KGM Tivoli (SsangYong Tivoli) Review 2025: Price, specs & boot space

For many buyers, the appeal of the KGM Tivoli lies in the fact that it’s frugal, practical and safe. And then the Tivoli's five-year/100,000-mile warranty will be the deal maker. 

Unlike some of its rivals, KGM's warranty pretty much covers everything from the engine and suspension, to the wheel bearings and in-car audio. Yet, for what you get given in value, the KGM takes away with poor refinement.

The KGM Tivoli is certainly well equipped and is a very affordable new buy. As you'd expect, it comes with leather seats which are heated in the front, dual-zone climate control, keyless start, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control and pretty much everything else you'd want. 

The 9-inch infotainment system looks dated and has a rather confusing menu layout. Luckily, there are a few physical buttons, there's also Android Auto and Apple Car Play.

There’s a few options to weigh up against the KGM Tivoli. There's the Dacia Sandero Stepway, the Suzuki Vitara, and even the discontinued Skoda Roomster for slightly obscure practicality - though the Roomster is getting a little long in the tooth now...

KGM has pitched the Tivoli somewhere between a Nissan Juke and Nissan Qashqai. As a result, it’s roomier and more practical than a Juke but falls short of being an all-rounder like the Qashqai.

Other Modern alternatives include the Skoda Kamiq, MG ZS, Renault Captur, Ford Puma and Toyota Yaris Cross. 

Like other recent KGM products, quality is questionable in places. The Tivoli features squishy materials, making it feel slightly posher than a Dacia Duster. Lots of dark scratchy plastics fill the cabin and none of the switches or panels feel tough. Yet another point to its rivals. 

This is where the KGM fends off much of its competition. It boasts a nine-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system with DAB digital radio, iPod and Bluetooth connectivity, and TomTom satellite navigation. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also fitted as standard.

The system is a comprehensive setup that also includes steering-wheel-mounted controls, six speakers, including two tweeters, and a rear-view camera.

On the road, it’s simple to use, but while the display is clear, it lacks the clarity of rival systems. Switching to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto certainly helps, as the screen looks nicer, and the system is faster.

We also like how KGM has positioned key functions on buttons below the screen, while the steering wheel controls ensure everything's easy to use without taking your eyes off the road ahead.

Starting with the boot - one of the key aspects of this car - it has a reasonable capacity of 427 litres, expandable to 1118 litres by folding the rear seats forward. However, the load area does have quite a high load lip, which might pose problems for those who carry bulky loads or dogs. It also does without a load cover in basic SE trim, though you could purchase one as an accessory. 

The rear seats fold 60:40 to open up more space if the back seats aren’t required. Entry to the boot is hampered by a high-loading lip while the wheel arches eat into available space.

With external dimensions of 4225mm in length, 1810mm in width and 1620mm in height, the back seats provide enough room for three adults, with plenty of headroom and legroom available. Even the middle-seat passenger will feel comfortable, with plenty of room for their feet. If the middle seat isn’t required, the centre armrest can be lowered to reveal a pair of cupholders. The storage straps on the backs of the front seats are a bit odd, but you might find a use for them.

Before, buyers could choose between a 1.6-litre petrol and a 1.6-litre diesel engine, though for the first few months, the SsangYong Tivoli (before the KGM rebrand) was sold as petrol only. Both engines were linked to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission, plus the option of all-wheel drive. 

KGM has since resorted to petrol only yet again, but there's no four-wheel drive option. 

The 1.5-litre is reasonably hushed at low revs but booms beyond 3000rpm. Likewise, you'll regret taking it near 4000rpm. 

There's also notable suspension, road and wind noise. Again, a point given to most of its rivals. 

One safety benchmark that allows us to compare cars like for like is the Euro NCAP crash tests, where points and stars are awarded to highlight how a car performs in a crash. The SsangYong Tivoli was tested and achieved three stars out of five when launched. 

But with safety being a key factor in purchasing decisions for many buyers, a three-star Tivoli would be a harder sell than rivals that have achieved four or five stars. The latest KGM guise hasn't been tested. 

Luckily, the KGM Tivoli has autonomous braking, lane-keep assist, and lane departure warning. Likewise, the car is built on a high-strength monocoque frame and features seven airbags. 

KGM didn't make the 33-manufacturer list in the latest Honest John satisfaction index. On another note, it didn't make any 'worse cars' lists either. 

Despite the rubbish auto gearbox, the Tivoli seems fairly reliable. It's difficult to say how much this will dwindle in years to come as quality isn't KGM's strong suit. 

Before, the SsangYong Tivoli straddled insurance groups 13 to 16, but the latest K40 sits in group 18 regardless of transmission. 

Lacklustre performance equates to poor c02 emissions. Opt for the manual gearbox, and you'll pay £680 showroom tax followed by the standard rate of £195 per year afterwards. If you've lapsed in concentration and bought the auto, the showroom tax rises to £1,095.

Unlike the old Tivoli with three trim levels, only one exists for the KGM. Still, you get heaps to boot such as automatic headlamps, parking sensors, cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, reversing camera, keyless start and entry, heated front seats and lots of safety stuff. 

There are a few optional extras such as a wind deflector kit, caravan wiring, tow bar, dog guards, boot liners, mud guards and floor mats, and a touch-in paint pen.