Ssangyong Tivoli vs Mini Countryman

What's the difference?

VS
Ssangyong Tivoli
Ssangyong Tivoli

2019 price

Mini Countryman
Mini Countryman

$49,990 - $77,990

2025 price

Summary

2019 Ssangyong Tivoli
2025 Mini Countryman
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Diesel Turbo 4, 1.6L

Inline 4, 2.0L
Fuel Type
Diesel

Premium Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
5.5L/100km (combined)

7.7L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

5
Dislikes
  • Boot could be more useful
  • Divisive rear styling
  • Still some naff interior bits

  • Lacking a few features for a top-grade model
  • An expensive endeavour for a Mini
  • Not much separates the two trim levels
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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2025 Mini Countryman Summary

The Mini Countryman is the not-so-mini cousin to the iconic and smaller Mini Cooper.

The new generation offers a larger body-size, fun new interiors and a whole suite of updated technology.

We're in the flagship John Cooper Works grade in Favoured trim to find out if this small SUV is still urban-friendly and fun after all of these changes.

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Deep dive comparison

2019 Ssangyong Tivoli 2025 Mini Countryman

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