The updated SsangYong/KG Mobility Musso dual-cab ute has been leaked undisguised ahead of an expected Australian launch this year.
Photos shared on Korean site Autospy show the updated Musso in a showroom, revealing its updated interior and exterior.
SsangYong Australia says a local launch for the updated Musso hasn’t been finalised, but is estimated for a release during the fourth quarter of 2023.
The company also hasn’t confirmed whether it will follow the Korean market in adopting the Culmen suffix for the Musso. This new name has been tacked onto the existing Rexton Sports (Musso) and Rexton Sports Khan (Musso XLV) nameplates there.
Photos show different wheel designs plus a revised front end with a closer resemblance to the related Rexton SUV.
The grille is more squared-off than before, with an Audi-like shape. There are new headlights with little cube-like elements. The current Musso offers a choice of halogen or HID headlights, while the new units appear to use LEDs.
The most prominent changes are found inside the cabin, with a redesigned dashboard ditching the embedded infotainment touchscreen for a larger, free-standing unit atop the dash. The related Rexton 4×4 SUV is also set to get these interior updates in the near future.
There’s a new pod for the climate controls, which appears to include touch-capacitive switchgear.
The air vents have been repositioned. They’re all horizontally oriented now, and a chrome trim strip gives them a “hidden” appearance – a design motif that has become increasingly common in 2023.
USB-A outlets have been replaced with USB-C ones, though the old-fashioned gated shifter remains.
This will be the second facelift for the current-generation Musso, following a 2021 update that brought a more imposing front end.
A subsequent update brought a raft of changes, only some of which were introduced to Australia.
For 2022, the Australian-market Musso gained a new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, plus detail changes like body-coloured door handles and LED interior lighting.
However, we missed out on a new 150kW/441Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine and an electric power steering set-up that brought adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist and active lane-centring.
SsangYong Australia confirmed the new engine available in Korea, which brings the Musso in line with the updated Rexton in terms of power and torque, requires Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) – also known as AdBlue.
“DEF requires an additional tank, this takes up space in the spare wheel area to the point where a full-size spare wheel cannot be fitted,” a company spokesperson told CarExpert last year.
“SsangYong Australia continually reviews model pricing position versus competitors prior to making any changes. This ensures we continue to offer value for money on a spec adjusted basis against other brands.”
Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest.
