DRIVE: SSANGYONG MUSSO XLV
A LOCALLY-DEVELOPED SUSPENSION PACKAGE AND A RAFT OF QUALITY ACCESSORIES MAKE SSANGYONG’S MUSSO XLV A MORE ATTRACTIVE PACKAGE.
here were a few raised eyebrows when we arrived for the 4x4 Of The Year testing in a Ssangyong Musso, but if there was one car that surprised our judges over the week of on- and off-road testing it was the big red ute. Each of the judges commented on the refinement of the drivetrain, the space in both the cabin and massive cargo tray, and tipped it as a great value-for-money package.
If there was one consistent negative comment about the Musso it was the ride height with most suggesting it could do with a suspension kit. Perhaps the rear bumper being dislodged from touching terra firma when we returned from the week of testing was a dead giveaway.
“Oh, we should have given you one with the off-road suspension,” said Ssangyong’s Kristian Bartley when we informed him of the now ill-fitting bumper and the comments on ground clearance or lack thereof.
Well duh! We forgot about that Ssangyong had previously commissioned local 4x4 specialists Ironman 4X4 to develop a suspension package for its vehicles to better suit Australian conditions and users. Ironman spent some time developing the package and then toing and froing with the OEM to get the setup tuned to its standards and now it is available as a factory-approved option.
The Ironman suspension for the Musso comprised springs and shocks that raise the ride height by 35mm at the front
THE JUDGES COMMENTED ON THE REFINEMENT OF THE DRIVETRAIN, THE SPACE IN BOTH THE CABIN AND CARGO TRAY, AND TIPPED IT AS A GREAT VALUE-FOR-MONEY PACKAGE
and 40mm at the back, and better control the stability over bumps. The constant load kit is available for both SWB Musso and LWB Musso XLV utes and is a $990 option.
The Musso XLV supplied to us with the upgraded suspension was also loaded with a heap of other factory accessories that add almost $12,000 (see price list) to the drive-away price, but even at $53,386.47 drive away, this is a lot of ute for the money. Even better with the discounts currently available that could land it for less than $50K for ABN holders.
ON ROAD
Driving the Musso is a more pleasant experience than in many other double-cab 4x4 utes. The refinement of the powertrain that was so influential in the ute’s 4X4OTY performance shines through as soon as you get behind the wheel. The 2.2-litre diesel engine is smooth and relatively quiet while the six-speed auto gets on with the job without fuss or fanfare.
The cabin is not only quiet but it’s also big! Wider than just about all of the mainstream utes, it gives the feeling of a bigger vehicle. It’s spacious and airy, never feeling cramped or confined, while all the controls and buttons are easy to read and operate.
The Ironman suspension lift is only modest by off-road standards so there’s no need to climb up in to the cabin. More importantly, the upgraded suspension tames any bounce and wallowing that was noticeable in the stock vehicle over uneven terrain to deliver a far more controlled and pleasurable drive.
The constant-load springs of the improved suspension should ensure that this control is mirrored when there is cargo in the massive tray.
OFF ROAD
That improved control afforded by the new suspension is also there when you leave the blacktop and hit the tracks as the Musso now tackles bumps and potholes with less kickback through the vehicle or upsetting of the chassis. More significant is the added ride height, as we rolled over erosion humps without scraping the belly on this Musso where the standard one would have required special care to get over unscathed. At 3210mm this is still a long wheelbase vehicle and you need to be wary of the belly over ledges and dropoffs.
There’s no escaping that massive rear overhang though and even with the taller ride height, we still touched down on the tail a few times. Thankfully we kept the rear bumper intact this time around, the optional tow bar providing a bit of protection there.
The 420Nm diesel engine chugs along nicely in low-range crawling delivering its torque from as low as 1400rpm. The Musso has to make do with its electronic traction control for those instances where it lifts a wheel or there’s simply no grip as there are no other traction aids such as a user-lockable rear differential. Ssangyong does specify the rear diff as being an auto-locking limited slip unit and that works well for it on gravel, but we found it a bit slow to react when the going gets rougher.
The Hankook Dynapro AT tyres fitted to this Musso helped with traction and stability on the gravel roads as well.
The long wheelbase XLV version of the Musso might not be the ute for you if heavy-duty off-road driving is what you’re chasing, but it is capable enough for most users over most terrain that they are likely to encounter. It is made that extra bit capable with the upgraded suspension.
PRACTICALITY
With its wide cabin, massive cargo tub, 3500kg towing and 800kg payload (coil spring XLV) the Musso delivers large on usability be it for family, trade or touring use. This practicality is amplified with the quality accessories fitted to this vehicle and not just the suspension.
The approved canopy comes from Carryboy and we reckon fitting it really helps the aesthetic of the Musso, putting its somewhat ungainly large appearance in to better proportions. Better still, a lockable canopy protects your belongings against the elements and adds some security to the cargo tub. A great feature of the Carryboy canopy is that all the locks, including the tailgate and side windows, are synched to the central locking so it’s a one-button press to unlock the openings for easy access.
Further adding to the quality brand accessories, the canopy is topped by a Titan Tray rack from Rola which is complemented by cross bars on the vehicle roof. When you add the Rola rack to the Carryboy Canopy and Ironman suspension it becomes obvious that Ssangyong has teamed with leading brands for its factory-approved accessories.
VALUE
When you take in the value of Ssangyong’s 7-year, unlimitedkilometre warranty, 7-year roadside assistance and capped price servicing, and add it to the Musso’s relatively low pricepoint, quality feel, refined drive and excellent capacities and practicality, it really stacks up as a leader in the value-for-money stakes. The quality gear offered by the factory and fitted to this particular vehicle just adds to that value package.