The What Van? Road Test: Ssangyong Musso (2020)

Date: Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Ssangyong Rear 3_4

Operating

At seven years/150,000 miles, there is no denying the generosity of Ssangyong’s warranty. Service intervals are set at one year/12,500 miles, which seems about right. While many light commercials come with longer intervals, 4x4 pick-ups can lead a hard life, so it doesn’t make sense to leave too big a gap between workshop visits.

Ssangyong quotes a combined World Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) fuel economy figure of 28.2mpg, which is about what we achieved. It’s not outstanding, but not really surprising either, given that we’re talking about a large, heavy, double-cab pick-up with automatic transmission.

An alarm and immobiliser help protect the truck against thieves. A tyre pressure monitoring system is installed but no spare wheel is provided. You get a repair kit instead – not an enormous amount of use if you are faced with a severely damaged tyre in the middle of nowhere. The inflator and tools are stowed behind the back seat.

Ssangyong Musso Rhino Pick-up

Price (ex VAT) £30,035

Price range (ex VAT) £22,035-£30,035

Gross payload 1,140kg

Load length 1,610mm

Load width (min/max) 1,130mm/1,570mm

Load bay height 570mm

Loading height 762mm

Gross vehicle weight 3,400kg

Braked trailer towing weight 3,500kg

Residual value 29.6%

Cost per mile 59.4p

Engine size/power 2,157cc, 181hp @ 3,800rpm

Torque 420Nm @ 1,600-2,600rpm

Gearbox 6sp automatic

Fuel economy (combined WLTP) 28.2mpg

Fuel tank 75 litres

CO2 262g/km

Warranty 7yrs/150,000mls

Service intervals 1yr/12,500mls

Insurance group 42D

Price as tested £30,035

* after 48 months @ 20,000 miles a year - source - KWIKcarcost

Rivals

Isuzu D-Max

Price range (ex VAT) £20,179-£31,929

Gross payload 1,070-1,205kg

Braked towing weight 2,500-3,500kg

Engines 164hp 1.9 diesel

Verdict: Isuzu has recently revised the D-Max with extensive exterior and interior restyling and a suite of new safety devices. Like its predecessor, it remains a tough, no-nonsense package and it is pleasing to see that it is still available in single and extended-cab configurations alongside the double-cab version. Unusually you can order it in 4x2
as well as 4x4 guise. More power is still required, however, and it is surprising that Isuzu has failed to address this requirement.

Ford Ranger

Price range (ex VAT) £21,950-£46,975

Gross payload 620-1,252kg

Braked towing weight 2,500-3,500kg

Engines 130hp, 170hp, 213hp 2.0 diesel

Verdict: With half a dozen different specification levels the last time we looked, including the spectacular Raptor and three different cab configurations, Ranger customers
are unlikely to complain about a lack of choice. What they are looking at is a good solid workhorse that ticks the majority of the boxes, with an optional 10-speed auto box that is well worth considering. The warranty could stand to be a bit more generous, though.

Toyota Hilux

Price range (ex VAT) £21,540-£51,637

Gross payload 1,050-1,105kg

Braked towing weight 3,500kg

Engines 150hp 2.4 diesel, 204hp 2.8 diesel

Verdict: The tough as old boots Hilux has a well-justified reputation for being able to stand up to a severe hammering, and the model now delivers more punch thanks to the advent of a 204hp 2.8-litre diesel engine. Its debut is at the centre of a major upgrade, which includes everything from upgraded satellite navigation to a retuned suspension and some restyling. The generous warranty package is to be applauded, although the duration is shorter than the Rhino’s.

The Final Verdict

Design 8/10 – A sensible balance between passenger capacity and cargo carrying capability.

Cabin 9/10 – Comfortable and roomy working environment with plenty of handy features.

Ride 5/10 – Mediocre on anything but the smoothest roads but improves with weight in the back.

Refinement 7/10 – Lack of in-cab noise and impressive build quality make up for the lack of refinement.

Load area 8/10 – Bags of carrying capacity, especially with the long wheelbase.

Handling/performance 8/10 – Both are to a high standard, with the steering tightening nicely though bends.

Engine/transmission 8/10 – Well matched, delivering power smoothly with strong acceleration.

Standard equipment 7/10 – Lots of goodies, but one or two more safety devices wouldn’t go amiss.

Operating costs 7/10 – The warranty is a definite plus, but Rhino is not the most frugal of vehicles.

What Van? subjective rating 8/10 – An attractive package offering plenty of productivity and kit.

Overall rating: 75/100

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