Diesel, frame and 3.5 tonnes: Musso skipped the crossover trend to win over Germany

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KGM, formerly SsangYong, has refreshed the Musso pickup for Germany and rolled out two versions at once: the standard model and the long-wheelbase Musso Grand. The truck stays diesel and frame-based but gains a new body, more comfort and a price tag that undercuts a chunk of its direct rivals.

Almost every exterior panel is new except the roof and doors. The Musso now wears a large grille, an LED light bar across the nose and a rougher look pitched under the Powered by Toughness tagline. The standard truck stretches to 5.15 m, the Musso Grand to 5.46 m. It comes only as a double cab with five seats. The bed measures 1.30 m on the Musso and 1.61 m on the Grand, with up to 1262 L of volume. Payload tops out at 1085 kg, and the bed adds eight lashing points, lighting and steps in the rear bumper.

The engine stays familiar: a 2.2-litre diesel with 202 hp and 441 Nm. Transmission options are a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed Aisin automatic, the latter standard on the Lux trim. With the automatic the pickup tows up to 3.5 tonnes. Four-wheel drive is part-time, engaged via a rotary selector, and a rear diff lock is on board. Ground clearance is 245 mm on the Musso and 248 mm on the Musso Grand. The rear runs a five-link coil setup, but the Musso Grand can be ordered with leaf springs — the option for buyers who actually haul heavy loads instead of just owning a truck for the look.

The cabin feels closer to an SUV than a workhorse. Even the base Core trim brings a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and matching central display, navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, climate control, a rear-view camera and front and rear parking sensors. Lux adds heated and ventilated leather front seats, dual-zone climate, wireless charging, a surround-view camera, adaptive cruise, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

The Musso starts at €40,990, the Musso Grand at €42,490. The Lux trim opens at €49,490, and the Grand Lux at €50,990. In Germany that puts KGM alongside the Isuzu D-Max but below many versions of the Ford Ranger and the new Toyota Hilux. The pitch is simple: the Musso isn't the trendiest pickup, but it offers diesel, a ladder frame, four-wheel drive, a long bed and a five-year warranty without paying for a loud badge.