"Original K Pickup Truck", KGM Musso is back [Star test drive]

*This content was translated by AI.

KG Mobility's new pickup truck Musso, which follows Rexton Sports, has been tested. Developed under the project name Q300, KGM Musso is the latest in Ssangyong Musso Sports, which debuted in 2002. The key points are the addition of a 2.2L diesel engine and a 2.0L gasoline engine to the lineup and the improvement of styling and various convenience specifications. I went back and forth between Seoul and Paju to examine the value of this car.

As I have experienced almost all pickup trucks since Ssangyong days, I was most curious about the KGM Musso equipped with a 2.0L gasoline engine. This is because it is the first time that KGM Musso has a gasoline engine.

The exterior was examined before the test drive of the lined KGM Musso. The exterior design has no deviation at all. However, the gasoline version has a lower gear stick and a wider electronic one indoors, while the diesel version is the one previously used by Rexton and is relatively longer and larger above. The change in the four-wheel and two-wheel drive function is the same as turning a rotary, but the design difference was made. There are no other changes in mind.

Rather, the change point is more noticeable on the deck. We added more hook points to keep the luggage on top of it and not to shake, and the LED lamps that illuminate the truck bed were also reflected on the left and right. The truck cover should be purchased additionally in the bellows type. The way to open and close the trunk still requires you to press the physical button hard with your hand, but it doesn't fall off with a "thump," but you seemed to need more space. The basic application of the rear bumper corner step and LD system was quite a welcome choice. However, I wonder what the intent was for excessive garnish on the left and right fenders or trunk decks.

The front design stands out from a distance with an intense LED DRL. The design arrangement in which dark colors are bright downwards and lamps are raised up gives the effect of making the car look higher. This method is the same for the back. In the meantime, it has been placed much higher than the lamps of KGM pickup trucks such as Actian-Corando-Rexton.

The interior feels calmer compared to the previous Rexton Khan. The soon-tracked dashboard gives tension, but the smooth seats and the touch of the steering wheel were good to find calm again. In addition, traces of concern are clearly felt in the material sector, such as reflecting piano finishes and suede in the middle of plastic materials. It is regrettable that the second row of reclining is not possible, but the sense of space, field of view, and the composition of materials and convenience equipment were convincing.

When I start the engine, I feel surprisingly quiet first. Diesel engines are also quieter than feared, but KGM Musso with gasoline engines is much quieter than that. KGM Musso's gasoline engine is a turbo engine with a maximum power of 217 horsepower, with a maximum torque of 38.7 kg.m from 1,750 rpm to 4,000 rpm. In addition to this, the eight-stage AT of ISIN was combined. Compared to KGM Musso Diesel, horsepower is 15 horsepower and torque is 6.3kg.m lower.

This figure is virtually insignificant enough to be barely felt. Of course, the test drive was not carried out with luggage loaded, but it is only a numerical difference that is difficult to feel the ride or output. Rather, the length of the deck or the difference between the 5-link suspension and the leaf suspension creates a performance difference that can be felt by the driver. Leaf suspensions with simple load support structures are suitable for slightly heavier and heavier loads, and 5-link suspensions are suitable for more casual purposes.

This diversification of options is certainly a point that can differentiate it from Kia Tasman. This is the result of KGM's painstaking efforts to overcome the limitation of body-on-frame body structure and somehow differentiate it from competitors.

Driving performance is a typical driving sensation seen in body-on-frame cars. Depending on the condition of the road surface, the impact and noise that hit the room remain the same, but not enough to feel bad. The responsiveness of the engine is also not much different from that of the previous generation. However, the 2.0 gasoline KGM Musso showed off its presence by pushing the body to the end even at a considerable speed. The handling was more generous than a typical car, and the braking force had to be distanced from the front so that the weight of the vehicle could be felt intact.

Factors that consumers have fixed and refined through the aftermarket after purchasing, such as LD systems, side steps, and rear bumper corner steps, were also reflected in the marketability of new cars. I've lowered prices, diversified powertrains and suspensions, and even made a long deck version to combat the Kia that made Tasman. From Ssangyong Motor's Musso Sports to KGM Musso... The company's efforts to study Korean pickup trucks over the past 25 years prove that the width and depth are considerable.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.