2026 KGM Musso EV assessment

For many years now, Australians have been aware of the SsangYong Musso identify.

What started as a price different to different off-road SUVs of the Nineties – profitable many over with the promise of a diesel engine (licensed) from Mercedes-Benz – was later reborn as a dual-cab ute.

SsangYong’s popularity struggled on account of high quality points with the ageing Musso ute, regardless of the second-generation mannequin – launched 12 years after the primary model was axed – punching properly above its weight.

It took one of the best a part of a decade, however patrons finally started trusting the Musso identify, with the spacious and well-equipped dual-cab providing a aggressive bundle – beating out many Japanese utes in addition to newcomers from China.

However years of monetary turmoil for the Korean model finally led to it being bought by the KG Group, and resulting in the automaker being renamed as KG Mobility – or KGM for brief.

Now, the KGM Musso EV ute is likely one of the first fashions to reach because the firm started its new period, although it’s clear this newest technology of fashions had been in improvement behind the scenes lengthy earlier than the takeover and rebrand.

The 2026 KGM Musso EV is now the most affordable electrical dual-cab ute on sale in Australia, and is offered with both front- or all-wheel drive. The range-topping AWD variant is on take a look at right here.

Like many within the trade, we’re eager to seek out out whether or not the brand new Musso EV might help usher in a brand new age of prosperity for KGM, and proceed to ship worth for Australian ute patrons.

How a lot does the KGM Musso EV price?

As talked about, the KGM Musso EV is at present the most affordable electrical ute on sale in Australia – nevertheless, it’s not clear how lengthy it is going to proceed to carry that title, with a number of rivals on the horizon.

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What’s the KGM Musso EV like on the within?

Probably the most spectacular issues in regards to the outgoing diesel-powered SsangYong Musso was its cabin, which provided a a lot bigger area for occupants than its Japanese rivals, together with high-quality switchgear and supplies.

So it’s curious that KGM has determined to maneuver ahead with a smaller cabin for the Musso EV. Whereas monetary causes had been little doubt behind the choice, it does come throughout as a deliberate transfer by the South Korean automaker – turning its again on a significant promoting characteristic of the Musso and positioning the Musso EV as extra of a life-style ute.

However whereas the outdated Musso was fairly bland inside, the brand new electrical model is vibrant, trendy, and clearly attempting to play on the identical degree as its home rivals, Hyundai and Kia.

Inside, a double-wide display combines a 12.3-inch infotainment centre with an equivalent digital instrument cluster, with a lot of the automobile’s controls being accessed through the touchscreen. Buttons are saved to an absolute minimal.

It might look trendy and edgy in footage, however the hexagonal-shaped steering wheel doesn’t work as properly in the actual world. Vehicles have been part of trendy life for over a century now, and we actually don’t must be actually reinventing the wheel, guys.

With the battery positioned underneath the seats, the driving force and passenger sit noticeably larger than the outside proportions would recommend. Nevertheless, the seats are snug, and the seat heating does come on sturdy – a pleasure on these chilly, early mornings.

There may be additionally ample headroom for these with ample heads, although ergonomics aren’t nearly as good as within the older diesel mannequin.

Some issues inside do really feel just a little undercooked. Whereas the diesel Musso felt stable and well-built, the brand new electrical ute has a less expensive, hole feeling to the sprint and inside. Prefer it was created and manufactured to a price range, which it little doubt was.

Improvement appears like it could have been rushed by. For instance, the cupholders, which received’t sufficiently maintain a big McDonald’s drink. Perhaps KGM’s engineers are simply wholesome eaters, but it surely looks as if an oversight.

Equally, the rear windscreen sits at simply the precise angle so it displays tail-lights from the automobile forward again onto your individual entrance windscreen. In different phrases, when sitting at an intersection, greater than as soon as we had crimson brake lights projected immediately into our eyeline, like some type of big warning gentle from the head-up show. Very distracting and doubtlessly harmful.

Maybe worst of all, the Musso EV solely comes with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. At a time when even the most affordable automobiles on sale have wi-fi smartphone connectivity, not together with it on a $60k ute isn’t actually acceptable by any measure.

For these relegated to the second row, there’s sufficient room for a few adults to stay snug, although it’s actually not as roomy or as snug because the older Musso – however for many, it is going to absolutely do the job, and the laid-back angle of the seats will make longer drives bearable.

Whole payload is an honest 902kg for the 2WD mannequin, dropping to 805kg within the AWD car. Dump some weight within the again although, and the automobile’s self-levelling suspension will assist hold the entrance from pointing up on the sky.

To see how the KGM Musso EV traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument

What’s underneath the bonnet?

Patrons get a alternative of front-wheel drive or dual-motor all-wheel drive, with both 152kW of energy and 339Nm of torque, or 266kW and 630Nm respectively.

There’s only one battery out there, with the 80.6kWh pack providing 420km of vary for the 2WD mannequin, or 380km for the AWD.

KGM claims the Musso EV can recharge from 20 to 80 per cent in just a little over half-hour on a 300kW DC fast-charger, although discovering a plug with that a lot oomph in Australia could possibly be a problem.

One clear benefit with the Musso EV is its vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging functionality, which permits homeowners to make use of the car to energy 240V electrical home equipment like energy instruments and tenting gear, and even the family fridge when you’re in a blackout.

How does the KGM Musso EV drive?

There’s so much to love in terms of driving the Musso EV, which is predicated on the forthcoming electrical SUV from the model, giving it a fairly composed and simple character on the street.

Nevertheless, that character is comparatively far faraway from the industrial flavour of the earlier mannequin it shares a reputation with.

Strategy it with the identical type of expectations, and also you could be disillusioned.

By comparability, the brand new Musso doesn’t come throughout as a robust off-roader or powerful tradie car. No, that is extra akin to a life-style car – a household hauler that can be utilized for Bunnings journeys on the weekend.

It may be a jarring thought to an Aussie ute lover, however the life-style ute phase is sort of common in North America, with the likes of the Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick discovering a robust following there.

And there’s an upside, which is that the Musso EV doesn’t deal with like an off-road ute with a ladder-frame chassis. (Until, after all, that’s what you’re after…)

The electrical KGM ute has much better on-road manners, with gentle inputs and an SUV-like journey. Albeit the kind of journey consolation you’d count on from a less expensive mid-size SUV.

Efficiency isn’t mind-blowing, but it surely’s not dangerous general. The Musso feels prefer it’s maybe missing in torque on take-off – although which may be extra to do with pedal mapping – however as soon as it will get going, there’s an honest movement of energy on faucet.

That off-the-line response, or lack thereof, is exacerbated by the auto brake holding – which comes on when the ute is delivered to a cease – which means there’s a slight delay between squeezing the throttle and the automobile releasing the brakes. We’re speaking tenths of a second, but it surely feels extra apparent in apply.

Having mentioned that, the AWD doesn’t really feel particularly quick, regardless of the wholesome energy figures from having two electrical motors in comparison with the 2WD mannequin – virtually doubling efficiency.

Think about if the 2WD Toyota HiLux had one 2.8-litre turbo-diesel underneath the bonnet, and the 4×4 model had a second 2.8-litre engine mounted within the tub. It’s a hilarious thought, however that’s basically what KGM has accomplished with the AWD Musso EV. Besides you don’t lose load capability within the tub.

Again within the Musso EV, we had been just a little unimpressed with the shift selector. On multiple event, we tried to pick park whereas in reverse, and it didn’t register. One other time, it wouldn’t instantly back down from park, then it wouldn’t return into park from reverse. It was all just a little sluggish to reply and irritating when it wouldn’t give me the gear I wished.

That mentioned, the lane-keep help works properly, and the vitality recuperation on deceleration seems, on first look not less than, to be fairly properly calibrated.

To see how the KGM Musso EV traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument

What do you get?

With only one tools specification out there from KGM, the lineup is basically the identical no matter what you go for.

2026 KGM Musso EV 2WD normal tools highlights:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• LED headlights, tail-lights and DRLs
• Computerized high-beam
• Self-levelling rear suspension
• Twin-zone local weather management
• 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Leatherette upholstery
• 8-way energy entrance seats with energy driver seat lumbar
• Sliding, folding, reclining and 60/40-split rear seats
• Heated entrance and rear outer seats
• Ventilated entrance seats
• Ambient inside lighting
• Leather-based-trimmed and heated steering wheel
• Heated, power-adjustable and power-folding door mirrors
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Wi-fi telephone charger
• Sturdy rear tub liner with lighting and bumper nook steps

2026 KGM Musso EV 2WD Black Edge provides:

• Leather-based and suede seat trim
• Suede head restraints and door trim part
• Black 17-inch alloy wheels
• Black exterior highlights:
  • Bonnet garnish
  • Door mirrors
  • Tailgate badge
  • Sail airplane
  • Entrance bumper trim
  • C-pillar emblem
• Black steering wheel bezel
• Darkish woodgrain sprint trim

Each the bottom 2WD and the AWD flagship come normal with ‘Black Leather-based Look’ inside trim, whereas the 2WD Black Edge has ‘Black Leather-based & Suede’ trim.

Grand White is the one normal exterior paint color, with all metallic hues attracting a $700 surcharge. The Black Edge is barely out there with Grand White paint and Area Black metallic.

Metallic finishes embrace:

• Area Black
• Blazing Gold
• Marble Gray
• Extremely Marine
• Amazonia Marine

To see how the KGM Musso EV traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument

Is the KGM Musso EV secure?

The KGM Musso EV has but to be examined by ANCAP or its sister organisation, Euro NCAP.

Commonplace security tools consists of:

• Adaptive cruise management
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Lane-keep help
• Entrance Automobile Begin Alert (FVSA)
• Multi-collision braking
• Trailer Stability Help (TSA)
• Entrance and rear parking sensors
• Encompass-view digicam with 3D view
• Eight airbags

To see how the KGM Musso EV traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument

How a lot does the KGM Musso EV price to run?

The Musso EV will get KGM’s seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee, with the car’s battery getting its personal 10-year/unlimited-kilometre guarantee.

With service intervals being 20,000km or 12 months (whichever comes first), KGM affords fixed-price servicing for as much as seven years or 140,000km – with every go to to the seller costing between $215 and $498 per service.

KGM quotes vitality consumption of 23kWh/100km for the 2WD mannequin, or 26kWh/100km for the AWD model just like the one now we have right here.

We noticed round 21kWh/100km with an equal combination of suburban, freeway, and peak-hour metropolis driving throughout our time with it.

To see how the KGM Musso EV traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument

CarExpert’s Tackle the KGM Musso EV

The historical past of SsangYong in Australia – now generally known as KGM – has been certainly one of a rollercoaster.

And the all-new Musso EV looks as if it could possibly be a dip from the highs of the earlier Musso, on account of a number of years of monetary turmoil and new possession.

Whereas the ageing diesel-powered Musso provided the identical type of high quality you’d count on from Japanese and Korean rivals – however at a lower cost level than most – the most recent electrical ute now looks as if it’s on the identical degree as a few of the cheaper choices from China.

Although the diesel Musso felt prefer it was underpriced for the standard, the Musso EV matches its price ticket. Like a G-Shock Mudmaster versus a Casio digital watch. Two merchandise providing the identical fundamental factor, from the identical producer, however made for various kinds and wishes.

The place KGM has the benefit although is with its many years of expertise constructing automobiles. That a lot, not less than, you may inform has been baked into the Musso EV.

However there’s nonetheless a way that this mannequin could have been rushed to market and given the stamp of approval earlier than it had completed going by the rigours of improvement.

The inside comes off as a bit low cost and hole, whereas the outside is overdesigned and, frankly, just a little cheesy in areas.

I truly actually just like the look of the front-end, however there are too many little design particulars throughout the physique that make it appear to be an idea automobile, or prefer it’s been constructed with an eBay equipment catalogue – which is highlighted by this vibrant metallic mustard color. Some could prefer it for being totally different and on the market, but it surely was just a little a lot for us.

A part of the attraction of the final Musso was its understated seems, and that concept has actually been misplaced on this new electrical ute.

Our suggestion can be to go for a extra subdued color just like the darkish blue, serving to to cover a few of the extra extreme styling cues.

For these after an electrical car, however need the flexibility of a dual-cab ute, the Musso EV is actually price contemplating – although we suspect the mannequin will profit from a yr or two of updates. Like its diesel predecessor, the battery-powered Musso may find yourself being a slow-burn out there.

With a bit of luck, it could possibly be the mannequin that helps ship KGM to new heights.

CarExpert can prevent hundreds on a brand new KGM Musso EV. Click on right here to get an important deal.

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MORE: Discover the KGM Musso EV showroom