If you’re familiar with the manufacturer, Ssangyong, you’ll instantly remember the nineties unusual-looking SUV they brought out, but ever since has grown towards focusing more on the crucial parts of a car rather than looks.
2016 was a big year for Ssangyong, in particular, its Musso model, a pick-up truck which the manufacturer believes can attain a ludicrous 50,000 units a-year market from the prestigious Ford Ranger and Mitsubishi L200. Now that’s a big push! As many other manufacturers like the Volkswagen Amarok, Nissan Navara and Toyota Hilux have plenty of features to entice your attention.
This is just one part of the plan for Ssangyong to build as a brand in the UK, as their overall aim is to produce new models every year until 2022, with hopes of raising sales from 4,000 last year to an estimated 10,000 by 2020.
What’s the exterior of the new Ssangyong Musso 2018 look like?
The new Musso uses the same body-on-chassis structure as the Ssangyong Rexton SUV, therefore in terms of looks, the Musso has been transformed from an ugly duckling to a beautiful swan, with a smart and inoffensive look.
This is just one part of the plan for Ssangyong to build as a brand in the UK, as their overall aim is to produce new models every year until 2022, with hopes of raising sales from 4,000 last year to an estimated 10,000 by 2020.
What’s the exterior of the new Ssangyong Musso 2018 look like?
The new Musso uses the same body-on-chassis structure as the Ssangyong Rexton SUV, therefore in terms of looks, the Musso has been transformed from an ugly duckling to a beautiful swan, with a smart and inoffensive look.
When driving the new Ssangyong Musso, what does it feel like?
When we discuss pickup trucks in general, they aren’t as a general rule very good to drive – however, the Musso to our surprise, feels very skilled on the road.
In terms of its steering, it’s top of its class with the Ford Ranger. We say this because it can drive like an SUV, rather than a traditional pick-up truck would. Despite the look of the car looking a bit top-heavy, nevertheless, its body roll is substantially well contained. Although, due to the lack of body lean, this results in a lack of ride quality as well.
To improve its ride appeal, Ssangyong has installed an extremely stiff suspension to ensure it stops the Musso from pitching and rolling through the corners, but with the additional benefit of being designed to cope with heavy loads (making it the ideal vehicle to use for work purposes).
When we discuss pickup trucks in general, they aren’t as a general rule very good to drive – however, the Musso to our surprise, feels very skilled on the road.
In terms of its steering, it’s top of its class with the Ford Ranger. We say this because it can drive like an SUV, rather than a traditional pick-up truck would. Despite the look of the car looking a bit top-heavy, nevertheless, its body roll is substantially well contained. Although, due to the lack of body lean, this results in a lack of ride quality as well.
To improve its ride appeal, Ssangyong has installed an extremely stiff suspension to ensure it stops the Musso from pitching and rolling through the corners, but with the additional benefit of being designed to cope with heavy loads (making it the ideal vehicle to use for work purposes).
Does the interior of the new Musso impress?Despite the new Ssangyong Musso being low priced, this doesn’t affect its interior quality as there’s a fantastic range of soft-touch plastics on the dashboard and areas you touch regularly. This is also combined with operational buttons at your fingertips and plenty of adjustment options to make sure you’re comfortable when driving.
However, we’re sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you will find harder plastics lower down the dashboard – but it’s unlikely that you’ll encounter this regularly, with it being a pick-up truck and all.
As expected with it being the type of model it is, you sit high with a good view of the road, although what isn’t expected is its great rear visibility due to the deep side windows making roundabouts and T-junctions a lot easier for the driver. In addition to this, the Musso also has a huge rear screen and thin rear pillars, therefore this makes viewing over the shoulder a lot better.
In terms of tech built in with this car, within the entry-level EX trim, it doesn’t come with an infotainment system but just a DAB radio, alloy wheels, Bluetooth and air conditioning – your bog standard.
However, you can choose to upgrade to the Rebel – this includes an 8.0in system with a DAB radio, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Also, it has heated and cooled leather-effect seats and special exterior graphics. So, you’re definitely getting value for money with this trim.
However, if this isn’t enough for you… choose the range-topping trims which includes 9.2in infotainment system, with a sat-nav, full leather, a heated steering wheel and all-terrain tyres and 20-inch alloy wheels finished in black- the Saracen and Rhino models have got all the gadgets!
In terms of tech built in with this car, within the entry-level EX trim, it doesn’t come with an infotainment system but just a DAB radio, alloy wheels, Bluetooth and air conditioning – your bog standard.
However, you can choose to upgrade to the Rebel – this includes an 8.0in system with a DAB radio, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Also, it has heated and cooled leather-effect seats and special exterior graphics. So, you’re definitely getting value for money with this trim.
However, if this isn’t enough for you… choose the range-topping trims which includes 9.2in infotainment system, with a sat-nav, full leather, a heated steering wheel and all-terrain tyres and 20-inch alloy wheels finished in black- the Saracen and Rhino models have got all the gadgets!
Is the new Ssangyong Musso spacious and practical?If you’ll be driving this pick-up, you will expect to see a sizeable storage under the front armrest, big door pockets and a tray to store whatever you’d like in it – usually our loose change and receipts bin… Also, the head and leg room are perfect with lots of width, therefore they’ll be no elbow fights in the front with your passenger.
With the rear seats, they offer good space with headroom being great for all three passengers, whilst the middle passenger will have a flat floor underneath them, the other two will have decent foot room. Thereby, any tall adults in the outer seats might find they’re having a kneeing match with the middle passenger.
In the back with the load bay, it’s actually quite impressive and similar to its rivals, as it’s able to take a standard European pallet between its wheel arch intrusions and one tonne of weight.
So, what do we think of the new Ssangyong Musso 2018? We believe the entry model is amazing value for money if you’re using it for your own personal uses, however we’d recommend upgrading to the next trim – the Rebel, because it comes with a lot more kit which could come in handy. Also, Ssangyong claims it’s “one of the toughest pick-ups on the market”, and have backed this with a seven-year, 150,000-mile warranty – so it seems believable for the Musso to be a contender, right?
For more CarCliq reviews click here
Looking for a used Ssangyong Musso? Click here
So, what do we think of the new Ssangyong Musso 2018? We believe the entry model is amazing value for money if you’re using it for your own personal uses, however we’d recommend upgrading to the next trim – the Rebel, because it comes with a lot more kit which could come in handy. Also, Ssangyong claims it’s “one of the toughest pick-ups on the market”, and have backed this with a seven-year, 150,000-mile warranty – so it seems believable for the Musso to be a contender, right?
For more CarCliq reviews click here
Looking for a used Ssangyong Musso? Click here
