Geneva Motor Show 2018: Ssangyong launches all-new Musso pick-up
Tue, 06 Mar 2018
The all-new SsangYong Musso has been launched at the Geneva Motor Show 2018. The one-tonne pick-up will reach the UK in late-2018, with prices expected to start in the region of £17,000 excluding VAT.
SsangYong has built itself a reputation as a low-cost pick-up specialist in the UK and the 2018 Musso is expected to continue in the same vein with a competitive price and five-year-unlimited-mileage warranty supplied as standard.
Based on the mechanical underpinnings of the latest Rexton, the next-gen Musso will be more refined and comfortable than its predecessor thanks to the use of a coil sprung live rear axle and independently sprung wheels at the front. The engine bay also gets larger rubber mounts, which should reduce the amount of noise and vibration reaching the cabin.
The interior has been completely redesigned with a new dashboard and improved seats. Most models get touchscreen infotainment as standard, along with DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and wi-fi will also be available when a smartphone is connected to the infotainment system via a USB cable.
The loadbed in the outgoing Musso was one of the smallest of any pick-up on sale in the UK, but this area might be addressed by the fact that the new Musso is larger and wider. If so, the one-tonne payload area should be more practical, while the 3.5 tonne towing capacity will put the SsangYong among the biggest pullers in the pick-up class.
The load deck will be large enough to carry a Euro pallet. It also comes equipped with 12V/120W power outlets and rotating hooks to help strap-down loads such as tools and equipment.
Like many of its rivals, the Musso uses a body-on-frame construction and the four-wheel drive system should make it apt for dealing with mud, snow and ice. The selectable system will deliver power to the rear-wheels and allow the driver to activate the front-wheels – and high or low ratios – as required by electrical switches.
Under the bonnet the Musso is powered by the same 2.2-litre diesel found in the Rexton, and delivers a maximum power of 181PS at 4000rpm and 420Nm of torque at 1600rpm - 2600rpm. However, fuel costs will be higher, with advertised economy for the six-speed manual peaking at 35.8mpg - 32.8mpg for the six-speed auto. In comparison the old Musso would return an official 39.8mpg.
