Upgraded SsangYong Musso misses out on power hike

SsangYong Australia has revealed specifications for the upcoming 2022 SsangYong Musso line-up, confirming the upgraded dual-cab 4x4 ute will miss out on the Korean car-maker’s more powerful 149kW/441Nm diesel engine.

Instead of bringing the higher 16kW/21Nm outputs that arrived in the closely related 2021 SsangYong Rexton seven-seat SUV last year, the Korean workhorse’s 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine will continue to pump out a segment-trailing 133kW/420Nm in long-wheelbase XLV guise (‘SWB’ versions make do with 133kW/400Nm).

These figures make the SsangYong Musso (known in other markets as the Rexton Sports and Khan) one of the least powerful options within the booming 4x4 pick-up market, in which only the GWM Ute (120kW/400Nm) delivers less power.

Rather than upgrade the mechanicals, SsangYong has focused on enhancing its ute’s standard equipment list, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster set to be included on all variants across the MY22 range when it arrives here in March.

Other changes include a new overhead console with LED map lights and seatbelt reminders, plus a return to a body-coloured tailgate handle, wing mirrors and door-handles.

According to a SsangYong Australia spokesperson, the decision to leave the engine untouched stems from the more powerful mill’s requirement for diesel exhaust gas aftertreatment fluid (Adblue), which would have negatively impacted the Musso’s packaging.

“Diesel exhaust fluid requires an additional tank,” said the spokesperson. “This takes up space in the spare wheel area to the point where a full-size spare wheel cannot be fitted.”

The spokesperson also confirmed that Australian delivered Musso vehicles would miss out on the latest Rexton’s new electric power steering system and all the associated safety upgrades.

“MY22 Musso will also continue with hydraulic power steering and associated ADAS features,” the told carsales. “It will not adopt electric power steering with adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist.”

Also carrying over unchanged will be the Musso’s familiar payloads (790-1025kg) and class-matching (3500kg) braked towing capacity.

However, SsangYong Australia told carsales the pumped-up ‘Expedition’ flagship will be added at the top of the MY22 Musso range as a special-edition, although it will come with a different name and specs compared to the Korean-market limited-edition.

“Expedition is a special-edition model for the local market,” confirmed the spokesperson. “We are looking at a limited-edition strategy for Aus MY22 Musso going forward.”

The four-grade SsangYong Musso dual-cab 4x4 ute line-up is currently priced between just $34,990 (ELX) and $47,790 (Ultimate XLV) drive-away.

Pricing for the updated and expanded range will be announced closer to its arrival in March 2022.