KOREAN car brand SsangYong is back, after exiting the local car landscape in November 2016; today announcing two all new models, and the return of two favourites, in a full factory backed re-entry into the Australian market.
New versions of the Rexton 4×4 SUV and the Musso dual cab ute are set to hit local dealers in November, joined by the new Tivoli small SUV and Tivoli XLV – a unique extended body version of the Tivoli.
The new Rexton, now in its fourth generation, is set to be the brand’s flagship model locally, with the 4WD 7-seater set to feature a 133kW 2.2-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel, pushing out 420Nm of torque via a 7-speed Mercedes Benz automatic transmission.
A petrol-engine 2WD model will also be available, powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine delivering 165kW of power and maximum torque of 350Nm via a 6-speed Aisin auto gearbox. The range starts at $39,990 drive away.
Both variants will come with a host of safety features, including Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and High Beam Assist (HBA).
The range-topping Ultimate will add 360-degree camera and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), and all trim levels will also feature Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Sharing the Rexton underpinnings is the new from the ground up, Musso pickup.
With a 3.0-tonne towing capacity and a 1.0-tonne payload, the 4×4 Musso is set to challenge more established rivals, and will be loaded with tech. It will share its engine with the Rexton diesel, matched to a 6-speed manual or 6-speed auto transmission.
The Musso EX, with a manual transmission, will hit the road at $30,490 drive away.
Joining the big 7-seat SUV and the new look Musso ute is the Tivoli and Tivoli XLV. The Tivoli features a tough urban stance and is designed to suit buyers looking for something a little different in the small SUV space.
It’s powered by a 1.6-litre petrol or 1.6-litre diesel engine, and can be purchased in 2WD or 4WD, comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and is loaded with safety features including seven airbags.
It also comes with Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Active Rollover Protection, Brake Assist, Hill Start Assist and Emergency Stop Signal, reversing camera and rear parking sensors across the range.
The two higher spec variants, the ELX and Ultimate, also feature Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), Lane Keep Assist (LKA) and High Beam Assist (HBA).
Pricing for the Tivoli EX begins Tivoli EX at $23,490 for the petrol version with a manual transmission (drive away), while the Tivoli XLV ELX Diesel 2WD will hit the road at $31,990 (again, drive away).
The final vehicle in the four car assault the brand has planned for its return to Australia is the XLV, which you might describe as the wagon version of the compact Tivoli – boasting 720-litres of load space (with the seats down).
It’s designed to be a multi-purpose small SUV, and could carve out its own little niche space in the market, not dissimilar to things like the Toyota Rukus and Nissan Cube have in their own ways.
