The Korean manufacturer specialising in SUVs, Ssangyong Motors, has brought its compact cross-over to our shores. The Nepali automotive industry is currently focused in cross-overs, compact SUVs and SUVs. That means we have a soft spot for big cars. It has become a trend of late to own a SUV. The dire condition of pot-ridden and perpetually-under-construction roads of Nepal mean that SUVs and cross-overs are quickly becoming the preferred vehicle among urban Nepalis. Now that the Ssangyong Tivoli has thrown it’s hat into the ring, let’s see how this Korean cross-over fairs on our not-so-fair roads.

The exterior

Don’t be fooled by the Compact Cross-over tag, this car is pretty big for its category and looks more like a SUV. Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder, so everyone will have their own likes and dislikes. I am pretty attracted to this car to be honest. It is an eye candy and will demand attention. The car is designed to look like a SUV, so it has a tough look rather than the sharp look other cross-overs tend to have. The car runs on huge 18 inch tyres paired with low profile tyres, though this combination isn’t very good for off road drives, it will get the job done.

The interior

The interior of this car shows how big it is. It has ample amount of space and can easily fit five adults in the car. The seats of the Tivoli are well cushioned and contoured to hold you in place and is wrapped in soft fabric. The rear seat is where the real space is. It has so much leg room that even with the driver’s seat pushed all the way back, it has a decent amount of space left. The transmission tunnel is managed properly so that it doesn’t stick out in the middle row of the back seat, compromising the leg room. The console in the middle looks good with a shiny black finish. You can connect you phone to the car through Bluetooth to listen to music or answer calls using the controls mounted on the steering wheel. The instrument panel is well lit up and easy to read and provides a decent amount of information.

The performance

The Tivoli is available in a 1.6L EXGi petrol engine which produces a good 128PS @ 6000 RPM and 160Nm of Torque @ 4500 RPM.  The engine is surprisingly refined like its Japanese counterparts. The power delivery is smooth and easy to use—it comes in slowly and isn’t abrupt. The Six speed transmission worked really well too. This engine will satisfy the needs of a variety of people.

The handling

The low profile tyres provide a lot of feedback from the road, you sit high up so you get the feeling of driving a proper SUV. The car sits 190mm from the ground which means carving corners is still possible while having respectable ground clearance. The steering wheel provides good feedback and is light enough to manoeuvre through tight spaces. If you get stuck in a tight situation you can fold the mirrors with a press of a button to reduce the width of the car, so no more sticking your hand out to fold the mirrors manually. The cross-over comes with disc brakes in all four tyres and stopping is never an issue. There is a spoiler in the back for some additional downforce, but it is more of a cosmetic addition as we won’t be reaching that kind of speeds in Nepal anyway.

The features

There are a host of features packed into this car to provide the customers more value for their money. Taking about the safety features first, it comes with ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) which doesn’t let the tyres lock while braking hard to ensure more control of the car. EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution) makes sure that the brake force is distributed to all four tyres to make the stopping distance shorter. There is one airbag in the driver’s side. Parking sensors also come standard in this car to make sure you don’t back into another car.

The verdict

The car was more than what I had expected from it with a refined engine, plenty of space and a sturdy build. The car is priced at Rs 5,375,000 on which you get a cash discount of Rs 150,000 plus a scratch coupon which has a variety of gifts. If you are in the market for a sleek new cross-over, this Korean beauty might be worth a gander!