SsangYong Motor’s flagship model Tivoli has retained the top spot in the compact SUV market in Korea with the continued rollout of upgraded models.

Tivoli is SsangYong’s first vehicle -- which was released in early 2015 -- since Indian conglomerate Mahindra Group bought the Korean automaker in 2011. It cumulatively sold 91,000 units locally and 130,000 units globally.

On its home turf, Tivoli takes up 56 percent of the market share, with sales of around 46,000 units this year through October. Kia Motors’ Niro follows with sales of 15,000 units, followed by Renault Samsung’s QM3 which shipped 11,000 units and GM Korea’s Trax with 8,800 units.

Tivoli’s hit comes from the continued rollout of new models which offer a more enhanced performance, according to SsangYong.

“Tivoli has a wide consumer base as we have continually unveiled new models -- both diesel and gasoline -- with better performance such as a four-wheel drive system and Advanced Driver Assistance System, or ADAS,” a SsangYong’s official said.

In September, SsangYong unveiled the new 2017 Tivoli, which adopted ADAS for the first time as a compact SUV.

The new assistance system features diverse advanced semi-autopilot functions, such as Forward Collision Warning System, which provides a driver with a warning in critical situations where a collision is imminent, and Autonomous Emergency Braking System, which automatically brakes to avoid or mitigate a crash.

The system also sports Lane Departure Warning System, which warns the driver when the vehicle begins to move out of its lane, and Lane Keeping Assist System, which steers a driver back into his lane.

The new Tivoli also features High-Beam Assist, which automatically switches off high beams if another vehicle is approaching.

The strong sales of the Tivoli series have increased the global sales of SsangYong.

Since the launch of Tivoli last year in North Europe, including Denmark, Sweden and Norway, SsangYong’s sales on the continent rose more than 80 percent from 2014.

SsangYong shipped 12,000 units in 2014, 22,000 units in 2015 and is expected to sell around 30,000 units this year.

Apart from Europe, sales in Iran and Egypt have also increased over the last year due to Tivoli’s popularity.

SsangYong sold a total of 5,486 units in Iran this year through October, a 600 percent rise from the previous year, and 1,639 units in Egypt, an increase of more than 400 percent in the same time period.

By Shin Ji-hye (shinjh@heraldcorp.com)