KG Mobility Tivoli - 2024 minor change

Having been on the lineup for eight years running, the Tivoli lineup has received another minor change and things get a little interesting for KG Mobility's baby-SUV range.

2024 KG Mobility Tivoli

2024 KG Mobility Tivoli interior

The Tivoli and its longer Tivoli Air have received another minor change for the 2024 model year, keeping the entry-level SUV lineup from KG Mobility (formerly Ssangyong) ready for more when the opportunity arises.

The most noticeable change for this updated version is the front view and it now dons a styling similar to a Toyota PPV I can't mention here due to search query reasons. This new front view gives the Tivoli a sporty feel on the go and apart from that, a new set of wheels and a mildly revised rear view truly made a statement.

The interior is heavily revised for this latest facelift with the air vents positioned above the dashboard, a new climate control, a new 10.25-inch digital cluster, and a new touch screen with smartphone connectivity and INFOCONN service. While the dashboard layout's new, the comfort for five people and spacing still remains with the Air the most spacious of the Tivoli range.

Both the new Tivoli and the Tivoli Air remained the 1.5L GDi turbo engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission with the shorter one offered with the 1.6L petrol engine. Sticking to the turbo one, it produces 163PS of power and 26.5kg-m of torque. Fuel economy is good for a combined 12kmpl for FF models.

The shorter Tivoli is only offered with the optional 4WD system that allows this crossover to go everywhere when needed.

In terms of safety, both the new Tivoli and the new Tivoli Air are offered with a DeepControl suite of advanced safety features, seven airbags, 79% rigidity, an Electronic Stability Program, an Anti-Rollover Protection, a Brake Assist System, an Emergency Stop Signal, Hill Descent Control, and Hill Start Assist, among many others.

For a limited time, the Tivoli is priced at 22,090,000 Korean Won while the Tivoli Air is priced at 22,940,000 Korean Won plus taxes and fees.

The recently facelifted Tivoli range shows that they're still on the go for eight years running, like it or not. The improved looks and interior are a sign of things to come for the Tivoli range under the hands of KG Mobility. That's common sense to you.

Photo: KG Mobility

Ssangyong Tivoli Armour

Ssangyong's compact SUV, the Tivoli, is now on its 2018 model year and this time, it's been given a fresh minor change and a new name. Meet the new Tivoli Armour, an updated version of Ssangyong's compact SUV made for individuality.

2018 Ssangyong Tivoli

Of course, the new Tivoli Armour is designed for individuality for new owners looking for something that will suit their style and apart from that redesigned front bumper and some new alloys, customers can personalize their Tivoli Armour just they way they like. In the new GEAR EDITION variant, customers can personalize their Tivoli by the exterior paint, roof paint, outside mirror, hood decals, roof decals, emblems, and a choice of 17 and 18-inch alloys.

2018 Ssangyong Tivoli interior

2018 Ssangyong Tivoli interior

Nothing's new about the interior of the Tivoli, except that it now offers two interior colors such as brown and black. The instrumental panel can be change to up to six different colors while the room temperature can be cool or warm thanks to its climate control, the multimedia system serves more than just music and navigation, the rear seats can be folded for more cargo space, there's so much you can do with it.

It still comes with the same e-XGi160 1.6L petrol engine that develops 126PS of power and 16kg-m of torque but now a 1.6L XDi diesel engine is added but it produces 11ps less than the petrol model, 115PS compared to the previous model's 126PS but torque's 30.6kg-m of torque. The choice of either a 6-speed manual gearbox and a 6-speed automatic remains but the diesel model comes only with an automatic gearbox.

Amazingly, a Smart 4WD System is added on the Tivoli, which can adapt on any road conditions at ease and that's a good thing in case of summer storms.

For safety, the Tivoli Armour now comes with autonomous emergency brake that can brake by itself in an event of a near-collision scenario and apart from this, it also comes with Daytime Running Lamps, Electronic Stability Program, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, and seven airbags.

The facelifted Tivoli starts at 16,510,000 KRW for the petrol and 20,600,000 for the diesel.

Photo: Ssangyong Motor Company

Ssangyong Tivoli Air

Look who came back from last year, it's Ssangyong's little crossover called the Tivoli but the Tivoli we're seeing it now looks somewhat different from the one we saw last year because the Ssangyong Tivoli you saw now is the longer version, the Air. Tivoli Air.

2017 Ssangyong Tivoli Air

The Air, which is the longer wheelbase version of last year's Tivoli, made a premiere at the recent Geneva International Motor Show, and following its Geneva premiere, Ssangyong quickly made the extended version for sale on the South Korean motoring public. Surprising, eh? But don't get too surprised about the newest Tivoli variant made for those who are in need of more boot space.

2017 Ssangyong Tivoli Air

2017 Ssangyong Tivoli Air

To avoid further confusion between the Air and the regular Tivoli, the new model features a 238mm increase over the base Tivoli, reaching a load capacity of 720 cubic liters of space. It also comes with a different exterior cue that will help differentiate it from the normal Tivoli as well, so you can get a clear idea of which Tivoli is which, although the seating for five people still remains for the newer and longer version of the Tivoli, so you won't feel any difference when you get inside. What's clever about the Air is that the side pockets are big enough to fit a 1.5 liter of your favorite soft drink you bought from your nearest sari-sari store. Seems legit for your next barkada trip but in terms of fun, expect some spoils on this one.

2017 Ssangyong Tivoli Air

The e-XGi160 1.6L engine from the normal Tivoli was carried over to the Air, this time it produces 11PS less than the basic Tivoli, resulting in 115PS of power output and 30.6kg-m of torque, while mated with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic.

Be it front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, even with a multilink suspension setup and three different driving modes, the Tivoli Air feels as cheap as the cheap Korean cars of the last century. It's going to be a tough slob to drive and doesn't feel as refined as its European rivals on the road. It's going to act like that old-school service you've been in since your childhood, clattering from the moment it arrived from your doorstep and still clattering on your way back home after exhausting hours of schoolwork.

Should you buy one? The Tivoli Air starts at 19,490,000 to 24,490,000 Korean Won, making it more pricey to own than the normal Tivoli but with all that price comes a car that sacrifices a few power output for more space at the back and nothing else to be excited about. On the scale of MISS to PERFECT, I believe it should be placed in the BAD position because when you look at it, the new and longer Air model doesn't cut the mustard against the competition and I think this car should do better than that.

That's okay though because with the Tivoli Air, Ssangyong knows how to step their game up after being taken over by the Indians five years ago and they're coming back fighting to the crossover games.

Available colors: Grand White/Black, Silent Silver/Black, Flaming Red/Black, Jazz Brown/Black, Techno Grey/Black, Dandy Blue/White, and Space Black/White.

Photo: Ssangyong Motor Company

Ssangyong Tivoli

2015 Ssangyong Tivoli

This is Ssangyong's first all-new vehicle since its takeover by India's Mahindra & Mahindra four years ago and it's called the Tivoli. A crossover that took its name from a confectionary we remember when we were kids. Sounds sweet but is Ssangyong's compact SUV as sweeter as the confection where its name took it from? Uh...not quite as you imagine it.

The Tivoli is essentially a production version of two XIV concepts and it's built on the X100 platform. Although a concept turned reality, the design of the Tivoli looks questionable. On the front, it looks like an MG3 but on the back, the rear lamps are kinda like they took from the Jaguar XJ. Ssangyong wanted to be somewhat as European as the European compact crossovers but even if you get too far away, you will have fewer chances to know that it is a Ssangyong on the road and not an MG, unless you're wearing specs.

2015 Ssangyong Tivoli interior

2015 Ssangyong Tivoli interior

The interior of the Tivoli is not half bad considering everything that you expect from an everyday car is in order. There's seating for five, there's climate control, there's a steering wheel, and everything that a car should have is right here. There is a dial that can change into different colors at the touch of a button and that looks cool. It's like a miniature nightclub from your childhood toybox. And there's more because depending on the variant, the seats are heated and if you're on the chilly Seoul afternoon, you can turn the heated seats on so you can keep yourselves warmer.

The rear seats can be folded down for luggage purposes but sadly, being a compact car, the things you won't fit in are a king-sized mattress or a horizontally-shaped cabinet you bought from the thrift store. Still, it's good enough to store heaps of shopping bags on the go, though.

There was one downside on the inside and this sat-nav system feels more Made In China as those cheap gadgets made by companies you never heard of before. It kinda feels cheap, isn't it?

2015 Ssangyong Tivoli

The Tivoli is powered by an e-XGi160 1.6L engine that develops 126PS of power and 16kg-m of torque. That's a lot more than what you get from the Nissan Juke's 1.5L engine and there's more because while the Juke is available with the rather shoddy CVT gearbox, the Tivoli is mated with either a 6-speed manual gearbox (which is quite good) and a 6-speed automatic sourced from AISIN, a Japanese transmission company. Sadly, though, unlike the Juke, the Tivoli has a smaller fuel tank because while the Juke's tank carries 52 liters, the Tivoli carries 47 liters so...that's a downside for Ssangyong there.

In terms of driving experience, the Tivoli is beyond average. Not too good but not too bad. It even has three driving modes such as Comfort which make it softer, Normal for average, and Sport which makes the suspension firmed up to handle with precision. Sadly though, even in Sport mode, the Tivoli doesn't feel its sporty character at all. And there's another downside as well because despite being an SUV, the Tivoli is available only in front-wheel drive so you might be thinking why would Ssangyong make an SUV that is cheaper than the Korando C but offered only with a commoner drivetrain that we can't take it on a day to day use and only limited to urban driving? The whole story is still shrouded in mystery for the Tivoli though.

Should you buy one? The Tivoli is priced at 16,350,000 up to 23,470,000 Korean Won (around $15,000 to $21,500) so that's more reasonably priced than the Nissan Juke so it's somewhat of a bargain for first-time buyers.

Available Colors: Grand White, Silent Silver, Flaming Red, Dandy Blue, Space Grey, Ice Cap Blue, and Techno Grey.

Photo: Ssangyong Motor Company