SsangYong has locked in the updated Tivoli for Australia, as it looks to take on the Kia Seltos and Hyundai Kona in the booming compact SUV segment.
Detailed for the United Kingdom overnight, the updated Tivoli has a refreshed face and two new engine options: a 95kW/230Nm 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol, and the 120kW/280Nm 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine from the larger Korando SUV.
The existing 1.6-litre turbo-diesel carries over with a mild power boost, offering 100kW and 324Nm instead of the 85kW and 300Nm you get in the current Tivoli.
SsangYong Australia hasn’t yet locked in which engines will be available, but expressed interest in adding the turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine from the Korando to the local Tivoli range.
When the facelift was first revealed for Korea in May 2019, SsangYong said it was hoping to have the update here by the end of 2019.
It’s now more likely to touch down as a 2021 model – either late in 2020 or early 2021.
The facelifted Tivoli wears a slightly sleeker face than the current model, and mildly redesigned taillights.
The cabin has been updated with the digital dashboard from the Korando, an updated steering wheel, and a cleaner centre stack. Infotainment is handled by a 10.25-inch screen rather than the 7.0-inch unit offered on the current model, too.
It also gains revised trim options for the dashboard and seats, although whether they’ll be offered in Australia remains to be seen.
Ssangyong is currently finding its feet in Australia, after returning to our market as a factory-backed operation in 2018.
Its range includes the Rexton ute-based SUV, Musso and Musso XLV dual-cab ute, Tivoli compact SUV, and Korando mid-sized SUV.
