KOREAN maker SsangYong looks set to shake up the truck market with an all-new version of the Musso pick-up which has just arrived in the UK.
Built on the same architecture as the new Rexton - which has already been awarded 4x4 of the Year 2018 by 4x4 Magazine - the Musso shares its body-on-frame construction to give what its makers claim to be an extremely strong vehicle with excellent off-road driving performance and safety from its quad-frame and four-wheel-drive system.
Musso is Korean for rhino and the British importer plans to charge into the growing pick-up truck market with a value for money package which includes a comprehensive package of standard kit and a sector leading 7-year/150,000-mile warranty.
The latest Musso combines a five-seat crew-cab body with a load deck that will take a full-sized Euro pallet. It's capable of carrying a payload of over 1-tonne and tows trailers of up to 3.5 tonnes which, its makers say, is the highest total load capacity in the segment.
It's powered by the same 2.2 litre turbodiesel engine as the Rexton which delivers a maximum power of 181ps at 4,000 rpm and peak torque of 400Nm between 1,400 and 2,800rpm. A six-speed manual transmission with a six-speed auto available as a £1,250 (ex VAT) option.
Three trim levels - EX, Rebel and Saracen - are available at prices starting from £19,995 plus VAT and standard kit across the range includes DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity, while all but the entry level EX model feature a state-of-the-art infotainment system with an eight-inch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Wi-fi mirroring.
At the top of the range, the £24,995 (ex VAT) Musso Saracen comes with a 9.2-inch screen with TomTom navigation, heated front and rear nappa leather seats with power adjustment for driver and front passenger, automatic projection headlamps and LED positioning lights, cruise control, a metal front skid plate and tubular side steps.
There's also a launch special edition version - the Musso Rhino - only 100 of which will be available priced at £28,495 plus VAT.
Finished in either Indian red or metallic Space black, it features 6-speed Aisin automatic transmission, 20" black alloy wheels fitted with General Grabber all terrain tyres, a black front skid plate, black tubular side steps, black rear corner bars, black load deck bar with LED lights, dark tinted rear privacy glass, a numbered limited-edition plaque and Rhino graphics.