2024 SsangYong Musso review (video)

Utes make up the most popular vehicle category in Australia. If you’re in the search for a bargain as living costs continue to rise, there is one ute that is often forgotten; the 2024 SsangYong Musso.

Believe it or not, the South Korean brand has been in Australia for 27 years now. Releasing a trickle of awkwardly-designed models since 1997. It’s fair to say the brand has had ample time to mature. However, it was pretty much saved from bankruptcy in 2022 by its current owners, KG Group.

After a mid-life update for 2024 for the Musso, we’re eager to see how far SsangYong has come.

2024 SsangYong Musso Ultimate Luxury XLV: Specifications

Engine: 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder
Output: 133kW@4000rpm / 420Nm@1600-2600rpm
Gearbox: Six-speed auto
Drive type: RWD/4WD
Wheels: F & R: 18×7.5, 255/60
ANCAP: Not tested
Kerb weight: 2100kg
Power-to-weight: 15.78:1 (kg:kW)
Official consumption: 9.0L/100km
Our consumption: 10.1L/100km
Fuel tank/Fuel type: 75L/Diesel

Power efficiency: 14.77kW:L/100km
0-60km/h: 4.45 seconds*
0-100km/h: 10.39 seconds*
60-110km/h: 8.44 seconds*
1/4 mile: 17.59 seconds at 127.9km/h*
Max acceleration: 0.855g*
100-0km/h braking: 41.95m in 3.43 seconds*
Max deceleration: -1.136g*
Decibel at idle: 51*
Peak decibel at 60-100km/h: 78*
Starting price: $49,500

*Figures as tested by Driving Enthusiast on the day. Manufacturers’ claims may be different

2024 SsangYong Musso Ultimate Luxury XLV: How much does it cost?

The new generation Musso brings with it an expanded range. And there is only a modest price jump between the variants. The base ELX retails for a flat $40,000. Then the new mid-spec Adventure costs $42,500. At the top, the Ultimate starts from $45,000 (all drive-away prices).

You can also add an ‘XLV’ to all models for $1500. This adds 20Nm more torque to the engine, a 110mm longer wheel base, and a 300mm longer tub – increasing its volume from 1011 litres to 1262 litres. A ‘Luxury Pack’ can also be added to the top-spec Ultimate for $3000. For this review, we have been given access to the Adventure (green) and Ultimate Luxury (red) models in long wheelbase form for a week each.

Comparing to the wider ute market, the Musso is the second cheapest 4×4 automatic ute you can buy – just behind the GWM Cannon, which starts from $38,990.

The Musso undercuts all the base variants of the more popular utes like the Isuzu D-Max, Mitsubishi Triton, LDV T60, Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, Volkswagen Amarok, and Mazda BT-50 between $3000 to $13,800. In spite of this, the Musso only enjoys about 1-3 per cent of the 4×4 ute market share (according to VFACTS figures).

SsangYong offers an equal class-leading seven-year, unlimited kilometre warranty like the GWM Cannon and LDV T60, along with seven years of roadside assistance. This includes for commercial use.

2024 SsangYong Musso Ultimate Luxury XLV: Interior & packaging

Updated in late 2023, the Musso’s interior exerts an unexpectedly luxurious feel for its price and market. There are plush-feel materials and an elegantly designed layout. It’s also a practical space, with lots of storage areas, large cup and bottle holders, and rear air vents. Passenger space is also good for this segment, in the front and back.

Tech stands out with a high-mounted 12.3-inch centre touch-screen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a six-speaker sound system, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and two USB-C ports. But it falls short of offering wireless Android Auto and Apply CarPlay, or a wireless phone charger. Bizarrely, there is no volume control, aside from the steering wheel volume buttons.

We also noticed a number of quality control issues or bugs inside. For instance, the ute starts with air-con turned off by default and does not remember the last settings. The same goes with remembering the on/off status of features like parking sensors. There is also a missing dot on the driver temp display; it says ‘215’ degrees instead of 21.5 degrees. Oddly, the passenger side temp display is okay.

It’s worth noting the rear doors do protrude out quite a bit along the window sill. It can catch you off guard if you’re rushing around and not paying attention – as it did with us when getting things from the rear seat area. It’s a pretty sharp corner, too.

We also notice some dash messages written ambiguously. For example, “Keeping safe distance”. Does that mean the car is doing so? Or is it reminding the driver to do so? On a few occasions where we entered the car and some features were not operational until the engine was turned off and on again. For example, power side mirrors stayed folded in and wouldn’t react to the interior unfolding button, and the interior lights would not turn on when the door was ajar even though the door light switch was turned on. These faults could obviously be isolated to this particular test vehicle.

In terms of features, the standard listing is generous. You get 17-inch alloy wheels, autonomous emergency braking with forward collision warning, lane departure warning, the big screens inside, a leather steering wheel, LED daytime running lights, front fog lights, front and rear parking sensors, heated and power adjustable door mirrors, and an assisted tailgate operation.

Then the Adventure model builds on that list with 18-inch black alloy wheels, LED vertical design front fog lights, speed sensitive power steering with a reach adjustable steering wheel, leather-look seats, heated and ventilated front seats, and tyre pressure monitoring. It’s an oddly chosen list as you get heated and cooled seats, but no radar cruise, electric handbrake, or steering input guidance.

At the top, the Ultimate adds blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane change collision warning, safe-exit warning, a 360-degree camera, HID headlights, a heated steering wheel, and walk-up unlock/lock with touch-sensing front door handles. But still no radar cruise.

The $3000 Luxury Pack for the Ultimate adds dual-zone climate control, a powered sunroof (rare for this class), premium leather seats, powered front seats with powered driver lumbar support, and heated rear outer seats.

2024 SsangYong Musso Ultimate Luxury XLV: Powertrain & handling

Unlike most other utes, the Musso sticks with just one common powertrain. It’s a a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder matched to an Aisin six-speed automatic with selectable 4×4 and dual-range. The engine gets going with 133kW and 420Nm. Although those outputs are very similar to the old Hyundai 2.2 CRDi engine, also from Korea, this unit is not related.

Behind the wheel, it feels like there is plentiful oomph and torque to back it up. The 0-100km/h sprint can be achieved in 10.39 seconds, according to our Vbox testing. For a diesel engine it is surprisingly smooth and refined from a noise/vibration/harshness perspective, and compared with some rivals.

It hums along on the highway at around 1750rpm, maintaining 110km/h, and kick-down performance is reasonable for this type of vehicle. We clocked 60-110km/h in 8.44 seconds. For comparison, we clocked the Ford Ranger Wildtrak X 2.0TTD in 8.46 seconds across the same speeds. This isn’t slow (for its class).

Weighing in at 2100kg (kerb) results in a fairly high fuel consumption for a four-cylinder diesel. The advertised average is 8.6L/100km (or 9.0L/100km in the XLV). Our time with the Musso resulted in a much worse average of 9.6L/100km. However, this is fairly typical in terms of real-world results in a 4×4 ute. Some, like the Isuzu D-Max and Toyota HiLux are able to achieve lower ratings according to our tests.

All Musso models except one are fitted with multi-link, coil spring rear suspension with an 880kg payload. If you select the base ELX model with the XLV pack, it gets leaf springs at the back like a true workhorse, increasing payload to 1010kg. However, with the long wheelbase it does mean parking is more difficult as you need to be able to hang the rear end over the edge of a typical car park space (overall length is 5409mm).

The front suspension – made up of double wishbones with coil springs and a stabiliser bar – feels much too tight. Over bumps and ditches, it doesn’t allow enough spring to deflect energy, which sends a shock through the cabin.

We think part of the reason is because the Musso doesn’t offer the best ground clearance. Maybe engineers wanted a tight tune to reduce the chances of it bottoming out? Either way, 215mm isn’t great. The approach (25 degrees) and departure (20 degrees) also don’t set any standards for this class. And then going with the long wheelbase ELV sees the break-over angle drop from 23 degrees to 20 degrees.

Off the road it is easy to experience these less-than-favourable dimensions and clearances, as the belly often scrubs out on ditches and mounds. Even so, the off-road capability is good, with a locking rear differential to assist in really sticky conditions as well as low-range. The standard Nexen N Priz RH7 tyres seem to pull through okay, even in slippery mud.

2024 SsangYong Musso Ultimate Luxury XLV: Key attractions/reasons to buy

• Cheap: Even when higher-spec models are selected, it remains as one of the most affordable 4×4 utes on the market.
• Refined diesel engine in terms of NVH levels: The 2.2L unit cruises along on the highway with low noise for its class (we measured 78dB across 60-110km/h full throttle kick-down), and outright performance is respectable.
• More palatable external design than older SsangYong models: Although still a bit awkward in our opinion, it does seem to present a neater and more approachable design than before.
• Interior: It feels classy and even elegant in some areas, for its price. It even comes with two huge screens.

2024 SsangYong Musso Ultimate Luxury XLV: Key considerations before you buy

• Some bugs and quality control issues found in our test vehicles: Incorrect climate control readouts, power-folding side mirrors not folding, malfunctioning interior light.
• Fuel consumption higher than expected: The official rating of 8.6L/100km and 9.0L for the long wheelbase is acceptable, but these figures are difficult to achieve in the real world in our experience.
• Front suspension too rigid: It feels uncomfortable in jolty conditions, like over road connections and unexpected pot holes. The ground clearance of 215mm might have something to do with it (to avoid bottoming-out).
• Missing some features as a top-spec model: No main volume control buttons, radar cruise, steering input guidance, wireless Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, and wireless phone charging pad.

2024 SsangYong Musso Ultimate Luxury XLV: Video