JUMP AHEAD

Part 1: Settling back into the Musso

We’ll never knock back an opportunity to drive the Musso. It may be a bit dated, but it’s immediately familiar, comfortable, and easy to settle into – like an old pair of jeans.

There are no gimmicks, no surprises in the way it handles, and no need for a crash course to figure out how it operates. Buttons and dials are where you’d expect them to be (strangely becoming a rare occurrence these days), and the system’s UI is simple. The Musso consistently flies under the radar in the dual-cab segment, and it probably shouldn’t … there’s a reason it won our Best 4×4 Ute of the Year (Under $60K) award last year.

Now sold under the KGM name following the SsangYong rebrand in 2025, the vehicle remains mechanically familiar. Power comes from a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder, producing 133kW at 4000 rpm and 420Nm from 1600–2600 rpm. That’s 20Nm more than the standard Musso, giving this XL V a little extra shove.

Delivered through a six-speed Aisin automatic and a part-time four-wheel-drive system with low and high range, the setup is smooth and predictable on both bitumen and rough tracks. An auto-locking rear differential and tyre pressure monitoring system come standard, adding confidence off-road.

The XL V also adds a longer tub, stretching to 1600mm – an extra 300 mm over the standard model. That provides an additional 251 litres of rear tub capacity, while the wheelbase is 110 mm longer. Convenient tie-down points combined with the extra space make it a cavernous, simply designed tray, ideal for loading camping gear and tools. Our long-termer is equipped with a soft tonneau cover (a $790 optional extra), so you wouldn’t want to leave anything valuable in the tray when unsupervised.

On paper, the Musso is impressively practical. It has a GVM of 2980kg, towing capacity of up to 3500kg, front and rear axle limits of 1400kg and 1850kg, and a payload of 880kg. This test example rides on Nexen N’Priz RH7 255/60R18 tyres, which strike a balance between on- and off-road comfort.

Our first few months with the Musso saw it tackling trails and highways within Victoria. On rugged tracks, it feels steady and dependable. Its part-time 4×4 system, combined with solid ground clearance and healthy torque, makes rutted trails and moderate climbs straightforward. The chassis and suspension are robust, though it reaches its limits earlier than some competitors – the HiLux, for example – when tracks get more serious. On-road, it remains composed, with the longer wheelbase providing stability on highways.

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Inside, the cabin is straightforward and intuitive. The heated and ventilated front seats provide comfort on long drives, while the driving position is excellent and supportive, helping reduce fatigue on extended trips. The dual 12.3-inch screens – one for the instrument cluster and one for infotainment – are crisp and responsive.

Some compromises remain: there’s still no wireless Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, and the sound system maxes out too early. We’ll take a deeper dive into these nit-picks in later instalments. Even so, the interior leans toward practicality and usability, with robust controls, good visibility, and a layout that keeps things simple.

At $53,000, the Musso Ultimate XL V delivers a generous list of standard equipment:

  • Leather-look upholstery
  • Heated and ventilated front seats
  • Heated rear outboard seats
  • Powered 8-way adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support
  • 360-degree surround-view camera
  • Powered sunroof
  • LED headlights with sequential indicators
  • Subtle exterior styling upgrades, including black grille and bumpers, and 18-inch black alloys
  • Advanced driver-assist technology: Autonomous emergency braking; Lane-keeping assistance

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: the Musso represents excellent value for long-term ownership.

Part 2: Beach, ‘burbs and family fun

We’ve had a busy few weeks with our Musso, taking it on a coastal road trip, running the kids around day-to-day, and squeezing in a bit of off-road fun.

Through it all, including the long stretches on bitumen to the Peninsula, the Musso remains remarkably composed on the road. The stable suspension and well-cushioned seats in the Ultimate trim make long drives feel effortless, and, despite its size, the Musso never feels intimidating on busy streets. That said, we recently lined it up against an MGU9 for an upcoming comparison, and the MG seemed to dwarf it side-by-side – a reminder that the Musso’s tyres and stance play a big part in how it feels on the road.

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Those stock tyres did struggle on some of the tougher sections when we took it off-road, so anyone planning to push it further off-road would benefit from a set of better all-terrain rubber. Still, the Musso handles moderate trails with confidence, and its simple 4×4 system proves capable and easy to use.

Family life is equally easy. Installing a child seat is straightforward, with two ISOFIX points on the rear outboard seats that are quickly accessed by folding the seats forward. In XLV trim, there’s plenty of space back there too. Another benefit of the XLV is an extra 300mm of tub length, stretching to a cavernous 1600mm. The long tray has been handy for hauling tools and materials, though the four factory tie-down points sit quite low, so you sometimes need contortions worthy of Inspector Gadget to secure a load properly.

There are a few more minor frustrations. The infotainment touchscreen is basic and offers almost nothing if CarPlay or Android Auto aren’t connected, and it is laggy when switching from exterior cameras (when reversing, for example) back to the main display. 

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Android Auto users know this common annoyance all too well: Wireless Android Auto is missing despite wireless Apple CarPlay being standard, so a cable is required. A flow-on problem from this is that the phone holder tray is tiny, so the phone will often slide off when cornering. Most of the time, the phone ends up in the centre console or cup holder while plugged in. The Musso definitely feels a bit old-school here.

Still, despite these handful of quirks – which are easy enough to work around – the Musso remains a no-frills vehicle that’s practical, comfortable, and easy to live with, both for the work week and weekend adventures.

MORE Musso news and reviews!