New SsangYong Tivoli provides great value for money

The fact it offers great value for money means it has the potential to be one of the most disruptive cars to enter the crossover sector.

Costing as little as £12,950 at entry level, it has been priced to undercut its rivals.

And the South Korean manufacturer is clearly very confident in the reliability and durability of it latest offering, so much so that a five-year unlimited-mileage warranty is thrown into the deal.

Diesel power has been added to the list of options when buying a Tivoli, and 1.6-litre unit in the vehicle tested here provides 115bhp and a very decent 300Nm of torque through the front wheels.

In most situations, the Tivoli offers enough grunt to pull away from corners briskly or to overtake when necessary.

The diesel engine gives you decent amount of torque almost immediately when you press the pedal. With regard to the way the vehicle handles, it feels solid, stable and composed.

There's good visibility when looking at the road ahead thanks to a high seating position.

On the whole, the car is good looking, with distinctive styling and a front end that is arguably more handsome than the back.

Inside, you'll notice the high quality of the leather and stitching - better than scratchy leathers you find in some cars costing twice the price.

Meanwhile, the large central screen puts the car in the same league as the standard for the sector.

In terms of space and practicality, the boot is deep and broad, although there us a fairly large load lip.

We found a family outing very comfortable, with no shortage of space for two adults in the front and three in the back. Indeed, as an everyday car for parents with children in tow, it's an excellent option.

Some of the features include leather seats, a large touch-screen, dual-zone climate control, reversing camera, and 18-inch diamond cut alloy wheels.

The top of the range ELX, tested here, is priced from £16,000 upwards and is available with the full choice of petrol, diesel, manual and automatic transmission, front-wheel drive or 4x4, and features Diamond-cut alloy wheels, a smart instrument cluster, smart keyless starting, front and rear parking sensors, privacy glass, rear spoiler, automatic headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, full TomTom navigation system with 7” touch screen and rear view camera.

There's also the option of the Styling pack and Red leather pack via the My Tivoli personalisation programme.

The manufacturer may not be among the most fashionable, but a decent-looking, well-equipped and cheap car like this will go a long way to boosting its image.

THE LOWDOWN

SsangYong Tivoli ELX

PRICE: from £12,950 (£17,250 as tested)

Engine: 1.6-litre petrol producing 115bhp

Transmission: Six-speed manual driving the front wheels

Performance: Top speed 107mph, 0-62mph in 12 seconds

Economy: 65.7mpg combined

Emissions: 113g/km of CO2

Insurance group: 19D

Will's ratings

PERFORMANCE: 3

ECONOMY: 4

RIDE/HANDLING: 4

SPACE: 4

EQUIPMENT: 4

SECURITY: 4

VALUE: 5

OVERALL: 4