The SsangYong Musso, now sold as the KGM Musso, is a mid-size SUV and pickup produced since 1993 by the South Korean maker known today as KG Mobility. The original SUV was a result of collaboration between SsangYong and Daimler-Benz, was styled by Ken Greenley, and was built from 1993 to 2005 alongside the Musso Sports double-cab pickup.
SsangYong Musso at a glance
| Maker | SsangYong Motor (now KG Mobility), South Korea |
|---|---|
| SUV production | 1993–2005 |
| Pickup production | 2002–2006 (Musso Sports) |
| Designer | Ken Greenley |
| Petrol engines | 2.3 M111 four; 2.8 and 3.2 M104 sixes |
| Diesel engines | 2.3 OM601 and 2.9 OM602, turbo intercooler from 1997 |
| Drive | four-wheel drive with off-road tyres |
| Seats | five, with a rare folding third row for seven |
| Awards | Auto Design Award, Birmingham, 1994 and 1996 |
| Rally | winner of the Rallye des Pharaons 4WD class, October 1994 |
| New Musso pickup | Q200 from 2018; Q300 from December 2025 |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the SsangYong Musso. The record catalogued as ‘Ssangyong 2.9’ is the 2.9-litre diesel version described here.
History of the SsangYong Musso
Origins
The Musso SUV was developed in collaboration with Daimler-Benz and styled by the British designer Ken Greenley. First produced in 1993, it was offered with a 2.8 or 3.2-litre Mercedes-Benz M104 straight six, a 2.3-litre M111 four, or 2.3 and 2.9-litre four- and five-cylinder Mercedes-Benz OM601 and OM602 diesels, naturally aspirated or with turbo intercooler from 1997. A facelifted version appeared in 1998.
Reputation
The car won the Auto Design Award at the Birmingham Auto Show in 1994 and 1996 and was known for its off-road ability: in October 1994 it won the Rallye des Pharaons for four-wheel-drive vehicles. It seated five, with a folding trunk seat available in rare models for seven, and its wheels and tyres were chosen for off-road driving like those of its smaller sibling, the Korando.
Built under licence
The Musso was assembled in several countries. In Iran it was produced as the Musso by Morattab Khodro from 2003, and in Vietnam it was sold by Mekong Auto Corporation from 1997 to 2005. In Britain SsangYong built it from 1995 until 1999, when Daewoo Motors took over and rebranded it as the Daewoo Musso with a new front grille; the Daewoo version was also sold in Germany and lasted until the second half of 2002. From 2008 to 2011 the TagAZ plant in Taganrog, Russia, built it as the TagAZ Road Partner, facelifted in 2009.
Musso Sports
The P100 Musso Sports, a double-cab pickup version of the SUV, was produced from 2002 to 2006 with a Mercedes-Benz-designed engine, gearbox and five seats. Later models added a turbo diesel option as well as a canopy, ‘fins’, extra tail lights, chrome trim and an extra row of wheels to carry more weight. An ‘Ssangyong 2.9’ car of the period is one of the 2.9-litre five-cylinder diesel versions.
The Musso returns
At the 2018 Geneva Motor Show SsangYong revealed a new pickup under the Musso nameplate, the Q200, built on a new body-on-frame platform shared with the Rexton. It was offered with a 225 hp 2.0-litre e-XGDI 200T petrol turbo or a 181 hp 2.2-litre e-XDI 220 diesel, two- or part-time four-wheel drive, an AISIN six-speed automatic or six-speed manual, and five-link suspension with an optional locking differential. In Australia the long-wheelbase XLV used rear leaf springs, and in Britain the long-wheelbase model was called the Musso Rhino. It carried six airbags and a smart safety system with autonomous emergency braking, blind spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert. The Rexton Sports Culmen concept of May 2023 previewed a facelift, and the Q300 series arrived in Korea in December 2025.
Design and features
- Daimler-Benz collaboration: Mercedes-Benz engines and a Ken Greenley body gave the Musso a European flavour.
- Off-road record: a class win in the 1994 Rallye des Pharaons.
- Two body styles: the SUV and the Musso Sports double-cab pickup shared mechanicals.
- Modern revival: the 2018 Q200 pickup used a high-strength-steel body-on-frame platform shared with the Rexton.
SsangYong Musso versions
- Musso SUV (1993–2005): the original five-door, facelifted in 1998.
- Musso 2.9 diesel: five-cylinder Mercedes OM602, turbo intercooled from 1997.
- Daewoo Musso (1995–2002): British and German market version with a Daewoo grille.
- Musso Sports P100 (2002–2006): double-cab pickup.
- TagAZ Road Partner (2008–2011): Russian licence-built SUV.
- Musso Q200 pickup (from 2018): new body-on-frame truck, sold as Rexton Sports in Korea.
- Musso Q300 (from December 2025): the second modern generation.
The Musso was replaced by the Actyon and shared its platform with the Rexton. More models are in the SsangYong collection.
Video: SsangYong Musso 4×4 off-road
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- SsangYong Musso, English Wikipedia: history, engines, licence production, modern pickup
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