Test Car Specifications
Model: 2022 SsangYong Musso Saracen
Price: From £31,665 plus VAT
Engine: 2.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel
Transmission: six-speed automatic, selectable four-wheel drive
Power: 202hp
Torque: 400Nm
Emissions: 236g/km
Economy: 31.5mpg
0-62mph: 11 seconds (estimated)
Top speed: 113mph
Max payload: 1,095 kg
Max towing weight: 3,500kg
Styling
SsangYong's styling department is not always its strongest unit, and there's something a bit off about the way the Musso looks. It isn't awful as pick-ups go, but it's hardly handsome. It certainly doesn't look as good as a Ranger or a D-Max. But then pick-ups are designed to work for a living, and looks are sort of secondary. For hardcore pick-up customers, the SsangYong's design won't be a problem at all.
Interior
You might expect a SsangYong’s cabin to feel cheap and plasticky, but the Musso’s interior feels surprisingly upmarket – particularly in our high-specification Saracen model. Yes, there are some agricultural materials in there, as you expect from all pick-up trucks, but the quality is on a par with rivals such as the Isuzu D-Max. Our test vehicle was also buoyed by the inclusion of a 9.2-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation and a rear-view camera, as well as leather upholstery and a digital instrument display. Admittedly, the design isn’t especially modern compared with a Ford Ranger or Toyota Hilux – even the tech feels a bit last-generation – but it all works very well and it doesn’t feel too much like a budget option.
Practicality
Pick-ups are all about practicality, and the Musso is no different. The cab is roomy enough for four people to sit in relative comfort, and there's plenty of adjustment in the front seats. Naturally, there's no boot, but the load bed is capable of carrying more than a tonne of payload, which should keep both customers and their accountants happy, thanks to the resultant tax advantages. As usual, all manner of hard-tops and roll covers can be fitted, and there's an optional long-wheelbase version with an even bigger load bed for those who need extra space.
Performance
Just one engine is available for the Musso, and it’s the punchy 2.2-litre diesel with 202hp and a healthy 400Nm of torque. It isn’t the quietest engine on the market, but it doesn’t make too much racket and it comes with a decent six-speed automatic gearbox as standard on all but the basic EX models. As is usual for such vehicles, the engine predominantly drives the rear wheels, but all-wheel-drive mode can be selected from the cabin. Performance isn’t exactly rapid – the vehicle weighs 2.1 tonnes – but it’s sufficient, and it’ll tow a 3.5-tonne trailer or carry a payload of 1,095kg. Economy is reasonable too. Officially speaking, every version will top 30mpg, and you’ll get somewhere near that on a long run.
Ride & Handling
Pick-up trucks aren’t known for excelling when it comes to the driving experience, and the Musso does nothing to change that. The steering is alarmingly light, and that instantly scuppers any sense of handling, while the engine is noisy on the move and the vehicle feels a bit floaty at speed. A Ranger, then, will feel much more like an SUV than the Musso, but the Musso will not be significantly less comfortable. Sure, it jiggles a bit when there’s nothing in the load bed – most pick-ups do – but it’s far from intolerable. You can go about your business quite happily in one of these, and there’s no sense that you’re slumming it. And when you take it off-road, it feels more or less unstoppable.
Value
With prices starting at £24,265 plus VAT, the Musso is very competitively priced. Every version comes with a four-door cab with five seats, and while basic EX models aren't packed with kit, they're competitive alongside their rivals. A basic four-door Ranger is similarly equipped and it costs almost £3,000 more. And if you want the more luxurious Saracen model we tested, that'll set you back £31,665 plus VAT. For that, you get leather upholstery, a touchscreen infotainment system and a digital instrument display, and all for around £3,000 less than the similarly equipped Ranger Limited.
Verdict
The Musso is not the greatest pick-up truck on the market, but it might just be the best value. Steering aside, it drives as well as most of its rivals, and it feels just as solid inside, yet it costs significantly less than the class-leading Ranger. If you're after a tough, go-anywhere workhorse that won't cost a fortune, the Musso will fit the bill nicely.
