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The threat that electric cars would “take away the weekend” has been refuted in one fell swoop with this brand new model KGM Musso EV.
It is a cornerstone of the Korean carmaker’s revamped model range and growing electric car offering and is only the second battery-powered dual cab model to be available in Australia.
Here are nine things we like about the KGM Musso EV.
The price is right
The KGM Musso EV is offered in two trim levels: a single-motor, front-wheel-drive variant priced at just $60,000 on-the-road and a flagship dual-motor, all-wheel-drive variant priced at just $64,000 on-the-road.
The single-engine version is also available with an upgraded Black Edge package for an additional $2,000, which, as you’d expect, adds black exterior accents, a dark wood-grain dashboard insert, and leather and suede seating and interior trim.
This makes the Musso EV at least $30,000 cheaper than the only other fully electric dual cab car currently available in Australia, the LDV eT60.
It’s also cheaper than the new generation of plug-in hybrid alternatives (PHEV) such as the BYD Shark 6 (from $57,900 excluding on-road costs), the Ford Ranger (from $71,990 excluding on-road costs) and the GWM Cannon Alpha (from $61,490 excluding on-road costs).
Packed with comfort
Despite the low price, both variants have generous standard equipment and all the latest digital amenities and conveniences, including:
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- LED headlights and taillights
- Keyless entry with push button start
- Faux leather trim
- Driver and passenger seats electrically adjustable
- Heated outer seats front and rear
- Heated steering wheel
- Ventilated front seats
- Dual zone climate control
- Ambient interior lighting
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Style and accessories
One of the standout elements of the KGM Musso EV is the way it stands out from the crowd.
Its futuristic front end, with slim LED daytime running lights separated by a dashed line under the leading edge of the sculpted hood and supported by an eye-catching skid plate with contrasting red tow hooks on the lower edge, gives the Musso EV a commanding presence, like a modern desert racing car.
This is complemented throughout the exterior design by elements such as the robust C-pillar trim, robust wheel arches and stunning geometric four-piece alloy wheels.
Additionally, KGM offers the Musso EV with a choice of six bold exterior finishes: Grand White, Amazonian Green, Marble Grey, Blazing Gold, Space Black and Ultra Marine.
Additionally, customers can customize the vehicle to their personal needs with a catalog of practical accessories, including roof storage solutions and various storage options.
Space and comfort
Another unique feature of the KGM Musso EV is that it is built on a monocoque platform rather than a ladder frame chassis like most other dual cabs, including the diesel-powered versions of the Musso.
And that offers an advantage in terms of interior design, elegance and comfort, because the interior offers space for five people and therefore as much space as a mid-size SUV.
The flat floor means the rear seat in particular offers more legroom and larger door openings for easier access than many other crew cabs.
The rear seat features a 60:40 split/fold function for added flexibility and can be moved forward or backward by 80mm to create either additional storage space behind the reclining seatbacks or additional legroom.
The front seats enjoy impressive views from comfortable and supportive seats, a sleek, modern-looking dashboard and plenty of storage for small items.
Drivetrain
As we’ve already outlined, the KGM Musso EV is available with two powertrain configurations: a single-motor front-wheel drive and a dual-motor all-wheel drive.
Both use the same 80.9 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, which can handle charging rates of up to 300 kW and can be recharged between 20 and 80 percent in about 31 minutes.
They also feature a vehicle-to-load (V2L) function, which allows the car to be used as an external power source for power tools, camping equipment and outdoor devices.
The single motor produces 152kW of power and 339Nm of torque and can travel up to 420km on a single charge, while the dual motor produces a maximum combined power of 266kW and 630Nm and has a maximum range of 380km.
payload
The KGM Musso EV was designed for both work and play.
While its overall dimensions are more compact than most of its rivals, in terms of cargo capacity in the bed it is almost the same as the regular version of its diesel-powered Musso sibling, which has an overall length of 1345mm, a width of 1515mm and a depth of 510mm.
It also features eight cargo tie-down hooks, a molded tub liner that extends over the lip for additional paint protection, and LED lighting.
Due to its car-like substructure, the Musso EV features a fully independent five-link rear suspension with self-leveling dampers instead of a rigid axle with leaf springs.
While this limits the maximum towing capacity with brakes to 1,800kg, it is extremely competitive in terms of payload, capable of carrying 905kg and 805kg for the 2WD and AWD variants respectively.
These figures correspond to those of the Ford Ranger PHEV (808-973 kg) and are better than those of the BYD Shark 6 (790 kg) and the GWM Cannon Alpha (685 kg).
Driving dynamics
The self-leveling rear suspension is not only beneficial when carrying luggage in the back seat, but also contributes to the Musso EV’s car-like driving character.
While most ladder-frame rivals are hampered by their robust underpinnings, the Musso EV feels more elegant, with better ride quality, more positive steering response and confident handling characteristics.
Because the Musso EV is fully electric, it delivers silky-smooth performance and offers instant acceleration at any speed.
And it’s whisper-quiet, too, not just because of the electric motors, but because its monocoque body construction is designed to absorb harsher frequencies of road and wind noise.
Security
The KGM Musso EV is at the forefront when it comes to state-of-the-art safety systems and autonomous driving aids.
Both variants come with the same comprehensive suite of advanced features, including:
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane keeping assistant
- Blind spot collision avoidance
- Rear cross traffic alert and automatic braking
- Monitoring driver attention
- Trailer sway control
- Safe exit warning
- Parking sensors front and rear
- 360 degree parking display
- Eight airbags
Proof of ownership
KGM offers consumers complete peace of mind through a seven-year, unlimited mileage warranty on the vehicle and a one-decade warranty on the high-voltage battery.
The Musso EV requires regular servicing every 12 months or 20,000 km and has a transparent service price menu for the first seven years, averaging $285 per year under normal driving conditions. If the vehicle is regularly used in harsher environments, it may require more frequent maintenance.
MORE: Explore the KGM Musso showroom
