- Electric KGM Musso EV pick-up confirmed for UK launch
- Ends months of speculation
- Previously described as a concept
- All-wheel drive, double cab
- Realistic real-world range of around 240 miles
- UK prices and trim still to be confirmed
It’s official - the KGM Musso EV will be launched right here in the UK, and the electric pick-up will arrive within a matter of weeks.
When the Musso EV was first revealed back in September last year, its UK future hung in the balance.
While already on sale in its native Korea, KGM wouldn’t say whether or not the Musso EV would ever see the light of day in Britain.
At the time, we drove a prototype model (and loved it) as KGM sought to gauge opinion about whether the Musso EV could find a home here or not.
And now, after hooking-up with KGM this week and enjoying the Musso EV once more, we can reveal that it’s being lined-up for a full launch.
Official announcements are still to be made, but the pick-up is already being prepped and costed ahead of leasing order books opening - with prices beginning at around £40,000.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What is the KGM Musso EV?
The KGM Musso EV isn’t like other pick-ups - far from it.
This is a lifestyle/leisure truck aimed at those who want to haul bikes to the forest or paddleboards to the lake on a weekend while indulging in their hobbies.
If the rugged, diesel powered Isuzu D-Max is a no-nonsense farmer, braced against the biting wind on a freezing winter’s day in the Scottish Highlands, the Musso EV is a blonde-haired surfer cracking a beer by the barbecue while lounging on the beach.
A double cab comes as standard, as does all-wheel drive - two crucial components when you’re looking to lease a lifestyle pick-up.
And while the payload is down on what you’d expect from a typical load-lugger - at just 690kg - KGM tells us the load bed isn’t actually much smaller than the regular diesel KGM Musso, just slightly narrower and shallower.
In fact, the Musso EV’s load bed is actually longer than the diesel Musso (1,345mm compared with 1,300mm).
What tech do you get with the KGM Musso EV?
As an SUV-derived pick-up, the Musso EV boasts a cabin that’s both comfortable and well-equipped.
You can enjoy twin 12.3-inch screens, heated and ventilated nappa leather seats, heated steering wheel, dual zone air con and a 3D surround-view camera.
The illuminated interior fascia is carried over from the KGM Torres EVX while there are also sliding and reclining seats in the rear, which can help to give you a bit more luggage space.
What range does the KGM Musso EV get?
The official range for the KGM Musso is around 236 miles between charges.
We chatted to some KGM staff members who’d been using the Musso EV with regularity and they assured us the stated range was achievable and realistic - even when they’d been commuting to work through winter.
The Musso EV is underpinned by an 80.6 kWh battery (an uber-safe and efficient ‘Blade’ unit sourced from BYD) which unlocks power of 207 PS and 339 Nm of torque.
It’ll cover 0-62mph in around 8.0 seconds, which is brisk without being particularly quick.
A ‘Smart Regenerative Braking System’ adjusts the regen to optimise your range without undermining comfort levels.
The all-wheel drive system works full-time and will redistribute torque when a slip occurs.
Meanwhile you also get V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) functionality, allowing you to power your coffee machine using the pick-ups battery.
How fast can the KGM Musso EV charge?
The KGM Musso can charge in rapid fashion… as long as you can find a public charger that can keep up with the pace.
Fast 300 kW skills can take the energy from 10-80% in 36 mins, while a slower 100 kW charger will achieve that feat in 46 mins.
Your regular 11 kW home wallbox will do a full replenish in 10 hours 20 mins.
How does the KGM Musso EV drive?
The KGM Musso EV drives pretty much like any other electric SUV, not like your typical pick-up.
That’s to be expected, really, seeing as how the Musso EV is based on the KGM Torres EVX SUV.
But it’s still surprising to get behind the wheel of a pick-up with such poise and the Musso EV impressed once more during our most recent test.
The suspension is smooth, compliant, and serene, with none of the shake and shudder you get with other pick-ups built for the graft.
A high-strength steel chassis boosts ride comfort, handling and quietness in the cabin.
Meanwhile the Musso EV also boasts an automatic self-levelling suspension system that compensates for heavy loads.
You get a 2.3-tonne braked towing capacity (down on most pick-ups) but there are decent approach and departure angles should you venture off road.
How safe is the KGM Musso EV?
As you’d expect with any electric SUV, the KGM Musso EV boasts plenty of driver assistance and safety tech.
That includes evasive steering assist, intersection response, intelligent speed assist and automatic lane change.
What are the main rivals to the KGM Musso EV?
Leasing alternatives to the KGM Musso EV are in short supply right now.
You could opt for the larger and more utilitarian Maxus eTerron 9 or the Maxus T90 EV (the latter of which is hamstrung by not being all-wheel drive).
The electric Isuzu D-Max is more expensive and gets a lesser range than the KGM Musso EV.
And the Ford Ranger EV isn’t due to arrive until 2027.
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