2022 SsangYong Musso ute detailed: Isuzu D-Max, LDV T60, GWM Ute rival misses out on more powerful engine

Just months after the heavily facelifted version of the Musso landed in showrooms, SsangYong has revealed another update for its workhorse.

The refreshed ute uncovered by SsangYong in South Korea gains a more powerful 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine, with an increase in power and torque from 133kW and 400Nm in the existing version to 149kW and 441Nm. 

However, a SsangYong Australia spokesperson told CarsGuide that the Australian-market version would not be offered with the beefed-up engine. 

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Due in showrooms in March this year, the Musso will continue on with the same engine as before. 

According to the spokesperson, the updated Korean-market Musso uses Diesel Exhaust Fluid, which requires an extra fuel tank. This takes up space in the spare wheel area and would mean it could not be fitted with a full-size spare wheel. SsangYong Australia elected to keep the full-size spare instead of taking the uprated engine.

If it did take the more powerful donk, it would be closer to competitors including the Isuzu D-Max and Mazda BT-50 twins (140kW/450Nm), Ford Ranger 3.2L (147kW/470Nm), Nissan Navara (140kW/450Nm) and LDV T60 Pro (160kW/500Nm), but more than the Mitsubishi Triton (133kW/430Nm) and GWM Ute (120kW/400Nm).

The Musso’s SUV sibling, the Rexton, gained the engine upgrade as part of its mid-life update that launched in Australia in early 2021. 

New features that the Aussie Musso will get include a new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, up from the current model’s 7.0-inch LCD instrument cluster, LED interior lights, a new overhead console with LED map lights and seatbelt reminders.

Other changes to the Musso that will not be rolled out in Australia include an electronic power steering system that SsangYong says improves steering feel and noise, vibration and harshness measures.

It will continue with the hydraulic power steering in Australia, meaning the local version will miss out on adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist.

The Musso was already fitted with autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and driver attention assist.

Another Korean-market feature we won’t get here is INFOCNN, which has functions including remote vehicle start and remote air conditioning controls and infotainment. It also gains a 9.0-inch multimedia screen (up from 8.0-inches) in its home market.

South Korea also gains a new flagship Expedition variant with rugged styling flourishes like a nudge bar, black grille and other unique touches.  

SsangYong introduced an update for the Musso in June 2021 which ushered in a significant facelift with a bold new front-end design with a larger grille, restyled bumper and new head and tail-lights.

The Musso is SsangYong’s best seller in Australia by a country mile, with 1883 units shifted in 2021, compared with 742 for the second-placed Rexton. The Korando was third on 353.

More details including pricing will be released closer to its March showroom debut.