Images
The most affordable combustion versions of KGM's Musso pick-up continue to try and redefine the value proposition for customers in this segment and provide them with rugged but car-like transport. This Musso is the only model in the sector tough enough to offer a seven year warranty and in this diesel form, its combined payload and towing capacity is unbettered in the class. Plus there's the option of a long wheelbase 'Long-bed' 'Saracen+' variant. If you're buying in this sector, you probably won't have been considering a Musso. Perhaps you should.
+ More
Background
What do you want when buying a pick-up? Probably things like rugged practicality, load capacity, towing strength, reliability and cab space. Here's a contender you probably haven't considered that claims to be class-leading in many of these areas at the same time as being one of the most affordable pick-ups in its class to buy. This is the KGM Musso.
Some background might be useful at this point. After all, since pick-ups from this Korean brand haven't so far made much headway in our market, you probably don't know much about them. Ssangyong (the previous name for KGM Motors) first began to make headway in the pick-up segment with the 'Korando Sports' back in 2012, which was then updated and re-branded with 'Musso' badging in 2016. This current-era 'Q200'-series Musso model was launched in 2018, sharing all its engineering with the third generation version of the company's Rexton luxury SUV (introduced just before). Various small updates were made to this Musso in 2022 and 2023 before in early 2024, Ssangyong was re-branded KGM. For the 2026 model year, the plusher 'Rhino'-spec and full-EV versions of the Musso got more angular frontal styling, but the more affordable diesel variants we look at here continued with the older-look.
+ More
Range data
| Min | Max |
| Price | 32980 | 38010 |
| CO2 (g/km) | 236 | 220 |
| Electric WLTP-Rated Driving Range (miles) | 249 | 249 |
| Min | Max |
| Combined Mpg | 31.5 | 33.8 |
| Power (ps) | 202 | 207 |
| Torque (lb ft) | 339 | 441 |
Driving experience
If you're used to driving pick-ups, there'll be one thing that'll immediately strike you as soon as you set off in a diesel Musso. This model's exceptional refinement. Its Korean maker has put a huge amount of effort into improving this and it's really paid off, especially at higher highway speeds. On urban tarmac, refinement remains excellent but on poorer surfaces, you do start to notice a rather unyielding standard of ride quality. Some have criticised this but we prefer to take into account that this KGM offers the highest combined Gross Train Weight in the class. You don't get that without a fairly stiff suspension set-up - which in this case uses rear coils rather than the crude rear leaf springs that still feature in some rivals. Other pick-ups certainly deal with tarmac tears, speed humps and pot holes much better. But they can't carry a one-tonne payload at the same time as pulling along a 3.5-tonne trailer. It all comes down to priorities. What are yours?
The figures we've just quoted refer to the automatic gearbox variant that most buyers will choose - it's a well-proven Aisin 6-speed package. A 6-speed manual gearbox is also available at the foot of the range. Either way, the engine beneath the bonnet is the same - a 2.2-litre e-XDi in-house-developed diesel unit that puts out 202PS and 441Nm of torque. That's enough to breeze you past 60mph in about 11.3s in the manual (11.9s in the auto) on the way to a top speed that's rated at 113mph in the auto model - or 116mph in the manual.
+ More
Design and build
Here, we're looking at the standard 'Rebel', 'Saracen' and 'Saracen+' versions of this Musso, which haven't yet been updated to the latest more angular look you'll find with the 'Rhino', 'Rhino+' and EV versions.
Like most pick-ups, this KGM is a substantial thing with a muscular silhouette, measuring over 5-metres in length. Only a Double cab body style is offered in the UK - but that's the one the vast majority of buyers will want, also available for diesel variants in a 12-inch-lengthier 'Long Bed' guise with the 'Saracen+' model.
Inside, there's a substantially upgraded interior that focuses on improved materials and a more refined driving environment. There's also smarter technology integration in the high-set 12.3-inch HD centre screen, including wireless 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto'. A proper pick-up should have a properly high, commanding driving position - and this one does. The ergonomics are good too. Front three-quarter visibility's excellent, judging where the extremities are is easy and the deep side windows really help at T-junctions and roundabouts. Once on the back seat, there's plenty of room for head, shoulders, knees and feet and the deeply-set windows give a bright, airy feel too.
+ More
Market and model
The advantage of sticking with this Musso in its older form is obviously price. Excluding the VAT, you can get the entry-level 'Rebel' version for around £33,000, which is the version you'll have to have if you want manual transmission. There's around £4,000 more to find for the better-equipped auto-only 'Saracen'-spec version you'll probably want. The 'Saracen+' with its longer load bed costs from just over £8,000.
Even base 'Rebel'-spec gets you 18-inch alloy wheels, leather-look upholstery, heated front seats, a rear view camera and a 12.3-inch centre screen with TomTom navigation and 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto'. The 'Saracen' specs add a black finish for the 18-inch alloy wheels and black finishing for the door mirrors, beltline and tailgate finisher. Plus powered front seats, automaric dual zone airconditioning and electronic cruise control.
All combustion Musso variants get the same mechanical package, a 2.2-litre 202PS e-XDi diesel mated to four wheel drive. If you're shopping in this segment, you'll probably be familiar with the main alternatives. The only rival that can match this Musso's asking prices is Isuzu's D-Max, but if you specified one of those up to match the spec of this KGM, you'd probably need the best part of another £1,000. And then you'd still be getting yourself a pick-up with less power and higher running costs.
+ More
Practicalities and costs
You'll need to bear in mind that unless you stretch to the 'Saracen+' long bed version of this diesel model, the load area is somewhat shorter than other models in this class (at 1,494mm). If you can stretch to the 'Saracen+' long bed diesel version, that rises to 1,610mm. With either body shape, there's 60mm of load bay height and a load bay width that's a class-leading maximum of 1,570mm, narrowing to 1,110mm between the wheel arches.
All diesel Mussos do well in terms of potential payload. Most pick-ups cannot tow a trailer at maximum weight and carry a full payload at the same time, but the Musso is different from most pick-ups. With a class-leading gross train weight of 6450kg (manual), 6750kg (automatic) and 6900kg (Saracen+) this KGM has the highest total load capacity of any pick-up on sale in the UK. It can tow 3.5-tonnes (automatic) concurrently to give the highest total load capacity in the segment. These are stats that really will get the attention of savvy operators.
As for running costs for this diesel, well you won't be expecting a pick-up with a gross vehicle weight of over 3.2-tonnes to be especially frugal, so the return in this case - a quoted 33.8mpg on the WLTP combined cycle for the manual model - may be better than you might have feared. It's 31.5mpg for the auto and 30.8 for the LWB auto. CO2 emissions are WLTP-rated at 220g/km for the manual. Choosing the automatic gearbox doesn't have too much of an effect on these stats (236g/km for the standard auto and 241g/km for the LWB auto).
With all Mussos, there's a class-leading 7 year / 150,000 mile warranty.
+ More
Summary
There's a lot to think about when it comes to picking out a pick-up. You're buying one in the first place because you want practical, go-anywhere ruggedness. Yet if at least some of the time, it's got to serve as your only means of transport, then you also need car-like qualities - real refinement, supple suspension and a comfortable cabin. Ideally, you'd want all of this along with a high specification and a price that looks like a misprint. You'd be asking a lot. Yet here, KGM has struggled to provide exactly that - and with this Musso got remarkably close to delivering it.
In summary, the word 'Musso' may mean 'rhinoceros' in Korean but what we've found here is a pick-up that can offer more than just tough robustness. True, the resulting package certainly isn't an obvious choice in this segment. In many ways though, it's a rather clever one.
+ More
Have you considered these alternative models...
Find a Review
We have over 500 new and used car reviews to help you find your next car.
Browse reviews and model guides for all makes
