SsangYong Tivoli XLV – B-segment SUV with big boot

Been wanting to get a B-segment crossover, but worried about the small boot? SsangYong’s answer is to stretch its Tivoli SUV to create the SsangYong Tivoli XLV, which made its debut at the ongoing 2016 Geneva Motor Show ahead of its on-sale date in May.

The XLV (for “eXciting smart Lifestyle Vehicle,” whatever that means) is pretty much identical to the standard Tivoli from the C-pillar forwards, but the rear is a massive 238 mm longer – giving it a huge 720 litre boot. That’s 297 litres more than the already large 423 litre load space on the Tivoli.

Strangely, there’s no seven-seater version offered just yet, despite previewing such a model with the XLV and XLV-Air concepts – so the only benefit of the larger rear end for now is a bigger boot.

As with the Tivoli, the XLV features SsangYong’s new “Nature Born 3 Motion” styling language, with a more upright rear end compared to its sibling. To offset some of the added visual bulk, the D-pillars have been blacked out, while the “floating roof” design has been retained. The triangular LED tail lights also differ from those on the Tivoli.

Engine choices include a 1.6 litre e-XGi160 petrol engine producing 128 PS at 6,000 rpm and 160 Nm at 4,600 rpm, as well as a 1.6 litre e-XDi160 turbodiesel pushing out 115 PS from 3,400-4,000 rpm and 300 Nm from 1,500-2,500 rpm. Both mills are Euro 6-compliant, and are mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or an Aisin six-speed auto. Two- and four-wheel drive options are available.

Safety kit includes seven airbags (including a driver’s knee airbag), ABS, an electronic Stability Programme (ESP) with hydraulic brake assist, hill-start assist and active roll-over protection (ARP), ISOFIX child seat anchors and a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS).