With the chance to pitch our pick-up next to a matching model, Ted Welford jumps at the opportunity.

In previous reports, I’ve mentioned how few other SsangYong Mussos seem to be on the roads. I can easily count the number I’ve seen on one hand.

But whether or not driving one makes you notice them more, I’ve begun to see a few others crop up locally. But you can imagine my surprise when I was contacted by a customer (my other job is working as a car valeter) looking to have their SsangYong Musso cleaned.

Now, because I’m quite sad like this, I hadn’t looked forward to having a car in to clean for some time, not least because it would be my first chance to compare ‘my’ long-wheelbase Musso with the standard model. I was even more surprised when it was dropped off for it to be in the same Indian Red paint colour.

The longer bed on the one truck proves slightly more useful

So, essentially the only real difference between the two models is 30cm added to the load bed – increasing roominess significantly. And parked side by side, there isn’t that much difference in the way they look, though you do notice how compact the bed of the standard version is.

Then there are the spec differences. As it seems mandatory for a pick-up to have a brutish name, the long-wheelbase Musso is known as a ‘Rhino’, meanwhile, the one I was cleaning was a ‘Saracen’ – the highest spec on offer with the standard truck.

The pair are near-identical when viewed from the back

But on top of the additional length, there are differences between the two. For example, the Saracen comes with larger 18-inch alloy wheels (painted black here), along with upgraded lighting comprising of LED daytime running lights that also serve as indicators. That’s a touch I think makes the Musso look as more modern, as halogens all around on ‘my’ Rhino can make it feel a little dated. This other SsangYong has also had extra chrome added onto as an option, which I reckon makes it look better, though not everyone will agree.

Aside from that, though, the changes are few and far between – as aside from this other truck being a manual (the Rhino is an automatic), the only real spec differences are that the longer wheelbase model gets additional safety kit, dual-zone climate control and VIP shuttle-like tints for the back windows.

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