• Good safety credentials
• Four stars from Euro NCAP
• Safety kit added to kit tally 

Based on how the regular Tivoli performed, the XLV was awarded three stars for safety by Euro NCAP. However, since the XLV was launched it’s been updated with a new safety pack that throws in some driver assistance tech.

This includes autonomous emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist and traffic sign recognition, which have contributed to its four-star safety rating.

There’s also the usual suite of safety equipment as standard. You get dual front airbags, plus side curtain and a driver’s knee airbag.

Other items include front seatbelt pre-tensioners, Electronic Stability Programme, Active Rollover Protection, ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, and doors that automatically lock when you’re on the move.

• Space is a SsangYong strong suit
• Longer body means more room
• Plenty of storage throughout

Space and practicality is one of the SsangYong Tivoli XLV’s areas of focus, and again it hits the nail right on the head. The 1,500kg maximum towing capacity from the SUV remains, essential for SsangYong’s burgeoning caravan-hauling fanbase.

Of course the big news here is the enlarged boot, with 576 litres (1,440 if you drop the rear seats) of boot space, which is usefully larger than the Tivoli’s 423 litres. It’s also more than the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage, key rivals from the Tivoli XLV’s home market.

Pick a full-size spare wheel and there isn’t quite as much space, but it’s still comfortably larger than offerings like the Nissan Juke and Renault Captur, which can cost about the same amount to buy.

There are also plenty of different storage options dotted throughout the cabin, from netting on the back of the front seats, big door bins and sections to the sides of the boot. 

The extra bodywork at the back of the Tivoli is what makes it larger, but overall it’s not a huge difference, and it’s still the same width, which helps with manoeuvring in tight spaces around town.

Where you do notice the extra bulk is when reversing to park as there are some chunky pillars to contend with, and in corners when the car rolls quite noticeably. These small issues aside, the Tivoli XLV feels very much like the regular Tivoli.

SsangYong markets the Tivoli XLV as a car with a 720-litre boot, which sounds like a very generous amount of space over the regular Tivoli. However, that figure is measuring it to the roof. In reality, most people don’t fill their boots to the roof, rather the parcel shelf, and to this point the boot is 576 litres in capacity.

If you wish to extend it, it’s easily done by lowering the rear seats to open up a total of 1,440 litres. The boot also features some handy hooks and cubby holes, as well as a variable-height boot floor to make it even more flexible.