New SsangYong Musso breaks cover

New images and video of the updated SsangYong Musso have emerged online, revealing a contemporary take on the slow-selling dual-cab ute’s exterior design.

Sporting a larger grille and Mitsubishi Outlander-inspired vertical LED fog lights, the 2021 SsangYong Musso also gets reworked tail-lights and a striking new rear sports bar.

Due in Australia from around June 2021, the Musso is sold as the Sports Khan and Musso Grand in other countries, and these versions are seen in the latest images with some high-end interior accents such as faux carbon-fibre, along with new cabin colour options.

Currently priced at the budget end of the dual-cab ute market, starting from $30,490 (not including on-road costs), it’s not yet clear if the new Musso will get the same engine upgrade as the brand’s incoming facelifted SsangYong Rexton large SUV.

Both vehicles currently sold in Australia share a 133kW/420Nm 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, but the new 2021 SsangYong Rexton arriving here soon gets a more potent 148kW/441Nm version.

In comparison, the top-selling ute in Australia, the Toyota HiLux, still outpowers the South Korean ute, its bigger 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine generating 150kW/500Nm.

However, the SsangYong Musso beats most dual-cab ute rivals with its strong seven year, unlimited kilometre warranty.

While SsangYong’s future was looking shaky in late 2020 after it filed for bankruptcy, the company has assured Australian customers that the business is still trading as usual.

Sales of the SsangYong Musso, the brand’s top-seller in Australia, has reached 483 units to the end of March this year, up from 170 sales over the same period in 2020.