Ssangyong Musso
FIRST UK DRIVE Korean pick-up targets a slice of lucrative market
FOR some people the Ssangyong Musso will conjure up memories of a large, odd-looking SUV from the early nineties. But today the Musso is a pickup with a focus on the sensible stuff.
This all-new model is a workhorse, which Ssangyong believes can steal a chunk of the lucrative 50,000-units-ayear market from the likes of the Ford Ranger and the Mitsubishi L200.
The Musso uses the same body-onchassis structure as the Rexton 4x4. As a result, the firm believes it’s the most Suv-like choice in its class, and from the driver’s seat, it might have a point.
The truck shares its dashboard design with the Rexton, putting it a cut above almost any of its rivals. There are soft, squidgy plastics on the dash, a fully adjustable steering wheel, a damped glovebox and smart switchgear. The Nissan Navara runs it close for rear legroom, but the Musso has the most spacious back seats in this class.
Exceptional
Then there’s the infotainment system. The 9.2-inch screen offered in Saracen models is big, bright and simple to use, and benefits from Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity. It also gets a hi-res reversing camera, which, thanks to its location, allows you to see the tow bar as you line up to hitch a trailer.
And towing is something that the Musso is exceptional at. It’s the only car in the segment that can pull a 3.5-tonne trailer while hauling a further tonne in the rear load bed at the same time. The Mercedes-sourced 2.2-litre diesel is more than torquey enough, and is refined, too. The lack of a fuel-saving stop/start system seems odd, however.
Trailer or not, this isn’t a car to be hurried. It feels big and ponderous through corners, and the steering is very light and has almost no feel. A Ranger isn’t a match for most SUVS in the handling stakes, but it feels better resolved than the Musso.
While driving thrills won’t really be a concern in vehicles like this, comfort will be. That’s a problem, because the rear end bounces violently from bump to bump, while the pick-up’s comparatively soft damping struggles to keep the Musso’s mass in check.
Things do improve when the load bed is full: with a tonne of bricks in the back, it smooths things significantly. It’s worth noting, then, that Ssangyong is considering softening the rear springs to make things a little more bearable.
Yet the price is easier to stomach. An entry-level Musso is around 10 per cent cheaper than a Mitsubishi L200, and looks good value considering the standard kit. There are four trims to choose from: basic EX cars get alloys, a DAB radio, Bluetooth and air-con, while Saracen trucks like ours boast leather seats and that 9.2-inch screen.