[Taboleo] #SpringNightCarCamping #CherryBlossomEnding #Successful... Tivoli Air

Spacious Interior... Comparable to Compact SUVs
Family Camping Popular Among 2030 Generation
720ℓ Cargo Space... Doubles When Folding Second Row Seats

40 HP Increase Over Previous Model
10-Year Free 'Airbag Deployment Alert' and
Well-Rounded Safety and Convenience Features Make It a 'God-Value' Choice

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] SsangYong Motor, which has overcome management difficulties several times, is once again facing a crisis. Although it is negotiating investments with potential investor HAAH Automotive for a new revival, the tangled situation is not easily resolved. When thinking of a car that resembles SsangYong's situation, the Tivoli Air, a symbol of revival, comes to mind first.

The Tivoli Air was a model that led the domestic small sport utility vehicle (SUV) market when it was first sold in 2016, loved by customers for its neat design and space utilization. It was discontinued in 2019 due to sales interference issues with the higher-end model Korando. However, it was revived last October, riding the wave of the small SUV market activation and the car camping (cha-bak) craze. Recently, it has also been released as a camping car version, gaining fame as a representative small SUV suitable for car camping. I experienced the cost-effectiveness by driving the Tivoli Air A3, the higher trim, in the city and outskirts for 2 nights and 3 days.

- Tivoli Air is famous as a car camping SUV, but is the interior actually spacious?

▲ Although the Tivoli Air is classified as a small SUV, I felt that its space is comparable to that of a compact SUV. The Tivoli Air has a length of 4480 mm, width of 1810 mm, height of 1645 mm, and a wheelbase (distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels) of 2600 mm. Compared to SsangYong's compact SUV, the 2020 Korando, the wheelbase is 75 mm shorter, but the length is about 30 mm longer.

The second-row seats can recline up to 32.5 degrees, and the headroom is large and cushioned, providing good head support, allowing passengers in the rear to maintain a comfortable posture. Additionally, the second-row heated seats are applied. Because of this, it can be said that the seating space is sufficient for young drivers in their 20s and 30s starting social life as well as for family units.

- Can you load camping gear generously?

▲ Above all, the cargo space was so spacious that the phrase "suitable for car camping" felt very true. While the cargo space of domestic small SUVs is usually in the 400-liter range, the Tivoli Air has a cargo space of 720 liters, exceeding that of domestic compact SUVs. To accommodate various types of luggage, a latch-type folding lever is applied. The second-row seats can be split 60:40 and folded. When folding the entire second-row seat, a completely flat state is possible, and the cargo space increases to 1440 liters. When I, a reporter with a height of 180 cm, stretched out my legs and lay down, it felt slightly cramped, but I thought that with a mat installed, it would be comfortable for car camping.

- How does it feel when driving?

▲ Besides the spacious interior, the Tivoli Air boasts excellent cost-effectiveness ("God-level value"). The Tivoli Air is equipped with a 1.5L gasoline turbo engine, delivering a maximum output of 163 horsepower and maximum torque of 26.5 kg·m. Compared to the previous Tivoli Air equipped with a 1.6L gasoline engine, the maximum output increased by 40 horsepower and the maximum torque by 10.5 kg·m. When driving on the Sikjangsan Observatory Road in Daejeon Metropolitan City with the Tivoli Air, despite many uphill and curved sections, it was not difficult to ascend. The official combined fuel efficiency is 12 km/L, but the test drive fuel efficiency maintained 13-14 km/L. The engine stop-start system (ISG), which temporarily stops the engine during signal waits or traffic congestion, was applied, so fuel efficiency did not drop significantly even in city driving.

The driving safety assistance system was also well equipped. During normal driving, the steering wheel felt a bit light, but when driving at high speed or on curved roads, the Lane Keeping Assist (CLKA) intervened to keep the car centered in the lane, giving a heavier steering feel. Additionally, the Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCTAi), which brakes in situations where rear-side collisions are a concern, and the Exit Assist Function (EAF), which alerts of approaching objects when exiting the vehicle, are also installed. The airbags are the most numerous in its class with seven, and the CLT belt system prevents chest injuries caused by seat belts, while dual pretensioners hold the chest and pelvis.

It was also good that three driving modes are provided according to the driving environment. In Normal mode, it maintains relative quietness when driving in the city, making it efficient. When sporty driving is desired on highways, it can be switched to Sport mode. Winter mode is also installed, which helps safe starts on slippery winter roads by preventing wheel spin and avoiding accidents.

- You mentioned excellent cost-effectiveness; how about other convenience features and price?

▲ The Tivoli Air did not feel lacking compared to other competing small SUV models in terms of convenience features. SsangYong's connected car system, INFOCONN, provides services such as safety and security, assistant, information, entertainment, remote control, and vehicle management.

Specifically, it offers connected navigation with real-time traffic information and map updates, and allows remote control of vehicle start, air conditioning, heating, and doors. It also has voice recognition functionality, so pressing the voice recognition button on the steering wheel allows easy operation of search, news, and audio content playback even while driving. The auto-closing door, which automatically locks when the key is carried and the distance exceeds a certain range, is also installed, and an alarm sounds to alert the driver if the engine is not turned off or the door is opened and the driver exits. If the airbags deploy due to an accident, the INFOCONN call center provides appropriate assistance. This airbag deployment notification service is provided free for 10 years. The Tivoli Air does not have a head-up display (HUD), but the 10.25-inch digital cluster instrument panel displays safety warnings, navigation driving information, and media playback, reducing the disappointment of lacking a HUD.

The base price of the Tivoli Air A1 is 18.98 million KRW, and the A3's base price is 21.96 million KRW. The A3 I test drove was equipped with options such as two-tone exterior Popular Collection (Comfort, Style, Hi-pass, Mirroring Navigation), Deep Control, INFOCONN, Blaze Cockpit, natural leather seats, sports pedals, carbon outside mirrors, and tailgate LED lamps, with a selling price of 27.28 million KRW.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.