Category Archives: Pick-up/4×4

Pick-up/4x4, SsangYong

Workhorse with a touch of class

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SsangYong Musso

By Bill McCarthy

It says something about the road presence of a vehicle when someone sees you drive into a car park and then follows you to question you about it. The latest incarnation of SsangYong’s Musso had exactly that effect.

The Musso is not exactly a newcomer in the pick-up sector, which are very much in vogue as a lifestyle vehicle as well as doing what they were originally designed for – to be a workhorse.

But now, particularly in the double cab format of this range-topping model, they offer car like driving manners, high-levels of comfort for five and reasonable running costs.

The high-torque engine also means towing capability is equally impressive with a 3.5 tonne capacity. It has a one tonne payload and the the cargo bay is designed to accept a standard sized pallet, so commercially it ticks those boxes.

The rear can feature a covered top, or in this case, a roller which encases the payload bay.

This latest model now offers more power and improved economy. The four trim level includes EX, Rebel and Saracen (all SWB) and Rhino (LWB)

The SWB accommodates includes load-liner and tie-down hooks, while the LWB has the longest and largest load area in the UK market

It also boasts the highest combined total load capacity for any pick-up on sale in the UK.

If you want to attract the lifestyle set, it needs to look good and it does, with its imposing grille and headlights, daytime running lights, and striking alloy wheels, it looks the part

The interior also looks good, is well equipped and has high levels of comfort including napa leather upholstery on this model.

Premium touches also include heated steering wheel, and electrically operated, heated and ventilated front seats and the best rear seat legroom in the pick-up segment.

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This model also offers auto lights and climate control, rain sensing wipers, heated electrically operated front seats and, critically, a reversing camera, a godsend with a vehicle of this size.

A colour touchscreen the centrepiece and controls navigation, sound system and connectivity, via Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto. It also displays the TomTom navigation and reversing camera where available.

The engine is also impressive, the 2.2 litre diesel is also available in the Rexton and now has an output of 202PS and plenty of torque to go with it – 400Nm in fact – which gives excellent pulling power across the range. With a claimed mpg of approach just over 31mpg, it is reasonable on fuel.

Mated to a six speed auto box it displayed excellent car-like road manners thanks to the coil spring rears suspension normally found on cars. It feels refined with little noise intrusion into the cabin, but can feel unsettled if taking a corner too quickly.

It has proven off-road capability and can tackle all but the roughest of rough stuff, but with a choice of two wheel and high and low ratio all wheel drive, it should be more than capable in most off-road  situations.

It’s an impressive motor that’s for sure and perhaps the most tempting aspect, apart from the five-year, 100,000 mile warranty is the price.

The base EX starts at just under £30k inclusive of VAT. Difficult to beat.

Factfile

SsangYong Musso Saracen 4WD auto 

Price: £38,643 including VAT

Mechanical: 202PS, 2,157cc, four cylinder diesel engine driving all wheels via 6-speed auto gearbox

Max Speed: 116mph

Max payload: 1,050kg

Trailer capacity: 3,500kg

Combined MPG: 31.5

C02 emissions: 236g/km

Warranty: 5yrs/unlimited miles

Isuzu, Pick-up/4x4

Stylish and practical pick-up

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Isuzu D-Max V-Cross

By Bill McCarthy

When it comes to pick-ups, it’s no longer just how capable the vehicle is off road, although that is pretty vital in most cases.

But these days it’s as much about the catwalk as the dirt track.  I have said before that the Isuzu is an impossibly stylish pick-up and nothing in the latest version has altered my opinion.

Obviously, there are model grades offering different levels of comfort, trim and equipment, not to mention double cab, extended cab, single cab, open top or closed cargo bay.

But the double cab is surely the most appealing of this dual-purpose vehicle with its five seat arrangement and comfort to match most family saloons.

But it’s unusual for a range-topper, like the V-Cross driven here, to be the best selling version of a particular model.

Maybe that is not surprising as it clearly is a dual purpose vehicle, offering off-road ruggedness and impressive load capacity, married to car-like comfort, surprising economy and an attractive purchase price when you take into account standard equipment. This range topper will set you back £33,849 plus VAT.       

Thanks to its upgraded suspension, 3.5t towing capacity, shift-on-the-fly 4WD system with locking rear differential and one-tonne-plus payload, it now offers even more than ever, with high-end interior and plenty of standard equipment.

Clearly its workhorse credentials are self evident. But addressing practical problems, such as boot capacity for family items such as shopping and household goods on this open back version, needs a bit of creativity while still allowing for transporting  the likes of pallets, fence panels or bags of cement.

Netting strapped to lashing points and investing in a metal roll top could be one answer.

It looks the part decked out with gunmetal grey bold new grille and running plates, together with colour-coded door mirrors and bumpers. It also features LED lights, day time running lights and a clever damped tailgate on the open cab.

It sits on snazzy 18-inch six-spoke alloys with tyres, designed for off-road, but more than capable of delivering a reasonably comfortable ride on-road,

The double cab means five are carried in reasonable comfort and major functions are operated via a nine-inch touchscreen, while a 4.2 inch display gives vital driver information. 

Other features include eight speaker sound system, push button starter, auto dimming mirror, dual zone climate control and  multi-function steering wheel.

The roomy interior also features powered and heated, multi adjustable leather-style seats and V-Cross branded mats.

Also included is a raft of safety kit and, importantly for such a long vehicle, rear camera. It  is the only pickup in the UK to have a rear radar fitted as standard on all double cab variants together with rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitor and emergency lane keeping.

The vehicle is powered by a 1.9 litre diesel engine, with auto transmission and on-the-fly capability of selecting four wheel drive. The firm says it is built to endure the harshest conditions, with a 250mm ground clearance and no compromise on vehicle handling and stability.

The 162bhp engine is more than capable of delivering the grunt needed for serious off-road work, while at the same time offering enough pace on road to more than cope with both general and motorway driving. Economy is surprisingly good with a claimed 36-odd mpg seeming pretty much near the mark.

The modified suspension means it can cope with extreme terrains, but does not make you feel seasick when on flat roads. Although you cannot escape some wallow on corners, it is surprisingly agile for such a big beast. 

In addition there is the 125,000 mile/five-year warranty and five-year roadside assistance to offer quite a tempting package.

Factfile

Isuzu D-Max V-Cross Double Cab Auto

Price: £40,549 inc VAT

Mechanical: 162bhp, 1,989cc, four-cylinder diesel engine driving four wheels via six-speed auto gearbox

Max speed: 112mph

0-62mph: 12.7 seconds

Combined mpg: 30.7

Insurance group: 50

CO2 emissions: 241g/km

BIK rating: 37 per cent

Warranty: 5yrs/125,000 miles