Off-road test! 2023 SsangYong Musso review: XLV Ultimate | Is Korea's 4WD pick-up adventure-ready?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 พ.ค. 2024
- Australian buyers have been clamouring for a new dual-cab ute from Hyundai and Kia for years, but there's already a South Korean pick-up on the market: the SsangYong Musso.
In recent times, SsangYong has made headlines for his its ownership challenges, but they're now out of the way, so it's time to remind ourselves how its current models stack up in a highly competitive market. And the Musso has a tall task ahead of it, facing opposition from the best-selling Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.
But in this expert review, CarsGuide Contributing Journalist and adventure specialist Marcus Craft puts the Musso's flagship XLV Ultimate variant through its paces on-road and off-road to see if it's able to combine affordable pricing with genuine touring capabilities. The results may surprise you, so much so that the Korea's number-three car brand might end up on your short list.
#SsangYong #Musso #review
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00:00 Intro
00:27 Pricing and features
01:45 Design
02:07 Practicality
02:55 Under the bonnet
03:41 Driving on-road
04:17 Driving off-road
08:18 Efficiency
08:38 Safety
08:55 Ownership
09:10 Verdict
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Read Crafty's full review: carsgui.de/3ZhPp5S
Check out our Musso hub: carsgui.de/3IK4vKy
Find more utes: carsgui.de/31O97xq
Visit our Adventure Guide: carsgui.de/2AiMOOn
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Bought one a few months ago, extremely quiet to drive, very comfortable and tons of space in the rear.. and I've been getting between 8 to 10 litres per one hundred klms. All in all good value Korean built ute.
Excellent fuel economy. Better than my entry level Amarok which cost me 40,000.
Purchased my first in 2021. Was so impressed I just bought another for my business. Big cabin, super quiet, huge tub, amazing value. We occasionally tow and dont go serious off roading.
My new boss gave me a motor allowance ,it wasn't even on the radar,,took one for test drive -sold , impressed by the 4wd segment in this video, most don't show the Musso as a great off road vehicle.
I've got the same model, same spec.
I frequently get sub 8L /100km. It's quite good on fuel. It's the most comfortable/quiet and most spacious interior out of all the utes I test drove.
I have a bunch of upgrades waiting to be fitted, new winch compatible front bar from PEAK.
Suspension and bodylift and 33 inch tyres.
It will be quite capable offroad with those upgrades fitted.
I just couldn't justify the huge price gap to a new Ford Ranger when I was in the market. And for the price I paid for a brand new Musso, I would have been looking at buying a 5+ year old Ranger with 150-200,000km on the odo.
No brainer really.
hey can you give me a parts list of what your putting on yours pls. can you make a youtube vid of what its like before and after the mods pls
that's not that great for fuel though when Euro vans can get as low as 5-6L , 8L/100 is ok for suburban driving 4x4 ute , but really would hope they can get it down even more given the cost of diesel nowadays
Hi Rob, I’m in the same boat not being able to justify ludicrous money for the mainstream trucks. I drove an Cannon X yesterday and am going to take the Museo for a spin today. The only thing turning me off is the front bar options. You mentioned you’re getting a front bar…is that the M1. NightHawk? I’ve never heard of Peak 4x4…
@@bigchief2331 we get around 7.4 hwy. That's a swb elx auto with the weight of a tow pack, canopy and drawer kit added.
My wife needs a new ute for her horses
Her 2015 Colorado LTZ with 250k on the odo is having continious engine problems. We are looking at the Musso to tow horse floats. Toyota , Ford , Nissan , VW all.way out of our budget.
I've dropped into a couple of car yards selling Musso and I really like the cabin space for someone my size, 6'2" and over 100kgs.
Big boy
@@jaymoar3561 😆.....and was being relaxed with my weight....it's way too much.
@@1969cmp 100kg is pretty normal for a man of that height so wouldn't worry mate , probably the grog
@@bigchief2331 ....okay, I'm fessing up. 125 kgs....no gorg just too much food 😞
Same - only alternative for comfort is stepping up to the new Ford Ranger and that's like double the price and a year wait!
The Musso is the most comfortable and well-appointed dual cab I've ever owned or driven, with high levels of refinement and excellent build quality. Our swb ELX auto is the perfect lifestyle vehicle as well as an excellent tow vehicle for our off-road caravan. A set of Airbag Man bags to the rear coils was a great addition.
Had the old version Musso with the Mercedes engine for over 10 years and has been amazing vehicle , so just signed up for a new one
The diesel engine is korean built from a Mercede Benz patent in the latest Ssang Yong Musso.
@@brianwilliams3345 They only used OM601/602's block design (because they are good...) but everything else was built from scratch. 270CDI and Xdi270(4cyl version was Xdi200)were completely different engines that shared some characteristics. people got confused because they used same NB's 5tronic Transmissions and had same Size(2.7 for 5cyl version p). later, only 4cyl version was survived because of the eco regulations, High cost, engine size, and tax. they redesigned engine few times and now the engine(202hpl) with good gear ratio feels just right m
Thank you because I had second thoughts but know you mite convinced me
Hi Guys just watched the musso review & i bought one in the uk it went on the rd in september 2022 & i farm & tow lots & i' have done 10.000mls trouble free mls so far' & i would recommend this pick up to anyone thats in the market for one many thx guys
I have the old Merc 3.2 L gasoline rexton 4x4. These vehicles deserve a bit more appreciation I think. They walk the talk for years of usage is my experience.
Good review
Best review and I like this vehicle 👌
I have a July 22 ultimate xlv ,it's way better than all my previous 4x4s,a great quiet drive,bigger than Ranger,massive tub, all the Tech and only 46k drive away,thank you SsangYong .
Im getting one in September. 👍Can't wait
Congratulations,I have had one for six months, cannot fault it , better and cheaper than all my previous 4x4s...
Great read. Is it possible to gvm upgrade before registration ? Thanks
I got one Musso XLV with Luxury Pack top of range, and got the Canopy as well. Very comfortable and quiet but very capable Ute to drive anywhere. I am just using the OEM tyres until they are worn out. Then put a proper A/T tyres to replace them for a more serious off road duties. Can't beat this Ute as it is made genuinely in South Korea where build quality is at par with genuine Japanese made cars.
Great jeep. My friend has one. Never went to the outback though, maybe next year
We wanted to replace our 10 year old Nissan X-trail as we bought a camping trailer. We decided to stay away from the second hand market as we had seen enough serious "vehicle abuse" in our extensive trips across Oz. We had a look at user reviews, vehicle specifications, price, warranty length, servicing costs, insurance costs and purchase price. Considering that we are now in an area of higher inflation, up-front savings were important to us. We felt that trading in value is important, in times of high inflation it is less of a problem. We felt that saving 20 K of 2022 dollars is lot more value than 20 K of trade value in ten years time. We felt that the SsangYong Musso would provide us with a reliable ute and provide us with savings of tens of thousands of dollars over the next decade.
BINGO...😄
We upgraded to a Musso to tow our new off road van. We kept our 2012 Xtrail though as it's still seriously such a good vehicle.
In your rexton review you say the rexton wasn’t at all capable offroad and should stick to well maintained dirt roads. Given they are basically the same vehicle, is it just the increased lift from the Ironman that makes the Musso so much better offroad?
People don’t know much about this Ute so that is a big bonus for me cause I feel special when I drive the Musso…(too many rangers and hiluxes on roads)
I don’t like Hyundai and Kia but Ssangyong is my favourite Korean motor company and they have been primarily focusing on making SUVs and utes. So I bought it even without a test drive
Now 48k on the clock with no tiny issue and it’s still going strong and beautifully
It’s not just a bang for your buck, it’s really a good car
BRILLIANT ⭐
I have the short wheel base model due to city parking 5.1 meters long , shorter than any other 4x4 ute 2023 . Love it , cabin is luxury compared to my other dmax , the vented seats are so good . type pressure monitoring , diming rear view mirror ect . a lot of room under the bonnet , no timming belt to worry about .
I ordered the XLV at 5409 length. I used to have a Holden crewman at 5304 in lenght and never really had much issue trying to park it in the city. It lacked all the features the Musso has onboard such as front and reversing cameras
I own the previous model and so far it’s going good
Base model bought for 38k with tow bar fitted
I love mine can’t fault it
Sounds great.
This certainly is a tempting vehicle. There's lots to like, including the price & 7 year warranty. However, what about service centres in the rural areas?
You don't need to service your car at a dealer to retain your warranty.
What type of rear suspensions did the tested car had (the leaf suspension or the multi-link coil suspension)?
How about fuel tank ? Is it's bottom under the frame as on Rexton ?
I own a 2022 Ultimate XLX and it is a refined and good vehicle. Cabin space specially head height plenty of. Only down side besides departure and aporoach angles is the lack of clearance. Also lack of aftermarket accessories. Great value ute. Pleased with my purchase.
Would love to see review for towing 3T caravan. Looking seriously at this a new tow vehicle of 3T caravan. Would like to know if transmission can be used in sport mode or as a manual to ease load on transmission as I have always done.🇦🇺
I bought the older 2012 actyon. It's great except for the Australian built DSI transmission which will get the flick eventually. The new ones ava the rexton have the same chassis and suspension etc. I put in dobinsons springs and shocks in mine. Perfect.
They do look low even with a suspension lift because the body sits lower abs around the chassis. Body lift may be in order.
Don't forget, this car was originally based off an SUV. I would buy again.
The engine is great and doesn't need to be super gutsy. That's why you have gears. Drive smart and not like a bogan
I own one of these. I’ve got Ironman shocks and Yokohama A/T’s. I live in the South west of WA and regularly drive challenging tracks. It does just fine. I tow heavy loads as well and it does fine. Yes, there’s better utes, no this isn’t the worst. What I can tell you is bang for bucks this is the best on the market. Why buy Chinese when you can have Korean!!!
I’d trust Korean over Chinese junk
Nothing wrong with Chinese . I myself drive Korean vehicle ,but Chinese are learning fast and becoming better and better.
@@charlesdr1981 Nothing wrong with Chinese? If you compare the Musso with the Chinese LDV & Canon ute there's not contest. After looking at those two pretenders I bought the Korean on the spot!
@dzhdzh except you are supporting the CCP, a repressive regime that suppresses their own people to maintain power.
I have a 2022 short / standard wheel base Musso 4x4 ute and love it totally,, had up to the Cape and back to Hervey Bay and didn't miss a beat. But I must say I am very disappointed with the tow bar that hangs down very low, reducing the ground clearance by 120mls . I had bottomed out several times and at some stage lifted the rear wheels off the ground. They really need to redesign the towbar so it tucks up under like most 4x4 Ute's.
Regards Charles Nicolosi
Excellent ute
Doesn’t have a third brake light ?
Best car/Ute ever
Does it have adaptive cruise control?
No, it doesn't. One of the few things that's missing that I would've liked. I've had my XLV since early Feb, just ticked over 5000k's including trip from Brisbane to Thredbo and been extremely happy with it.
Sadly no. One of its very few shortcomings.
For those us who cant afford 70k for a new ute from a name brand nor do we want to pay 50k for a used name brand ute with 100k on the odo the musso seems pretty good value
One of the nicest Utes to drive on the market today?
Looks good. Looking at getting a Ute next. Not for off-roading but just need a tray for throwing the camping and fishing/kayak gear for when we stay at the dams around Brisbane, don’t want to blow out on a Ranger or similar.
Maybe a van would be better , try the Peugeot Expert and Mercedes Vito , they are the class leaders
I have the ultimate xlv the tub is huge the car is so quiet all the bits of 70k utes ,get one you won't regret it ...
Test drove one of these. Beautiful refined vehicle
Someone needs to do a cheap ute comparison between SsangYong, GWM and LDV
Can you add a aluminum tray ?
yes, it's a dealer fit option or aftermarket
I died when I heard this one is allready lifted
Does anyone know how this ute tows a 2000kg-2700kg ish caravan???
3.5 tonne capacity
Seems good value for money to me but not sure that I could love the look.
Ldv .. GWM.. or ssangyong.. which one would you say has the more durable engine.. and ride comfort..
Ssangyong without a doubt. Have owned mine since new for 3 years and have 130,000km on it without a single issue .
I have a 2021 model, ride quality is poor with large amounts of cabin shake and some vehicles suffer from a vibration/shudder at certain speeds with no reason as to why. apart from that nice ute.
Get your tyres balanced ,then adjust the tyre pressure.
@@jmatasomo2660 done that plus new tyres, wheels checked for fault, driveline balanced , multiple balances and alignments and the thing still a garbage ride. Not alone with this problem, heaps of owners experience the same.
What variant do you have, I test drove a leaf spring version and I felt this shutter, it was awful honestly @@69DMack
Really considering the Ultimate XLV pack. If anyone has one (any version), I'd love to see what you have to say. Reviews online seem excellent and then in person everyone says steer clear. Put an end to my worries in the comments below please!
parts replacement are always issues with these alternatives utes. At least a month to get parts when these cars involved in accident and insurance rather write them off when parts cost were quiet high so the insurers can sell them off for profits. Buyer beware.
The car isn't bad, but the name is really weird
Beware. Ours is a bit over two years old. Last week our radiator fan blew up and wrecked the radiator. We discover parts are not available in Australia. We are over 300k from home with a caravan and may have to wait several weeks for parts.
Better than Chinese ute. It's made in Korea like kia and Hyundai
GOT MINE LAST MONTH. ELX XLV.
BUY ONE AND YOU WON'T BE DISSAPOI
.......DISAPPOINTED. ONLY USED IN MANUAL MODE FROM YARD. POWER MODE ON BIG HILL'S. TOWED A NEW 8X5 TANDEM AS WELL. 758KM TO HOMESTEAD, MOSTLY UP HILL , STILL HAD 1/4 TANK LEFT. IT'S BIG INSIDE N OUT. BUTTONS N DIALS ARE EASY TO USE, NO NEED TO TAKE YOUR EYE'S OFF THE ROAD. TOGGLE TO CHANGE GEARS IS BRILLIANT. AND 40K DIFFERENCE TO SPEND ON WHATEVER ELSE YOU LIKE.I'M ONLY ADDING AIRBAGS ON REAR LEAF. TUB IS HUGE. ENJOY...
THANKS SSANGYONG. FANTASTIC VEHICLE. I'M A FARMER...
After all these years on the market and still no ANCAP rating. That turned me off straight away. Must be something they're hiding and I don't want to find out about it the hard way.
The musso has the same chassis as the Ssangyong rexton that does have a 5 star safety rating. They probably don't want to spend the big bucks having it tested. Ssangyong was in financial difficulty for many years until recently.
How to say i crash a lot without saying it
at least it's not made in china
Not coming to the Colonies.
These are nice , but too bloody long and fuel consumption needs to improve. They need to work on the proportion a bit and give a more powerful and economical engine, and then i'd consider one.
Well get an ELX then. Too long for you is whats perfect for others. For our money the SWB ELX was spot on! And it fits in the garage.
يتم تصنيع هذه السيارة في السعودية بالتعاون مع شركة سنام السعودية لصناعة السيارات وتحديدا في منطقة الشرقية في مدينة الدمام
.
This car is manufactured in Saudi Arabia in cooperation with the Saudi Sanam Company for the manufacture of cars, specifically in the Eastern Province in the city of Dammam
No it is not. Oceania versions are from Korea.
Why do you blokes always review the top end versions. Why never the base models? This review serves no purpose to the general buyer.
Lots of dramas with main unit
Ssanyong Musso began as a Daewoo rip-off Benz 4x4.
Daewoo have nothing to do with Ssangyong anymore. Probably for the better.
Not quite as simple as that.......
They actually began assembling TKD jeeps for the US army during the Korean war... for a while (a couple of decades later) later they bought engines from Mercedes, built them under license (not ripped off), and at some point point had a marketing agreement in some countries to sell with Daewoo badges.. Now owned by a big Korean Steel company (KG Steel)..
Perhaps do some research into the origins and history of Ssangyong. It'll save you future embarrassment from repeating inaccurate heresay.
So; it's a re-badged....... ?
of what? for whom are you trolling for?
It's not a rebadged anything. It's designed and built by SsangYong as part of their own model line-up.
My thoughts too - Design traits of the Mitsubish L200
@@matkellie1 👍
@@wollongongbiker , so "how" is it so cheap?