SsangYong Tivoli Ultimate special edition launched

SsangYong has launched a flagship Ultimate version of its smallest model, the Tivoli compact SUV. It costs £17,495 – and only 60 are available to UK buyers.

The SsangYong Tivoli competes against the Renault Captur, SEAT Arona, Peugeot 2008 and Nissan Juke, and brings the South Korean company's years of four-wheel-drive expertise with it. Unlike other Tivoli trim levels, though, the Ultimate is front-wheel-drive only.

Powered by a 1.6-litre, 124bhp petrol engine, the Tivoli Ultimate is available with a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic. Based on the range-topping ELX trim level, which includes leather upholstery, privacy glass and keyless go, the Ultimate adds heated and cooled front seats and a heated steering wheel, while LED front foglamps and diamond-cut alloy wheels add a touch of distinction outside.

Infotainment comes courtesy of a seven-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth connectivity, TomTom navigation and a reversing camera. There's also a suite of advanced driver assistance features, including autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assistance. Traffic-sign recognition is standard.

All SsangYongs have a generous five-year/unlimited-mileage warranty which is claimed to cover more components than many rival policies – including wearable parts such as clutch and brake linings for the first year or 12,500 miles. The paintwork and battery are both covered for three years.

The Ultimate costs £17,495 in manual form – £440 more than the ELX it's based on. Opting for the automatic gearbox brings the price to £18,295. Order books are open now, with just 60 examples available for UK buyers.