Driven: Sharp pricing for SsangYong Musso XLV pick-up

SSANGYONG Australia’s crucial extended-wheelbase Musso XLV will launch with temporary pricing –starting at $33,990 driveaway – that puts it in line with the Korean brand’s shorter pick-up range and positions it to capitalise on the end-of-financial-year sales blitz.

Available in three grades, the Musso XLV ELX kicks off in base six-speed manual guise, while an automatic transmission with the same number of ratios raises pricing to $35,990 – the latter identical in cost to equivalent short-wheelbase (SWB) pick-up.

The mid-tier XLV Ultimate also matches its SWB Musso counterpart at $39,990, while the top-spec Ultimate Plus is exclusive to the long-wheelbase (LWB) format and costs $43,990.

However, Australian Business Number (ABN) holders are also eligible for an additional $1000 discount, bringing pricing to as low as $32,990 driveaway.

Speaking to GoAuto at the launch of the Musso XLV in Victoria’s countryside, SsangYong Australia managing director Tim Smith confirmed that the aggressive introductory pricing will only be available for a limited time, but would not be drawn on where the cost would sit after the promotion period.

“We're giving [Musso XLV], just like we gave Musso short wheelbase, the opportunity to flourish,” he said. “Can I guarantee that that pricing will last forever? No, but we'll always add value for the customer.

“I can tell you that that (introductory pricing period) is at least a couple of months and where we would sit afterwards, as I said to you, whenever we look at pricing, we always look at what the value equation is.

“So, if I was to raise prices, I would always make it more attractive for the customer as a product offering … it’s up to me to be able to add more value whenever I have to raise prices … so my job will be adding more features.”

In terms of popularity, Mr Smith expects the Musso XLV will outsell the standard Musso two-to-one, with the hottest-selling variant being the mid-tier LWB Ultimate projected to account for 30 per cent of the nameplate’s overall volume.

The top-tier Ultimate Plus and SWB Ultimate are predicted to snap up 20 per cent of volume each, while the XLV ELX automatic will make up 10 per cent of sales.

Meanwhile, the remaining SWB ELX automatic, EX manual, EX auto and LWB ELX manual variants are expected to tally nine, one, three and one per cent of volume respectively.

As for Australian New Car Assessment Program crash testing, Mr Smith said an examination is likely soon, and he expects a strong result given the Musso’s high levels of safety equipment including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) as standard.

“We’re working with ANCAP right now with a view to working with whatever they need to do to get an ANCAP crash score,” he said. “We've been engaged with them since December.

“They've asked us to grab some information and we’re reporting back to them. We've got a very strong development plan on all their models and we're working very closely with ANCAP to do whatever it takes to get a result as quickly as possible.”

Like the existing Musso line-up, all XLV versions are powered by a 2.2-litre e-XDi220 turbo-diesel engine that outputs 133kW of power at 4000rpm and 420Nm of torque from 1600-2600rpm that is fed to a four-wheel-drive system with a locking differential.

Fuel consumption is rated at 8.2 litres per 100km for the manual, while automatic versions sip 8.9L/100km. Respectively, carbon dioxide emissions are pegged at 215 and 233 grams per kilometre.

Underpinning the new Musso XLV is the same multi-link coil spring rear suspension as the SWB version, however a heavy-duty leaf spring set-up is fitted to LWB ELX grades.

As such, the leaf-spring-equipped Musso ELX features a maximum payload of 1020kg, as well as 17-inch wheels wrapped in heavy-duty tyres, compared with the 800kg payload and 18-inch hoops of the multi-link Ultimate and Ultimate Plus.

Maximum braked trailer load is rated at 3500kg in all Musso XLV versions.

With its 310mm-longer tray, the Musso XLV offers 1262 litres of cargo volume, 251L up from the SWB version’s 1011L capacity.

The XLV also sports a 110mm longer wheelbase, at 3210mm, while overall length is 5405mm (+310mm) and height reaches 1855mm (+15mm) compared with the SWB Musso.

Standard equipment includes push-button start, keyless entry, a multi-function steering wheel, a four-speaker sound system, front foglights, fabric seats and an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with radio, Bluetooth, USB connectivity and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

Stepping up to the mid-tier Ultimate adds daytime running lights, a 7.0-inch driver display, a six-speaker stereo, a leather-wrapped tiller and shifter, heated/ventilated front seats, and Enduro-Lite finished pews.

Finally, the Ultimate Plus grades gains an electrochromatic rearview mirror, a telescoping steering column, full-leather interior and electronically adjustable front pews.

Safety gear in ELX grades extend to cruise control, automatic headlights and wipers, six airbags, AEB, driver fatigue monitor and lane departure warning, while Ultimate variants gain tyre pressure monitoring, front and rear park assist, blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert.

LED headlights and a surround-view monitor are exclusive to the top-spec Musso XLV Ultimate Plus.

Exterior colour options include Silky White Pearl, Grand White, Fine Silver, Space Black, Marble Grey, Indian Red, Atlantic Blue and Maroon Brown.

As standard, the Musso XLV interior is finished in black, though brown can be ordered as a special option.

Ultimate Plus buyers can also option a sunroof and 20-inch wheels for $2000 apiece, or bundle both together for $3000.

2019 SsangYong Musso XLV pricing*

*Driveaway