2019 SsangYong Tivoli Interior and Cargo Space

As someone who has been spending a lot of time on the road, I know for a fact that a nice cabin is almost always as important as a compelling exterior. After all, you spend more time inside the car than staring at your ride’s acclaimed beauty, right?

Now, the 2019 SsangYong Tivoli is hands down a great-looking car, but with its new Premium Sport variant, that snazzy Land Rover-ish appeal on the outside has been partnered with stylish accents and a wide array of tech features. Let’s take a closer look into the Tivoli’s updated cabin, as well as its unchanged interior and cargo space.

One of the major updates in the 2019 SsangYong Tivoli Premium Sport variant is its brown Nappa leather upholstery. I totally dig how soft it is on the eyes; almost as comforting as a khaki-themed cabin. On the Tivoli however, the brown accents found on the seats, door panels, and steering wheel are complemented by a combination of black and dark grey. I just have one problem with it, though: the smooth leather feels a bit stiff, so it somehow lessens the comfort provided by the well-cushioned seats and the steering wheel. With the materials found inside the cabin, it’s easy to clean the car on your own.

Nevertheless, comfort isn't compromised to the point of annoyance, and spending hours sitting inside the car isn’t really a task. The few hard plastics are also masked with a matte finish, so that’s well and good. It’s then complemented by satin chrome and a copious amount of piano black accents on the center console, door handles, steering wheel, and the gear-shift lever. Although, I’m not really a fan of piano black plastics since they’re prone to scratches and fingerprint marks.

Aside from aesthetics, the Tivoli has a commendable ride comfort, which is quite surprising since the car’s suspension is tuned for a sporty drive. As such, body roll is barely present. With its kind-of ground clearance (higher than sedans and hatchbacks), it tackles dilapidated roads with ease, while the impact isn’t transferred to the passengers completely.

Leg-, head-, and elbow-room are abundant for four passengers on board, given that the tallest person inside would be 5’9”. Although, the middle rear seat isn’t the best place to be in as the semi-bench seats are designed to coddle two passengers. Regardless, air-conditioning works just fine at any time of the day and outside noise isolation gets a thumbs up from me.

While the overall comfort, space, and design of the SsangYong Tivoli's interior are notable and exemplary for its class, it’s a different story for its cargo area. It isn’t spacious – it’s more on what you’ll expect in a subcompact crossover, plus the backrests don't fold flat to the floor. They fold in a 60:40 manner, though. There is no trunk lid, as well, so it’s important to not leave anything that will melt at the back, especially when leaving the car parked in a sunny spot.

On the upside, the tailgate has a wide opening so loading and unloading cargo are relatively easy, but it would be easier if it has a flat lip. By my measure, I was able to fit a standard-sized stroller in it, along with two week's worth of groceries when the rear seats are up.