Pickup trucks are popular outside of America. The 2023 Musso midsize pickup is South Korea’s SsangYong entry targeting the Europe/Asia-equivalent Nissan Frontier, Ford Ranger, and Toyota Tacoma. Though it has been around since 2018, this body-on-frame pickup is virtually unknown in the U.S. Its latest revisions and the EV concept recently revealed at the 2023 Seoul Motor Show make the Musso another pickup we’d like to see stateside. 

What engine and features does the SsangYong Musso come with?

The latest iteration, the Saracen+, adds a one-foot-longer bed, larger 18-inch wheels, and many black accents. It also features the usual safety and driver-assistance systems. In the cab, Nappa leather seats kick up the Premium trim, and a 9.2-inch screen has TomTom navigation. Those are new additions above the base EX. The mid-range Rebel trim features an 8.0-inch screen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. 

Diesel engines are still big outside the States, as are pickup trucks in South Korea, and that’s what powers the Musso. In fact, it’s the only engine available. A 2.2-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel puts out 200 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual and an automatic transmission are available. 

Does the Musso pickup have an EV option?

Just because the truck has only an oil burner for power doesn’t mean the automaker isn’t looking ahead. This week, SsangYong, soon to be rebranded as KG Mobility, unveiled three EV concepts, including an electric Musso. The company transformed a fairly straightforward midsize truck into a legit rival to the myriad midsize pickups seemingly every automaker is developing. 

The fascia of the “0100,” though similar to the production Musso, gets the squint-eye LED headlights and other changes that really spice things up. Lower body cladding ties into the lower fascia, integrating steps but also visually bulking up the side profile in a good way. Blended into the cladding are requisite black fender flares that also truck up the overall presentation. 

It doesn’t have a significant lift, though it does sport off-road tires. But you can imagine this truck lifted with a more aggressive wheel/tire addition that visually screams off-road capability. A faux flat black roll bar integrates a roof rack. 

How much power does the SsangYong Musso EV have?

Power comes from its Torres EVK EV crossover, the UK’s Autocar reports. With a 73.4-kWh battery, this electric truck gets about 310 miles of range. And front- or four-wheel drive can be engaged by switching off the motor driving the rear. Equipped with specific options, this EV can harness over 400 hp. 

Is it coming to the U.S.?

SsangYong/KG Mobility says the Musso EV will be in production by the first part of 2025. By then, we expect it will also feature a new or highly-revised exterior. 

With so many startups in the EV arena, the Musso’s parent company has been around for years and has its manufacturing, marketing, and development in place and ongoing. To that end, it seems a likely automaker for the U.S. Whether that happens is doubtful for now, especially with the chicken tax and other federal restrictions on trucks and EVs. Still, the Musso offers an EV choice in an open field for electric midsize pickups.