2026 KGM Musso EV Review: The electric ute firing a shot at the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux

February 7, 2026February 6, 2026 Toby Hagon 159 Views 0 Comments KGM, Musso EV, Ssangyong

The future may be electric, but a lot of people are struggling to see that in the ute market right now.

The first EV ute – the LDV eT60 – was seriously underwhelming.

But that hasn’t dissuaded Korean car maker Ssangyong from having a crack.

Except it’s not called Ssangyong any more, but KGM, for KG Mobility (KG being the company that bought Ssangyong in 2022).

The KGM Musso EV may share its name with the brand’s long-running ute, but the two are very different beasts.

Obviously, the EV version is powered purely by electricity, but even beneath the skin it’s a totally different proposition. This one rides on a monocoque platform rather than a traditional ladder frame, immediately positioning it more as a lifestyle-focused dual cab than a hardcore workhorse.

Still, it’s well and truly in the playground dominated by the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux.

2026 KGM Musso EV price and equipment

The KGM Musso EV is priced from $60,000 for the single motor version that gets 420km of range from its 80.6kWh battery.

That motor drives the front wheels and makes 152kW and 339Nm.

The dual-motor model – badged AWD – adds an identical motor to the rear wheels, but combined outputs max out at 266kW and 630Nm.

That’s impressive by ute standards, comfortably outpunching key diesel-powered rivals.

That Musso AWD sells from $64,700 drive-away.

Each shares a high level of equipment that includes 17-inch alloy wheels, faux leather trim, dual-zone ventilation, a 360-degree camera, four heated seats, ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel.

One thing that’s immediately obvious is just how thorough the Ssangyong-to-KGM rebrand has been.

KGM Musso EV interior — The KGM Musso EV gets dual 12.3-inch screens and some quality finishes and materials.

There are no SsangYong badges anywhere to be found; KGM is on the steering wheel, the exterior, everywhere you look. The only hint of the old world is a small sticker at the top of the windscreen, but otherwise it’s a proper identity reset, other than the carryover model name.

Inside, the cabin presentation is impressive. The dash is clean and modern, dominated by a pair of 12.3-inch screens incorporating Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. They’re slightly curved with a distinctive kink in the middle, very much in the style of recent Kia interiors.

Copper highlights and matching contrast stitching lifts the ambience nicely, and overall the Musso EV feels well put together.

2026 KGM Musso EV: What we think

There’s a lot to like here, but also a few quirks that stop the Musso EV from being properly polished.

Let’s start with the infotainment, which like so many Chinese EVs relies heavily on pixels at the expense of physical controls.

Nearly everything runs through the touchscreen, including climate control, which can be frustrating when the system is slow to boot; sometimes it fired up straight away, other times it lagged for 20-30 seconds displaying the KGM logo before allowing any functionality.

On the plus side, the menus are logical and there are four physical shortcut buttons beside the screen for apps, radio, phone mirroring and ventilation, which help a little.

Space is good front and rear, though the front seats could use more lateral support.

The tray is a decent size with tie-down points at each corner, but there’s no spare wheel – despite there being plenty of room underneath for one.

Storage is strong: a floating centre console with a wireless charging pad, multiple cubbies for phones and odds and ends, twin cupholders, and an open storage area underneath the console.

The steering wheel is flat-topped and flat-bottomed – a bit odd at first glance – and features paddle shifters that are used to adjust regenerative braking rather than gears.

There are also Porsche-style rotary dials on the wheel, though they don’t actually rotate. The left one houses a programmable star button, while the right controls auto hold.

On the road, the Musso EV has some issues with throttle response.

In both Eco and Sport modes there’s a dullness right at initial throttle tip-in.

Press lightly and the car feels hesitant; press harder to compensate and it can spin its wheels.

On dry roads that often means an inside front wheel scrabbling for traction, while in the wet I’ve even had the rear try to step out as the back wheels break traction.

Sport mode is definitely the better of the two, sharpening responses a bit, but it still doesn’t feel as intuitive or progressive as it should.

Tyres don’t help either: on low-speed roundabouts the Kumho rubber squeals loudly, drawing unwanted attention even below 20km/h.

Ride quality is another mixed bag. The wheelbase feels long, which should be a good thing, but the front and rear suspension don’t always seem in sync.

The rear in particular feels under-damped, occasionally bouncing and feeling unsettled over rougher surfaces.

Performance overall is decent rather than exciting. It’s not especially feisty by EV standards, but it moves along well enough for daily driving. Again, by ute standards it’ll out-drag almost anything powered by diesel.

Range, however, isn’t a strong suit.

The AWD is claimed to cover 380km between charges, so expect a bit less in the real world.

It’s clear this isn’t going to be a long-distance tourer without frequent stops.

And if you want to tow, the Musso EV will use more electrons again.

Speaking of which, the tow capacity is 1800kg, almost half that of most utes.

At least it has a decent payload: 905kg in 2WD guise and 805kg as an AWD.

2026 KGM Musso EV: The verdict

The KGM Musso EV is an interesting and in some ways likeable electric ute.

It looks the part, the interior presentation is strong, and it offers decent performance and space for buyers wanting an EV with ute styling and practicality.

However, the inconsistent throttle response, occasional wheelspin, and occasionally frustrating infotainment system take the shine off what could otherwise be a standout in a segment that is surely set to grow.

As a lifestyle ute for urban and suburban use, it could make sense for some buyers. As a replacement for a traditional diesel work ute, it doesn’t quite get there.

SCORE: 3.5/5

2026 KGM Musso EV price and specifications
Price: $64,700 drive-away
Basics: EV, 5 seats, 4 doors, ute, AWD
Range: 380km (WLTP)
Battery capacity: 80.6kWh
Battery warranty: 10 years/unlimited km
Energy consumption: 26.0kWh/100km
Motors: 152kW/339Nm front, 152kW/339Nm rear, 266kW/630Nm combined outputs
AC charging: 10.5kW, Type 2 plug
DC charging: 300kW, CCS combo plug
0-100km/h: NA