Articles by Marcus Craft

How do you decide which one is right for you? Read on.

As with the choice between a soft- or hard-floor camper, whether it is rear- or forward-fold is not really a deal-breaker in the grand scheme of things.

Be honest: new vehicles get your blood pumping. And news about new vehicles at the start of a new year merely serves to bump your pulse up and whet your appetite for even more tidbits about upcoming vehicles.

SsangYong's Tivoli is the latest compact SUV to enter the fray. Will its neat looks, competitive pricing and seven-year warranty be enough to rattle its rivals?

The ELX is the mid-spec Tivoli and it's available as a 2WD with a 1.6-litre petrol engine (94kW and 160Nm) and six-speed auto ($27,490 drive-away pricing); or a 2WD with a 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine (85kW/300Nm) and six-speed auto ($29,990 drive-away pricing). As standard, every Tivoli has a 7.0-inch touchscreen media system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, auto emergency braking (AEB), forward collision warning (FCW), reversing camera, and seven airbags.The ELX also gets the optional 1.6-litre diesel, leather-covered steering wheel, telescopic steering, front/rear park assist, lane departure warning (LDW), lane keep assist (LKA), high beam assist (HBA), roof rails, luggage screen, dual-zone air-conditioning, tinted glass, and HID headlamps.The Tivoli does not have an ANCAP rating because it has not been tested here yet.Every Tivoli has a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, seven years’ roadside assistance and a seven-year service-price plan.

The top-spec Tivoli is available as the AWD Ultimate with a 1.6-litre turbo-diesel (85kW/300Nm) and six-speed auto ($33,990 drive-away pricing); or two-tone paint AWD Ultimate with a 1.6-litre turbo-diesel and six-speed auto ($34,490 drive-away pricing).As standard, every Tivoli has a 7.0-inch touchscreen media system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, auto emergency braking (AEB), forward collision warning (FCW), reversing camera, and seven airbags, but the Ultimate also gets leather-covered steering wheel, telescopic steering, front/rear park assist, lane departure warning (LDW), lane-keep assist (LKA), high-beam assist (HBA), roof rails, luggage screen, dual-zone air-conditioning, tinted glass, HID headlamps, AWD, leather seats, powered/heated/vented front seats, sun roof, 18-inch alloy wheels, and a full-size spare tyre. The Ultimate 2-Tone, as indicated by its name, gets the two-tone colour package.The Tivoli does not have an ANCAP rating because it has not been tested here yet.Every Tivoli has seven airbags including front, side and curtain airbags plus a driver's knee airbag, reversing camera, rear parking sensors, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), forward collision warning (FCW), lane-departure warning (LDW), lane-keep assist (LKA) and high-beam assist (HBA).Every Tivoli has a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, seven years’ roadside assistance and a seven-year service-price plan.

The XLV is “an extended body model”, of the Tivoli, according to SsangYong officials. It was not available to drive at launch, but a latest spec XLV is expected on the media test fleet early in 2019. The XLV will be available in ELX trim ($31,990 drive-away), with the same spec level as a Tivoli ELX and only as a 2WD: next step up is the AWD Ultimate at $34,990 (drive-away pricing) or spend another extra $500 and get a two-tone AWD Ultimate ($35,490 drive-away pricing).  All XLVs have a Euro 6-compliant 1.6-litre diesel engine and a six-speed Aisin automatic transmission. As standard, every Tivoli XLV has a 7.0-inch touchscreen media system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, auto emergency braking (AEB), forward collision warning (FCW), reversing camera, and seven airbags.The ELX also gets leather-covered steering wheel, telescopic steering, front/rear park assist, lane-departure warning (LDW), lane-keep assist (LKA), high-beam assist (HBA), roof rails, luggage screen, dual-zone air-conditioning, tinted glass, HID headlamps and 16-inch alloy wheels.Beyond that the Ultimate versions also gets all-wheel drive, leather seats, powered/heated/vented front seats, sun roof, 18-inch alloy wheels, and a full-size spare tyre. The Ultimate 2-Tone gets the two-tone colour package.Safety gear includes seven airbags, AEB and forward collision warning (FCW). The Tivoli does not have an ANCAP rating because it has not been tested here yet.Every Tivoli has a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, seven years’ roadside assistance and a seven-year service-price plan.

The EX is the base-spec Tivoli and is available with a 1.6-litre petrol engine (94kW and 160Nm) and six-speed manual gearbox ($23,490 drive-away pricing), or with a 1.6-litre petrol engine and six-speed automatic transmission ($25,490 drive-away pricing). Both versions are 2WD.As standard, every Tivoli has a 7.0-inch touchscreen media system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, auto emergency braking (AEB), forward collision warning (FCW), reversing camera, and seven airbags.The EX gets leather-covered steering wheel, telescopic steering, fabric seats, front/rear park assist, lane-departure warning (LDW), lane-keep assist (LKA), high-beam assist (HBA), and 16-inch alloy wheels.The Tivoli does not have an ANCAP rating because it has not been tested here yet.Every Tivoli has a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, seven years’ roadside assistance and a seven-year service-price plan.

The Musso is a dual-cab ute with a 1300mm-long tray.

Is the Musso, SsangYong's sporty dual-cab ute, about to shake up the Aussie market with its interior style, sharp pricing and stubby tray?