SsangYong has announced that its budget-priced Musso pickup is now homologated to tow 3,5-tonnes. This 3,500kg towing rating means the Musso now matches the very best in the pickup truck class.
Given that the SsangYong is also by far the cheapest pickup currently on sale in the UK, this is quite a coup. Especially as it also comes with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty – the closest any rival comes to this the Isuzu D-Max with its five-year, 125,000-mile warranty.
Read the full SsangYong Musso review on Parkers Vans
How come the Musso can now tow 3.5-tonnes?
Quite simply, it’s been recatergorised by the VCA – that’s the UK Vehicle Certification Agency, the official body responsible for Vehicle Type Approval.
SsangYong has not reported that any modifications were required to meet the 3.5-tonne rating.
The Musso is already fitted with a 178hp 2.2-litre turbodiesel – bigger and more powerful than the motor fitted in the preceding SsangYong Korando Sports pickup, this also produces 400Nm of torque. Pulling power that should make towing a relatively straight-forward affair.
Its previous towing rating was 3.0-tonnes (3,000kg), the lowest in the pickup truck sector.
So the SsangYong’s a bargain then?
If cheap towing transport is your priority, certainly. Four other pickups on sale can legally tow 3,500kg – the Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max, Nissan Navara and Toyota Hilux – but all of them cost more than the Musso.
Prices for the SsangYong truck start at just £16,395 for the entry-level SE model, rising to £18,395 for the fully-loaded EX specification (£19,395 if you want the six-speed automatic gearbox instead of the standard six-speed manual). All costs quoted excluded VAT.
However, this value is tempered slightly by the smallest load area in the one-tonne pickup class, and a poor driving experience. You do get four-wheel drive, though, and of course that five-year warranty.
For more details on the SsangYong Musso, click here to read the full Parkers Vans review.
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