Ssangyong Korando vs Ssangyong Tivoli

What's the difference?

It’s safe to say that SsangYong’s reintroduction to Australia back in late 2018 didn’t go as planned.

Since the relaunch, the world was plunged into an industry-disrupting pandemic and the brand has had to manage bankruptcy in its Korean home market.

But that has also created an opportunity, as big-name brands like Toyota, Mazda, Hyundai, Kia and Mitsubishi continue to push upmarket, it leaves price-sensitive customers with fewer and fewer options.

As a cut-price alternative alongside Chinese brands like MG, LDV and GWM Haval, SsangYong could very well carve out its niche as more Australians look to get into new wheels without breaking the bank.

And while the Musso ute and Rexton large SUV are the brand’s biggest sellers, it’s the Korando mid-size SUV that could make the biggest impact in turning SsangYong’s fortunes around as it competes in the booming mid-size SUV market.

So, does the SsangYong Korando have what it takes to steal sales away from big dogs like the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5? Or are you better off waiting months and months for a known quantity?

Did you know SsangYong translates to ‘Double Dragon’?

How friggin’ cool is that? Far cooler, at least, than the Korean brand’s history, which the word ‘tumultuous’ barely begins to cover.

After years of ownership woes and a near-bankruptcy, the brand came out the other side with enough stability to field a range of new vehicles, courtesy of its ambitious new owners - Indian giant Mahindra & Mahindra.

The Tivoli small SUV is the first car to launch under the new, cashed-up leadership and when it landed in Korea in 2015 it was solely responsible for the ‘Double Dragon’ brand turning its first profit in nine years.

Fast forward a few years, and a re-booted SsangYong is again confident enough to enter the Australian market, with a four-pronged, all-new SUV assault.

So, does the Tivoli have what it takes to break into our highly competitive small-SUV scene and help SsangYong pull a miraculous Korean turn-around, a-la-Hyundai?

I spent a week in the mid-spec Tivoli ELX diesel to find out.