a struggle when compared to rivals for business buyers. Best go for the diesel with the lower 113g/km co2 figure and 65.7mpg fuel figure and 20% charge figure.
• More annoying than the lack of performance from the 1.6-litre petrol is the unsettled ride. Although it deals with unmade surfaces and pot holes decently enough, the Tivoli never feels totally settled – although admittedly the standard fit 18-inch wheels don’t help here.

The Verdict on the Ssangyong Tivoli 1.6 e-XGi160 ELX

The Ssangyong Tivoli is a likeable, spacious, high-value and well-equipped alternative to a Nissan Juke or Peugeot 2008.

What a shame then, that in manual petrol form, it’s hard to recommend this Ssangyong as a business car choice, because its inefficient engine equals the 149g/km emissions figure. Rivals such as the Nissan, can better the Tivol’s’s 39.2mpg fuel figure too.

For the most efficient Tivoli, you’ll need to choose diesel power, but despite the Ssangyong’s many positives, we’d advise looking elsewhere if you’re after a petrol crossover.