It seems that we’re obsessed with the weather in the UK. It’s all some folk can talk about and I’m convinced that in this country we don’t have a climate, we have weather. And I don’t know about where you live, but summer 2023 has yet to materialise so far. Yes, I live in the North East, so I’m used to dodgy weather, but honestly it’s so bad I’m starting to get webbed feet.

Last week though, the planets were aligned. I was heading to the Lake District and my test car was the brand new SsangYong Musso Saracen +. Oh and before you ask, the + isn’t a typing error. It means this particular Musso is a long wheelbase version.

SsangYong has a reputation for being a no-nonsense car manufacturer that builds cars able to take the rough and tumble of life, yet remain remarkably civilised. It’s also noted for providing a lot of car for your money. Early models were a tad agricultural but buyers stuck with the brand because the vehicles proved to be tough, reliable, and more importantly, decent to drive and decent to live with.

That’s still the case but SsangYong has moved with the times and the vehicles it produces are now very much of the modern age. In fact, if you go for the Saracen model shown here, the interior is downright plush and puts a lot of much more expensive vehicles to shame. Another little plus also is that all SsangYongs come with a confidence-boosting 5-year / 100,000-mile warranty which you can extend to 7 years and 150,000 miles.  

So let’s start with some basic figures.

Prices start at £24,765 ex VAT or £30,093 if you’re not VAT registered. The fact that SsangYong quotes ex VAT shows that the Musso is aimed very much at owners who intend to use their Musso as a workhorse. However, pick-ups are also very much a style statement these days and a lot of Mussos will find homes in leafy suburbs and experience nothing trickier than a school shuttle, supermarket run or trip to the beach.

The Musso is a ‘double-cab’ which means you get four doors and five seats. If you go for the 6-speed automatic version rather than the manual (the Saracen + has auto as standard), you’ll be able to tow 3.5 tonnes and carry just over 1.1 tonnes in the load bed area at the same time. No other pick-up available in the UK can match those figures. The new 204 bhp 2.2-litre diesel turbo has incredible strength and flexibility. 0-60mph can be reached in just over 11 seconds and it has a top speed of 114mph.

The new diesel engine is worthy of special mention. It’s one of the quietest diesels I’ve ever driven and it’s easy to forget that you’re in a pick-up. Refinement is excellent and the fuel return of just over 30mpg isn’t brilliant but, to be fair, you don’t buy a pick-up for it’s economy. The ride has also been sorted in this latest model. It used to be firm and rather jiggly, but it’s now much smoother.

If you are worried about towing a trailer or horsebox over soggy ground or reversing a boat into a lake, don’t worry, because the Musso comes with all-wheel drive which can be selected. Leave it in rear-wheel drive to get the best economy. You also get high and low ratio gearboxes for when the going gets decidedly tricky. 

Four trim levels are available - EX, Rebel, Saracen and Saracen +. Go for top of the range Saracen + and you’ll get satellite navigation, climate control, rearview camera, DAB radio, front and rear parking sensors, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, 18-inch alloys and a stack of safety kit. As we mentioned earlier, there’s a premium feel and look to the interior.

Despite its size, the Musso is good to drive. The square front and rear dimensions make it easy to place on the road. The interior is roomy and comfortable. The kids will enjoy it on the school run and it is extremely practical. This excellent SsangYong pick-up is useful for a variety of purposes and has the knack of being able to deliver a pallet of bricks in the morning, haul a hefty trailer in the afternoon and then take you and your friends to a restaurant in the evening.

Surprising SsangYong? You bet.

Words: Graham Courtney
Pictures: SsangYong