Review: SsangYong SWB Musso ute

If you don’t need the bigger tray of the XLV, then the standard Musso 4x4 ute could be just the rig for you. And it comes at a price that can’t be beaten.

The long wheelbase SsangYong Musso XLV that launched in Australia midway through 2019 generated so much interest that we decided to take another look back at the SWB Musso, which has been with us a while longer.

While the refined driveline, spacious cabin and great value for money are the key things that have impressed us with the Musso, the locally developed optional suspension package is the icing on the cake, giving the Korean pick-up more ground clearance, better suspension control and improved off-road ability.

Here, we have the short wheelbase Musso in base-spec EX manual trim. At just $30,490 driveaway, it’s a great value ute.

This Musso has been fitted with the Ironman 4×4 springs to give it the needed 30 to 35mm of lift

IRONMAN SPRUNG

This Musso has been fitted with the Ironman 4×4 springs to give it the needed 30 to 35mm of lift, but not the full kit that also would include shock absorbers. Other extras include the black sports bar, tonneau cover, 18-inch (46cm) alloys with AT tyres, floor mats, and a front underbody protection plate that also comes from Ironman 4×4 and is being evaluated to become a factory-offered accessory.

Even with these accessories onboard, the Musso is still driveaway for around $36K, which is outstanding value. Especially when you consider SsangYong’s seven-year warranty, roadside assists and capped-price servicing package, which is standard on all new models.

As mentioned, the optional suspension package was developed here in Australia with Ironman 4×4. SsangYong offers it as just the coil springs on this car, in what it calls the ‘performance suspension’ kit, or springs and shocks as the ‘constant load’ kit.

“Factory fitted OEM [original equipment manufacturer] suspension needs to be configured to suit the widest audience, the broadness of application and customer expectations,” says Ironman 4×4’s director of suspension product Kristian Ristell, who headed up the development.

“This means we can’t target a specific area of performance without affecting another and for this reason OEM suspension is always a compromise.”

A common criticism of the Musso is the factory ground clearance, which is quoted as 216mm for the SWB or 220mm for the LWB, where it is more noticeable due to the wider ramp-over angle and longer rear overhang. The suspension kits go a long way to rectifying this with an added 30 to 35mm of height with the performance kit and 35 to 40mm when fitted with the constant load kit.

“This kit is a fully fledged Ironman 4×4 suspension upgrade that is also available from SsangYong dealers for even greater dynamic competence and capability. It caters for more demanding requirements such as off-road driving or heavier load carrying,” Ristell says.

The Musso EX has one of the best laid-out cabins in the 1-tonne 4×4 ute segment

ON ROAD

Jumping in the SWB EX you are greeted with a familiar wide cabin, although the EX misses out on the large touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that the up-spec Mussos get. It’s spacious and comfortable and one of the best laid-out cabins in the 1-tonne 4×4 ute segment.

The shifter for the six-speed manual gearbox feels a little loose and vague at first use, but you soon become acclimated to its gates. Particularly reverse gear, which, like most six-speed boxes is across to the left and up beside first gear, but there is no lockout to prevent accidental selection when going for first cog.

Its operation reverts to second nature out on the road and the ratios are well suited to the 2.2-litre diesel engine. The engine is only rated to 400Nm with the manual, as opposed to 420Nm with the auto, but the smooth little mill feels more sprightly when matched to the manual over the auto, which itself gave no reason to complain. The manual is only offered in this entry-level EX specification and not the higher spec models, but you’d have to really like manual gearboxes to choose one over the $2,000 Aisin auto option.

The suspension feels well-weighted and doesn’t appear to lose too much by retaining the factory shock absorbers. It is a bit jittery on rough surfaces, but you get that in any unladen ute and it would smooth out with some weight in the tray.

The Musso uses a traditional part-time, dual-range 4×4 system with electronic traction control and an auto-locking rear differential

OFF ROAD

While the SWB Musso doesn’t suffer clearance issues as badly as its bigger LWB brother, a quality suspension lift inevitable makes any 4×4 better. The Musso uses a traditional part-time, dual-range 4×4 system with electronic traction control and an auto-locking rear differential. This diff tightens up once slip is detected and is not driver selectable like many lockers.

The raised suspension does give some added clearance but the bottom lip of the front bumper still rides low and we touched it down a few times, while not hitting the underbody protection plate.

The suspension works well over rough roads and rutted tracks, although travel is limited and the Musso soon lifts wheels. This is where that auto locker comes into force; you feel the initial wheelspin and then feel it lock up and drive you onwards. It is surprising where this will get the Musso and the vehicle makes a great general touring 4×4.

The tub might look a bit short, but it’s deep

PRACTICALITIES

The tray of the Musso appears stubby when you look at it, especially if you’ve spent time with the XLV, which has an extra 300mm in the tub length. Part of the reason for that is the depth of the tub, which is massive, and when you look in the back there’s plenty of room. We had a 250cc motocross bike in there with the tailgate down, just as you would in most double-cab utes. Having tie-down points down nice and low really helps with this. There’s also a 12-volt power outlet in the tub.

In terms of capacities the SWB Musso, like its bigger brother, is rated to tow 3,500kg but the payload is a lower 790kg.

The Musso is more than just a budget ute; a lot more really, and it drives and performs better than some more popular vehicles in the 1-tonne ute market while also being cheaper. With a growing range of quality factory accessories and some from the aftermarket, the Musso becomes an even more attractive option.

The Musso EX is powered by a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel