ATN #418

SPECS
Ssangyong Musso
Ultimate XLV
BODY
four-door, five-seat ute
DRIVE
rear-/all-wheel drive
ENGINE
2,157cc inline-four-cylinder
diesel, DOHC, 16v, turbo
BORE/STROKE
86.2 x 92.4mm
COMPRESSION
15.5:1
POWER
133kW @ 4,000rpm
TORQUE
420Nm @ 1,400–2,800rpm
FUEL ECONOMY
8.9L/100km (combined/
claimed)
0-100KM/H
11.46 seconds (tested)
WEIGHT
2,260kg
POWER/WEIGHT
59kW/tonne
TRANSMISSION
six-speed automatic
TOWING
3,500kg (braked)
L/W/H
5,405/1,950/1,855mm
WHEELBASE
3,210mm
TRACKS
1,640mm (f/r)
SUSPENSION
struts, coil springs (f); leaf
springs (r)
STEERING
electrically-assisted rackand-pinion
WHEELS
18 x 7.5-inch (f/r)
TYRES
255/60 R18 108 H (f/r)
Nexen N-Priz
PRICE
$41,790 driveaway
The automatic’s shift mapping means it rarely
holds the right gear on the move
BRAKING AND LOAD-BEARING
On the move, the GWM Ute feels like a big
vehicle propelled by a small motor, which is
exactly what it is. The two-litre four-cylinder
turbodiesel produces just 120kW and 400Nm,
which is not much to motivate 2,100kg of dual
cab. The smooth-shifting eight-speed auto
makes the most of the available grunt, but our
recorded figures of 0–100km/h in 11.38 seconds
and 60–100km/h in 6.7 seconds are adequate
at best.
Adding a load does not help matters, the
Ute taking 4.5 seconds to accelerate from
20–60km/h with a 500kg pallet on board and the
automatic’s shift mapping means it rarely holds
the right gear on the move. On the plus side,
the payload is a commendable 1,005kg and the
spraylined tub is a good size, while the tailgate
has soft-open gas struts and a handy step
ladder that folds out to assist access.
If it is size you want, the Musso is the ute
for you, the XLV variant adding a whopping
310mm to the tub’s length compared to standard
variants. However, while it’s large the payload
is rated at just 880kg, a deceptive figure in itself
as the 2,170kg Musso’s 2,980kg gross vehicle
mass offers just 810kg to be shared between
passengers, tow ball download and cargo.
Laden acceleration is better than the GWM
at 4.2 seconds from 20–60km/h thanks to the
Musso’s extra grunt; its 2.2-litre four-cylinder
turbodiesel producing 133kW and 420Nm. This
does not translate to unladen acceleration, with
the Ssangyong taking a leisurely 11.46 seconds
to hit 100km/h and an identical 6.7 seconds
from 60–100km/h.
Its braking is a sub-standard 41.51m in the
dry (anything over 40m is not ideal, even for a
dual-cab) and 56.78m in the wet, though it is
better than the GWM’s, which is an alarming
43.37m in the dry and 58.65m in the wet. The
82 ATN July 2021 FULLYLOADED.COM.AU