KGM Musso – the charging Rhino

THE Korean automotive brand once known as SsangYong now has a more accessible and modern-sounding name, KGM, and the rebrand has given fresh impetus to one of its most celebrated vehicles.

We’re talking about the Musso pickup truck, which originally entered the UK market in 1994 as an SUV, became a pickup based on the SsangYong Rexton in 2018 and underwent an aggressive facelift ahead of an all-new line-up in 2023.

Musso actually means rhino in the Korean language, a pretty apt name given the model’s workmanlike, no-nonsense character.

But while the latest version retains the Musso’s trademark qualities of strength, load space and value for money, it is also equally at home on the driveway as on the construction site or farmer’s field.

Coming only as a five-seat double cab, the 2025 Musso is available as a standard load bed version in both Rebel and Saracen trim or as a long bed variant – which boasts the longest load area in the UK market – in range-topping Saracen + trim. And with prices from £30,695 ex VAT, it’s a good bit cheaper than the opposition.

All versions feature the same 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine belting out 202PS of wallop and 325lb ft of pulling power. You’re not going to squeeze much more than 30 miles per gallon out of it even on a good day, which is not surprising when you consider this vehicle’s capabilities.

For instance the majority of pick-ups can’t haul a trailer at maximum weight and carry a full payload at the same time.

Yet with the Musso’s gross train weight of 6,450kg, rising to 6,900kg for the Saracen + automatic, it has the highest total load capacity of any pick-up on sale here. That means a cargo area capable of accommodating a payload of more than one tonne – so all derivatives can carry a Euro pallet.

Our tested version was the flagship Saracen + with six-speed auto transmission and long wheelbase (1.61 metres) and as is the case with all derivatives it was fitted with both a load-liner and rotating strap down hooks.

It’s no real surprise that the Musso sounds a touch agricultural on start-up and the auto transmission can feel lurchy as you move through the gears, but it settles down quickly and is generally a smooth, quite lively, truck to drive.

And while the overall impression is of a workmanlike vehicle, it’s a tough, versatile one that you feel won’t let you down, regardless of the conditions.

For instance there are selectable drive modes of Normal, Sport and Winter for a safer, more customised, drive while part time four-wheel drive allows you to choose when to activate the system with a choice of high or low 4×4 range.

You also get the likes of Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Assist and the Saracen + brings in 18-inch alloy wheels fitted with XL tyres, black and silver side steps, dark tinted rear privacy glass, LED front fog lights and model-specific graphics.

Inside, there’s space for three across the rear and plenty of room up front along with the feeling that you could be behind the wheel of a high spec SUV rather than a pick-up truck.

That’s down to the quality of the cabin and sensible layout of the fixtures and fittings, which include a 12.3-inch digital cluster with digital or analogue readouts, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, dual-zone auto climate control, front and rear parking sensors and blind spot detection.

The Saracen+ is the only Musso available in the long-bed variant, offering an extra 310mm in the load bed and 200kg in payload, so there’s an extraordinary amount of space on offer.

You also get premium Nappa leather seats, an eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats and steering wheel, a six-speaker sound system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, keyless entry and a comprehensive suite of safety features.

It’s an impressive overall package, and one that comes with a five-year/100,000-mile warranty, looks striking, is super tough and represents terrific value for money.