Double-cab 4X4 bakkies sell like hot cakes in this country, so prospective buyers will be pleased to hear that there’s a new kid on the block to play with. Ssangyong has just introduced their fully imported Musso Sports 4X4 double cab.
The new Korean bakkie, the only diesel double cab 4X4 in South Africa to currently offer an auto transmission as an option, comes with an impressive specification list that includes disc brakes with ABS all round, traction control, a driver’s airbag, an auto-dimming rear view mirror, a factory fitted radio / tape, air conditioning, an adjustable height steering wheel, power steering, electric windows front and rear, remote central locking, a security system and remote side mirrors.
As with most upmarket double cabs it also boasts a tonneau cover, a chromed roll-over bar, a double sealed rear load body and 16″ alloy rims. The Musso offers the most spacious cab in its class, at the cost of some length in the bin, which is just 1,180 metres long. A 70 litre fuel tank should give the new bakkie a healthy range between diesel stops.
Motive power is provided by a 2,9 litre cylinder turbodiesel engine built under licence from Mercedes-Benz. This single-overhead-camshaft five cylinder unit dishes up 104 kW at 4 000 rpm and 305 Nm torque at 2 250 rpm – only marginally less than Nissan’s class-leading Hardbody 3.0 TD. The Musso Sports will be available locally with a choice of a 5 speed manual or an electronically- controlled 4 speed auto transmission. Four wheel drive with the ability to shift-on-the-fly and traction control are standard.
Service intervals are 10 000 km apart, and the Musso comes with a three year / 60 000 km service plan, as well as a 3 year/100 000 km warranty. SsangYong currently has 15 dealers in all major geographical areas of the country.
The Musso Sports sells for a very competitive R274 980 with a five speed manual transmission, while the auto version costs a fraction under R10 000 more.