The 2026 KGM Musso EV is the first fully electric pickup from KGM, the Korean automaker formerly known as SsangYong, and the first mass-market electric ute built by a Korean brand. Rather than bolting a battery onto the existing ladder-frame Musso diesel, KGM built the Musso EV as a unibody, car-like pickup closely related to the Torres EVX crossover, aiming for SUV manners with a proper load bed. It is powered by an 80.6 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery supplied by BYD, offered with either a single front motor or a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup, and is already on sale in South Korea, Australia and the United Kingdom. Pricing in Australia starts from around $42,700 (AU$60,000 drive-away), positioning it as one of the more affordable electric pickups on the market, aimed squarely at tradespeople, fleets and lifestyle buyers who want to go electric without a full-size US-style truck.
Performance & Specs
The Musso EV is offered in two powertrain configurations built around the same 80.6 kWh LFP battery pack. The base 2WD uses a single front motor producing 152 kW (207 PS / 204 hp) and 339 Nm of torque, sending drive only to the front wheels. The AWD flagship adds a second motor at the rear for a dynamic full-time all-wheel-drive system, lifting combined output to 266 kW (362 PS / 357 hp) and 630 Nm of torque. KGM has not published an official 0-100 km/h time or top speed for either variant, and early reviewers who have driven the AWD version note that it does not feel especially quick despite the near-doubled power figure over the 2WD. Notably, the Musso EV's 80.6 kWh pack is larger than the 73.4 kWh battery fitted to the related Torres EVX SUV, likely reflecting the pickup's extra underfloor packaging space and higher gross vehicle mass allowance rather than a simple carry-over of SUV components.
| Powertrain | Single-motor FWD BEV |
|---|---|
| Power | 152 kW (207 PS / 204 hp) |
| Torque | 339 Nm |
| Battery | 80.6 kWh LFP |
| Range | up to 419 km WLTP |
| POWERTRAIN TYPE | Single-motor FWD BEV (2WD) / Dual-motor AWD BEV (AWD) |
|---|---|
| HORSEPOWER | 204 hp (2WD) / 357 hp (AWD) |
| ACCELERATION | Not officially disclosed by KGM |
| TOP SPEED | Not officially disclosed by KGM |
| DRIVETRAIN | FWD or full-time AWD |
| BATTERY | 80.6 kWh LFP |
| ELECTRIC RANGE | up to 419 km (2WD) / 379 km (AWD), WLTP |
| COMBINED RANGE | — (pure BEV) |
Dimensions & Practicality
| Length | 5,160 mm |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,920 mm |
| Height | 1,750 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,150 mm |
| Ground clearance | 181 mm |
At 5,160 mm long and 1,920 mm wide, the Musso EV sits between the standard-wheelbase and long-wheelbase versions of the diesel Musso, with a 3,150 mm wheelbase and 181 mm of ground clearance. The load bed (KGM calls it the "tub") measures 1,345 mm long, 1,515 mm wide at its outer edges (1,110 mm between the wheel arches) and 510 mm deep. The dual-cab five-seat interior carries over the Torres EVX's sliding, reclining, folding 60/40-split rear bench, though reviewers note rear passenger space is tighter than in the outgoing diesel Musso. Because the Musso EV is a unibody design rather than a body-on-frame ute, KGM pitches it more as an SUV-with-a-tray than a traditional workhorse, and its approach and departure angles of 20.2° and 24.3° respectively are modest for the segment rather than serious off-road numbers.
| LENGTH | 5,160 mm |
|---|---|
| WIDTH | 1,920 mm |
| HEIGHT | 1,750 mm |
| WHEELBASE | 3,150 mm |
| LOAD BED | 1,345 mm (L) x 1,515 mm (W) x 510 mm (D) |
| PAYLOAD | up to 905 kg (2WD) / up to 805 kg (AWD) |
| BRAKED TOWING | 1,800 kg (2WD) / 2,300 kg (AWD) |
Charging & Battery
Both variants share the same 80.6 kWh BYD-supplied LFP battery pack, charging at 10.5 kW on AC (about 10 hours 20 minutes for a full 0-100% charge on an 11 kW wallbox). KGM Australia's official specifications quote a 10-80% DC charge in approximately 36 minutes on a 300 kW charger and approximately 46 minutes on a 100 kW charger; the maximum rate the car itself accepts has not been published. UK launch materials separately quote a 20-80% figure of about 31 minutes on a 300 kW charger, a difference that reflects the different measurement window rather than a hardware change. LFP chemistry trades a little energy density for lower cost and better long-term durability, which fits the Musso EV's positioning as a value-focused work and lifestyle pickup rather than a range-flagship. A full AC charge from empty is expected to take around 10 hours on an 11 kW home or depot wallbox.
| BATTERY | 80.6 kWh LFP (BYD-supplied) |
|---|---|
| AC CHARGING | 10.5 kW (onboard charger) |
| DC FAST CHARGING | Peak rate not published |
| DC 10-80% TIME | approx. 36 min (300 kW charger) / 46 min (100 kW charger) |
Design & Interior
Exterior styling leans into the Musso EV's electric identity with a closed-off front grille, a full-width LED light bar, sculpted LED headlights and short black overfenders around the wheel arches. The unibody tub blends smoothly into the cabin rather than sitting as a separate bolt-on tray, a visual cue that KGM uses to distinguish the EV from its diesel sibling. Inside, the dashboard is dominated by a panoramic display that pairs a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a matching 12.3-inch touchscreen, a floating centre console, ambient mood lighting and a hexagonal steering wheel. Standard equipment on higher grades includes heated and ventilated leather front seats, a heated leather steering wheel and dual-zone automatic climate control. Reviewers have been less complimentary about material quality, describing the cabin as feeling noticeably cheaper and "hollower" than the diesel Musso's interior, and singling out the hexagonal wheel rim and a slow-to-respond electronic shift selector as awkward in daily use. Colour choice is currently limited in Australia to Grand White and Marble Grey, with darker "Black Edge" cosmetic packs available on the entry 2WD grade.
Technology & Features
The twin 12.3-inch display setup runs KGM's latest infotainment software with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (wireless phone mirroring is not fitted). A wireless phone charging pad is standard, along with an exterior V2L (vehicle-to-load) outlet that can run power tools, camping equipment or other 230V devices directly from the battery, a genuinely useful feature for the tradespeople and outdoor users this pickup is aimed at. The MY26 update brings updated infotainment software and expanded driver assistance software over the Musso EV's original March 2025 launch specification. KGM has not detailed a specific in-car AI voice assistant or over-the-air update program for the model at this stage.
Safety & ADAS
The Musso EV comes with a Level 2 driver assistance suite covering intelligent adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, 4-corner blind-spot detection, front and rear parking sensors, a 3D 360° surround camera, multi-collision braking, trailer stability assist and a driver attention warning system. Neither ANCAP nor Euro NCAP has crash-tested the Musso EV as of September 2026. Australian regulator ANCAP issued a consumer alert confirming that roughly 306 Musso EVs sold between November 2025 and July 2026 were advertised with eight airbags, including a front-row centre airbag and a driver's knee airbag, but were actually fitted with only six — ANCAP noted the omission "may have an effect on occupant safety in front and side impact crashes." KGM has since corrected its Australian marketing materials to reflect the vehicles' true specification.
| ADAS LEVEL | L2 (driver assistance, not autonomous) |
|---|---|
| ADAS FEATURES | Adaptive cruise control, AEB, lane keep assist, 4-corner blind spot detection, 360° camera, driver attention warning, trailer stability assist |
Available Versions
| VERSION | POWER | TORQUE | DRIVETRAIN | BATTERY | EV RANGE | COMBINED RANGE | PRICE | KEY DIFFERENCES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2WD | 204 hp | 339 Nm | FWD | 80.6 kWh | 419 km | — | $42,700 | Entry single-motor grade, longest range, up to 905 kg payload |
| 2WD Black Edge | 204 hp | 339 Nm | FWD | 80.6 kWh | 419 km | — | $44,200 | Same powertrain as 2WD with a black exterior styling pack |
| AWD | 357 hp | 630 Nm | AWD | 80.6 kWh | 379 km | — | $45,600 | Dual-motor flagship, full-time AWD, up to 805 kg payload |
Pricing & Availability
KGM unveiled the Musso EV at its Pyeongtaek, South Korea headquarters on March 5, 2025, and began Korean deliveries shortly after. Australia followed with dealership availability from November 2025 and an official start-of-sales date of December 1, 2025, priced from AU$60,000 drive-away for the 2WD, AU$62,000 for the 2WD Black Edge and AU$64,000 for the AWD flagship (roughly $42,700-$45,600). The United Kingdom launched the Musso EV in March 2026 as an AWD-only model priced from £42,495 including VAT (about $56,700) after the government's £2,500 Plug-in Van Grant, with test drives available from May 2026; the UK version is quoted with a lower payload figure of around 690 kg by several launch-day reports, versus KGM Australia's own 805 kg AWD figure, likely reflecting different market homologation. Ireland also lists the Musso EV on KGM's local site. KGM Australia backs the vehicle with a 7-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
How It Compares
The Musso EV's most direct rival on our own catalog is the Jetour F700, another dedicated PHEV pickup, though the F700's 904 hp and 300 km EV-only range point to a very different, performance-first brief and its pricing is not yet confirmed. There's no other production BEV pickup in our coverage yet, so the more useful comparison for shoppers is value: for roughly the same money as a Musso EV 2WD, our catalog shows a BYD Leopard 5 rugged PHEV SUV with far more power and a 1,200 km combined range, or a ZEEKR 7X BEV SUV with more than double the horsepower and 550 km of range. Neither is a pickup, so neither directly replaces the Musso EV's load bed and towing capability, but both illustrate how much electrified performance a similar budget buys outside the ute segment — the Musso EV's appeal is specifically the combination of a genuine load bed, tow rating and V2L output that those cars can't offer.
- First mass-market BEV pickup with a unibody, car-like ride instead of a traditional ladder-frame chassis
- Strong for-segment range at up to 419 km WLTP on the 2WD, rare among electric pickups
- Competitive pricing from around $42,700 (AU$60,000 drive-away), undercutting many rival electric utes
- Quick DC charging (10-80% in about 36 minutes on a 300 kW charger) and a useful exterior V2L outlet for tools and equipment
- KGM Australia sold roughly 306 Musso EVs advertised with 8 airbags that were actually fitted with only 6, prompting an ANCAP consumer alert and a marketing correction
- Reviewers describe the cabin as feeling cheaper and "hollower" than the diesel Musso, with a fiddly hexagonal steering wheel and wired-only phone mirroring
- Neither ANCAP nor Euro NCAP has crash-tested the Musso EV yet, and KGM has not published official 0-100 km/h or top-speed figures
The KGM Musso EV is a genuinely useful proof that an affordable, unibody electric pickup can work: its 419 km range on the base 2WD beats what most electric utes manage, its pricing undercuts much of the segment, and features like V2L output and quick DC charging are legitimately handy for tradespeople and lifestyle buyers alike. But it's also a first-generation product with first-generation rough edges — a documented safety-specification scandal in Australia, an interior that reviewers say feels cheaper than the outgoing diesel truck, and a total absence of independent crash-test data all weigh against it. For buyers who mainly need an EV that can genuinely tow and carry a load without chasing maximum off-road capability, the Musso EV earns a cautious recommendation; those wanting class-leading build quality or a proven safety record should wait for the inevitable running updates.
