Product Review: SsangYong Musso pick-up

SsangYong Musso pick-ups are gaining a strong reputation among the farming community, as recent versions combine good build quality with comfort and great load carrying capability. David Williams tried the latest version.

SsangYong Musso pick-ups are gaining a strong reputation among the farming community, as recent versions combine good build quality with comfort and great load carrying capability. Farmers Guide‘s David Williams tried the latest version.

There are four equipment levels to choose from, including the base EX, mid-specification Rebel, and the flagship Saracen with a standard length load bed or the Saracen+ with a slightly longer load area. All share the same 2.2-litre diesel engine, and the EX comes only with a six-speed manual transmission, whereas a six-speed automatic is standard for all other models. The version supplied for the Farmers Guide week-long test was the Saracen, with a standard load bed.

Latest models introduced have more power and torque than their predecessors and the manufacturer also claims improved fuel economy, as well as reduced emissions. The new models boast upgraded suspension and a revised interior for greater comfort and an improved driver and passenger experience.

The Saracen has a generous equipment specification, including nappa leather seats.

Interiors

The large seats are comfortable for long journeys and practical for farm use as they are easily wiped clean. The front seats have electric position controls and are heated and cooled. The rear seats are heated. There is plenty of legroom in the front, and the amount of rear space is reasonable – even with the front seats right back, allowing four adults to travel in comfort. The climate control works well, and there is plenty of air conditioning capacity to keep the accommodation cool on hot days. The rear seat passengers have their own air vents integrated within the rear centre console.

Storage options include large pockets in all four doors, a large lockable glovebox and a generous size box in the centre console. There are also drinks holders and handy trays near the gear selector, and a tray on top of the dashboard.

The Saracen comes with a 9.2-in touchscreen which displays images from the rear-view camera and provides navigation and infotainment. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility is standard.

The main gear selector has fully automatic and manual override selection modes, and for manual operation a small toggle switch at the top of the selector lever makes the changes.

A rotary dial behind the gear lever selects 2wd or 4wd and high or low range. Additional driver assistance is provided by hill start assist and hill descent control. Unusually for a modern pick-up, the Musso has a traditional mechanical handbrake in the centre.

The finish quality is very good and farmers who viewed the pick-up during the test drive week were genuinely impressed.

The load bed is one of the largest in its class, and SsangYong claims the highest legal combined load bed and trailer towing capacity with a maximum gross train weight of 6,750kg.

Practicality

SsangYong claims that the Musso is the only pick-up legally able to tow a 3.5t trailer and carry a one-tonne payload simultaneously. Trailer sway control is standard, adding confidence for those utilising the towing capacity. The test vehicle had a load liner fitted, plus a roll cover. The usable load bed was 130cm long, had a maximum width of 159cm and 115cm between the wheel arches. The tailgate opening is 137cm wide. The roll cover is practical and secure but restricts the space for larger items. Fully retracted, the opening is 94cm long and 140cm wide. There are four internal tie down points.

Performance and comfort

The large engine has plenty of power and the Musso handles loaded trailers on- and off-road easily. At 70mph on motorways it is quiet and there are no vibrations or rattles but, even without a load on board, slight inclines cause the transmission to shift down a gear to maintain constant speeds. The new Musso has double-wishbone front, and double-coil spring rear suspension and the set-up works well. Carrying heavy loads in the cargo bed, there is little body roll on corners and the vehicle feels secure. When empty, uneven surfaces are felt more by occupants, but the ride remains comfortable. The vehicle was driven across heavily rutted fields in wet conditions. There was adequate ground clearance and the Pirelli Scorpion 255/60R18 tyres maintained traction and steering control.

Overall, during the week-long test which included some longer journeys, the Musso achieved an impressive 36mpg fuel economy.

Maintenance

Routine oil level checks are easy to carry out with a dipstick near the front of the engine, and the windscreen wash filler is on the right-hand side and easily accessible. Service intervals are every 12,500 miles or 12 months, and Musso pick-ups come with a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty.

Chandlers dealer principal, Richard Young.

Verdict

The Musso Saracen has a quality finish and is extremely well equipped. The practical leather seats are an advantage over fabric upholstery in the base EX version, and the simulated leather of the Rebel model. Like other Musso pick-ups, the Saracen is an extremely capable load mover, and latest models also boast a comfortable cabin with space for adults in the front and rear. All-round visibility is very good through large windows separated by narrow pillars, and large rear-view mirrors.

Several large agricultural machinery dealers represent SsangYong and report high levels of satisfaction from farmer and contractor users. The Musso line-up starts at £25,140 (exc VAT) on the road for the EX, making the base model an attractive option for use around the farm and locally, while the Saracen tested costs from £32,540 but comes with useful additional features and extra comfort for family use and longer journeys.