Diesel 2020 Korando, Tivoli strengthen Ssangyong’s crossover lineup

When you think Korean more likely than not you automatically think of Kpop, BBQ, or Samgyupsal, but this isn’t about your typical Korean thing. Enter the 2020 SsangYong Korando and Tivoli diesel. These two crossovers are like prime cuts of beef ready to stir up the hot pot that is the crossover segment. The two vehicles actually have a lot in common. The exteriors are similar to each other, which can make it hard to determine which is which at a glance. The devil is in the details, after all.

First on the list is the all-new Korando. Like its Tivoli counterpart, it is a crossover. Exterior-wise, it looks very similar to the smaller Tivoli save for a couple of differences with the lower bumper. It features a strong boxy shape with the vehicle body lines aiming towards a more aggressive look. For lighting comes with a full set of LED lights. These include the head- and tail-lights as well as daytime running lights and fog lamps. The entry-level Korando, however, gets halogen projectors instead. The Korando rides on a set of 18-inch diamond-cut finish alloy wheels for the top-spec, while the entry-level gets 17-inch aluminum wheels.

Next is the Tivoli diesel. The exterior is close to that of the 2019 model but it now comes with redesigned head- and tail-lights as well as a redesigned rear hatch. Unlike the Korando, the diesel Tivoli can only be had with halogen projector headlights. The LEDs, however, are present in the taillights as well as the daytime running lights. Like the Korando, the top-spec Tivoli can be had with 18-inch alloy wheels, the base model only gets 16-inch aluminum wheels. 

Color options for these two crossovers are almost the same with Cherry Red, Grand White, Platinum Gray, and Silent Silver being the common colors. The Korando gets the special Dandy Blue Color, while the Tivoli gets Space Black. 

Both vehicles share the 10.25-inch Super Vision HD cluster which has four display options available. Lower variants also share the same 3.5-inch Supervision cluster with color adjust. The 2020 Korando and Tivoli also share the same 8-inch infotainment system which is Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capable. Sound is sent through a 6-speaker setup. Both units also get a push to start button, but that is where the similarities stop.

The Korando gets leather and fabric as its seating material options. It comes with an 8-way power-adjustable seat for the driver and passenger. For the fabric variant, it gets a 6-way manual to adjust for the driver, the passenger, on the other hand, it only gets a 4-way manual to adjust the seat. The Korando also comes with a dual-zone climate control system, while its entry-level gets a manual control version instead. 

Moving on to the Tivoli. The interior material can be had with either leatherette or black fabric. A noticeable upgrade is the redesigned dashboard. The air vents at the center have now been moved to the top of the dash. Unlike the Korando the climate controls of the Tivoli diesel are manual. The driver’s seat gets 6-way manual adjustability and the same applies for the front passenger. 

Both vehicles actually share the same diesel power mill. The 1.6-liter turbo diesel produces 134 hp and 324 Nm of torque. Not much separates the two as the 6-speed automatic transmission is the sole option. The only difference between the two power plants is the slightly bigger turbo that the Korando has, but the performance figures are exactly the same.

Both vehicles come with driver and passenger airbags as standard, as well as ABS with EBD. The Tivoli diesel has the advantage as its top-spec model comes with side and curtain airbags. The top-spec model for the Tivoli comes with an immobilizer as standard while the lower variant misses out on it. The Korando, on the other hand, comes with it as standard across all variants. Smart keyless entry is available for both vehicles in their top-trim levels. Lower variants will have to use the good old key and fob system. 

The 2020 SsangYong Korando prices are as follows:

Korando 1.6 Sport AT – P1,290,000

Korando 1.6 Diesel Sport AT – P1,578,000

Korando 1.6 Diesel Premium – P1,770,000

The 2020 SsangYong Tivoli diesel prices are as follows:

Tivoli 1.6 Diesel Sport – P1,180,000

Tivoli 1.6 Diesel Premium – P1,290,000