Ssangyong Tivoli vs Jaguar E-Pace
What's the difference?

Ssangyong Tivoli

—

2019 price

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Jaguar E-Pace

$23,999 - $40,888

2020 price

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Land Rover Discovery Sport

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Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

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Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

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Summary

2019 Ssangyong Tivoli

2020 Jaguar E-Pace

By Tom White

By James Cleary

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Diesel Turbo 4, 1.6L

Diesel Turbo 4, 2.0L

Fuel Type

Diesel

Fuel Efficiency

5.5L/100km (combined)

6.0L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Responsive, powerful diesel
Huge cabin
Seven-year warranty

Value
Practicality
Safety

Dislikes

Boot could be more useful
Divisive rear styling
Still some naff interior bits

Relative thirst
So-so warranty
Steering’s modest road feel

2019 Ssangyong Tivoli Summary

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.

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2020 Jaguar E-Pace Summary

Jaguar raised more than a few eyebrows in 2016 when it entered the rapidly expanding world of premium SUVs with the mid-size F-Pace. And the product development boffins at Coventry HQ liked it so much they cooked up another one.

The compact E-Pace (and subsequent electric I-Pace) has re-positioned the brand from luxury sedans, wagons, and performance sports cars, to all that with SUVs now leading the brand and product charge.

The F-Pace is a beautifully composed five-seater. Does this smaller E-Pace package deliver even more good things?

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Deep dive comparison

2019 Ssangyong Tivoli 2020 Jaguar E-Pace

Verdict

I was asked the critical question while I had the Tivoli ELX on test – “Do you think people will buy this car?” After some time in thought, my answer was – “Not many… yet.”

Those who can look past the brand perceptions are getting an SUV which is damn near as good as anything on the market – and likely cheaper to run.

To that, you can say a lot of things: If only it cost slightly less. If only its rear was better looking. If only it had a five-star safety rating.

But here it is – the fact that the Tivoli can even hold a candle to its slick, finely tuned competition says a lot. The Double Dragon is back, and if it can afford to stick around for a while, perhaps it will stand a chance of putting the big players on notice.

Verdict

The Jaguar E-Pace Chequered Flag P250 is a compact, polished premium SUV package. Good value, super safe and spacious, it combines brilliant practicality with comfort and healthy performance. It’s a little thirsty, there are some relatively minor dynamic niggles, and Jaguar’s ownership package needs to lift its game. But for those who don’t have a lot of room to spare, yet don’t want to skimp on the luxury experience, it’s a compelling option in a highly competitive category.

Ssangyong Tivoli vs Jaguar E-Pace What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Ssangyong Tivoli vs Jaguar E-Pace
What's the difference?