SsangYong launched the Musso pickup in 2018. It’s recently undergone another facelift with a long-wheelbase (LWB) version being added to the range. The Musso is available in four specs; the entry-level Ex, the Rebel, the higher-spec Saracen and the new LWB Ssang Young Musso Rhino, which is the one we have on test.

SsangYong Musso Rhino

From the front, it certainly looks like a beast, with its massive bumper, black grille and bonnet. The ruggedness is paired with sleek, modern lights and 17in alloy wheels. From the side, the Rhino looks a bit low slung at the back and rather like an estate car with the roof cut off. I would prefer it with a canopy. But it has a reasonable ground clearance at 220mm — lower, certainly, than some competitors but it should be adequate for a few off-piste adventures.

Underneath are glimpses of the independent front suspension, ladder chassis and new quad-framed body. At the back the Ssang Young Musso Rhinocomes with old-fashioned leaf springs and the running gear looks suitably rugged.

A 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel engine has, like the exterior, been given a bit of a makeover. The South Korean maker has found an extra 20hp and an extra bit of torque, so it now gallops out 202 tiny horses and produces 441Nm of torque. The Rhino boasts a towing weight of 3.5 tonnes, while being able to carry a tonne, so on paper it’s a proper workhorse.

The LWB Rhino has a six-speed automatic gearbox connecting the engine to 4×4 running gear, which has three settings — the usual two-high, four-high and low settings, plus a further three drive settings; Power, Eco and Winter. The mighty Rhino has a top speed of 114mph.

Opening the tailgate, it looks pretty impressive and there’s room for more than 30 bags of wheat with space to spare. From a keeper’s perspective, it’s enough room for a full pallet and toolboxes. It’s quite refreshing being able to climb up into the back and not need a stepladder, although the sides are industry-standard high.

Plush

The SsangYong Musso Rhino is rather plush and comfortable inside. An understated dash features high-tech instruments and fancy infotainment system. Most importantly, the child seat is relatively faff-free to fit and the big doors make life easy. It has all the latest safety and driver aids but at a pleasing minimum; everything is user-friendly and it feels like a smart SUV rather than a pickup. (Read more 4×4 reviews here.)

My moon-surfaced driveway was the first test and it was relatively bouncy reversing out, but that’s to be expected. Pulling out on to the main road was somewhere between sedate and relaxed but, once out of first gear, the Rhino pulled quite nicely. It was smooth rather than full-on. It soon rattled through the six-speed gearbox and on an even road it felt very comfortable.

On the country lanes, there was a slight jarring from the front suspension going over the bumps, and hitting consecutive potholes sent the front into a mild pogo effect. I can’t make my mind up if the damping is slightly soft or if the angle of the front suspension is off. But the Rhino handled the twisty back roads well and was relatively nimble, with minimal boatiness.

The rutted shoot yard track was handled with ease, and turning sharply into the meadow gave the suspension a bit of a workout. Selecting four-high and Winter mode, I set off to the wet wood to feed up. The Rhino dealt with the ruts and potholes in the grass track well and it was a relatively smooth ride through the wood. Traction was good and the suspension got to use its full travel; it felt better than it did on tarmac. The change from grass to rough track was child’s play as I moved through the tight chestnut avenue to the next wood.

The SsangYong Musso Rhino did get a bit wobbly going over the harder potholes but the suspension dealt with it reasonably well, albeit with a mild bit of knocking. The rutted muddy track through the wood was also dealt with well and I was impressed with the overall handling of the vehicle and lack of slipping and sliding.

The next morning I decided to test out the Rhino’s pulling power, so hooking up the converted horsebox to chauffeur the beaters around seemed the perfect test. The beaters were quite enthusiastic about it too. Setting off out of the yard’s potholed driveway, other than the clattering noise, I didn’t really notice the trailer. Likewise, pulling out on to the main road was just as smooth.

On reaching the first drive, the beaters commented on how smooth and quiet it was being towed by the Rhino. Towing up the slightly wet grass incline was smooth and effortless and, although the Rhino is a long old girl, reversing was relatively stress-free. All in all, I can see the Musso becoming a pretty regularly feature among those in the working countryside.

Conclusion

The long wheelbase SsangYong Musso Rhino is a good all-rounder. It’s comfortable inside with a good level of kit. The suspension could do with a little bit of fettling but on the whole it’s not a bad ride. The workhorse capabilities of the Rhino are pretty impressive; towing and loading are very good and it’s competent off-road but an extra 10mm or 15mm ground clearance would be appreciated.

It’s a good effort from SsangYong and I like the changes it has made. There’s still room for further improvement but it’s certainly moving in the right direction. The full spec LWB Rhino has an on-the-road price of £39,543 including VAT, which is fairly competitive against other manufacturers and feels pretty good value for money.

Need to know

• Manufacturer SsangYong
• Model Musso Rhino Long Wheelbase
• Power 202bhp 441Nm of torque
• Top speed 114mph
• Emissions CO2 245g/km
• Economy Low 24.2mpg Medium 21.2mpg High 34.9mpg Combined 30.2mpg
• Ground clearance 220mm
• Towing weight braked 3,500kg Unbraked 750kg