PIMS 2018: SsangYong PH rumbles local pickup segment with Musso

When it comes to pickups, there are a few brands in the Philippines that will instantly strike your mind – one thing’s for sure, SsangYong isn’t one of them. Well, that would not be the case from hereon. The South Korean automaker just unveiled what it dubs as its luxury utility vehicle, the Musso.

Inspired to being a rhinoceros (Musso when directly translated in the Korean language), this pickup boasts muscular exterior. And, by muscular, SsangYong literally means it as the truck has a payload capacity of 850 kg, plus a towing capacity of 3,000 kg.

It instills the vibe of a challenger in the local midsize pickup segment with its contemporary dimensions. Up-front, it looks like a normal-but-bulky pickup truck with cues of modern styling that goes side-by-side with its veteran rivals.

What makes it different from the rest is its deep bed at the rear that is almost one-third deeper than the average pickup truck bed. Although it appears to be deeper, the bed falls short in terms of length compared to its well-known rivals. Overall, the Musso measures 5,095 mm long, 1,950 mm wide, and 1,840 high. 

Inside, there’s a celebration of brown Nappa leather cushions to give its passengers the comfort not all utility vehicles give. Pininfirina even played a role in the cabin’s sound isolation and tuning for that level-up luxury inside. Entertainment is amplified by an Apple CarPlay and Android Auto-compatible sound system. Also, there is improved space in the second-row seats, giving that crossover riding experience inside a body-on-frame pickup truck.

A 2.2-liter turbodiesel engine under the hood is responsible for the Musso’s performance. This 179-hp and 400-Nm torqued engine is mated to a six-speed Aisin automatic transmission. Stability is taken care of by a five-link suspension configuration in the rear. 

Initially, SsangYong is offering a 4x2 configuration of the Musso. There’s no definite time when its 4x4 variant will come but the South Korean brand guarantees its future owners with a free three-year or 60,000 km, whichever comes first, Periodic Maintenance Service. It also comes with a five-year (100,000 km, whichever comes first) warranty. The newcomer Musso pickup truck has a price tag of P1,495,000.