The SsangYong Tivoli is central to this aim, its built on an all-new platform to compete with cars such as the Nissan Juke, Ford EcoSport and the Vauxhall Mokka in the ever-popular (and still growing) small crossover market. While the Tivoli can’t match the striking styling of the Juke, this is arguably the best-looking SsangYong yet, and the company is claiming to have taken massive strides on the inside, too. The car will also come loaded with kit, including an optional seven-inch central screen on the dashboard.
Pros Spacious for its size Generous standard equipment Cheap
Cons Not as striking as the Juke Quality falls behind the best in class Bland to drive
The Ssangyong Tivoli competes in the small SUV market, alongside rivals such as the Nissan Juke and Kia Soul. These cars offer the look and feel of an off-roader, but with performance and running costs more akin to a family hatchback. Do bear in mind, however, they’re better suited to on-road driving than traversing muddy lanes. That’s certainly the case with the Tivoli, although unlike its aforementioned rivals, you can order it with four-wheel drive on higher trims. A 1.6-litre petrol or 1.6-litre diesel is available throughout the range, combined with a six-speed manual gearbox. A six-speed automatic is available for both engines on all but the entry-level SE.
You can put aside your reservations about the SsangYong badge, because the Tivoli is a thoroughly capable small crossover for the money. It’s not the most stylish inside or out, and it won’t win awards for ride comfort or refinement, but you get a lot of space and kit for little financial outlay. The latter two points are especially true of the Tivoli XLV, but it’s more expensive, and we'd go for the two-wheel-drive version to save some money. The standard Tivoli is decent to drive, while with the diesel engine and is by far the best on-road car SsangYong has built yet.
The 2019 Ford EcoSport wants for safety and styling that match even the lowered standards set by its price.
Pros Spacious enough Available all-wheel drive Decent fuel economy Upmarket audio option
Cons Heavy for its size Also sluggish Poor safety profile Cabin’s poor fit and finish
The 2019 Ford EcoSport is competitively priced among subcompact crossovers. Unfortunately, its fuel economy scores aren't as good as those of top-tier rivals, and there aren't any advanced safety features aside from blind-spot monitoring.
Pros Above-average cargo space for the class All-wheel drive can be ordered at every trim level Widespread availability of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Sync 3 infotainment interface is fast and easy to use
Cons Aside from blind-spot monitoring, advanced safety aids aren't available Below-average fuel economy Base engine might struggle while carrying passengers and cargo Choppy, jittery ride on most road surfaces
The 2019 Ford EcoSport ranked #15 in Subcompact SUVs. Currently the Ford EcoSport has a score of 6.8 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 17 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Good amount of cargo space Tall driving position User-friendly available infotainment system
Cons Poor acceleration with base engine Easily unsettled ride Large window pillars hinder forward visibility Limited available advanced safety features