Local Life - Wigan - November 2018

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at. It’s the only pick-up in its segment that can haul a 3.5-tonne trailer while carrying
up to a tonne in the load bed. The Mercedes-Benz obtained 2.2-litre oil-burner it uses
is also enjoyed in the Rexton. However, the Musso is fitted with a six-speed automatic
transmission rather than the seven-speed auto employed by the Rexton. It has lots
of grunt and is smooth compared with, say, Ford’s Ranger. There’s plenty of space up
front, and when it comes to rear passenger room, the Musso beats its rivals, with only
Nissan’s Navara coming close. And behind the wheel, whether towing or not, the
pick-up feels okay-ish – in a straight line at least. The only fly in the ointment for the
Musso is its rear springs. They bounce pugnaciously over ruts, while the somewhat
soft damping battles to keep the pick-up’s frame in check. Things do recover,
however, when the South
Korean’s cab is full. And
with a tonne of cargo in
the rear load bed, it irons
itself out considerably.
Mind you, Ssangyong
says it’s thinking about
changing the rear springs
to make things a little
more manageable for
UK driving. It still won’t
make it a pick-up to hurl
around bends though
– but let’s face it, not
many are suited to that.
It feels substantial, and
always will. That means
it rolls a lot and will never
Fast Facts
• 0-62 mph: 12.2 secs
• Combined mpg: 32.8
• Engine layout: 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel
• Max. power (PS): 182
• CO2: 226 g/km
• Price (Saracen Automatic): £31,433 (inc. VAT)
match the Rexton or any other SUV for handling.
The price-tag of the Ssangyong Musso makes
you forgive its so-so handling. It’s cheaper than
Mitsubishi’s L200 for starters. There are four trim
levels to select, too. While the entry level EX is
the most workhorse-like, it sits on alloy wheels
and contains lots of factory-fitted equipment,
including air conditioning, Bluetooth, and DAB
radio. Over that, the Rebel boasts heated and
cooled faux leather seats, and an eight-inch
touchscreen. It also wears distinct external
graphics. The flagship Saracen and Rhino Mussos add real leather, that earlier
mentioned 9.2-inch screen, and a heated steering wheel. What’s more, the Rhino rolls
off the production line with ready-to-go all-terrain tyres, and black 20-inch alloys.
Also standard on the Musso is a segment-leading seven-year, 150,000-mile warranty.
That, more than anything, demonstrates how much faith Ssangyong has in its new
model. Certainly, this pick-up is no pig in a wig – and you can forget the lipstick, too.