Musso EV: Australia’s Rugged, Practical Electric Ute
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KGM Australia has unveiled the Musso EV, its first fully electric ute, and it arrives with a clear brief: take the familiar Musso pickup, keep the toughness, add electricity and make it weekend-ready. Built on the Musso lineage as Korea’s first recreational pickup, this EV aims to be practical by day and adventurous by weekend.
Exterior Design
The Musso EV presents a look that tries hard to be both rugged and modern without descending into showy nonsense. A sculpted bonnet, horizontal dot-pattern daytime running lights with integrated turn indicators and LED headlights give it a high-tech face. There is a three-dimensional black grille, a silver skid plate and a purposeful side profile that ties the tub and cabin together with strong character lines. Bold wheel arches and door garnishes up the macho feel, while a C-pillar with an integrated sail plane and a Rhino emblem nod to the vehicle’s heritage. At the rear a debossed KGM logo, LED combination lights and a chunky bumper with integrated corner steps finish the job.
Interior Design
Inside, the Musso EV follows a Slim & Wide mantra. A panoramic dash houses a 12.3-inch digital cluster and a 12.3-inch central touchscreen running KGM’s Athena 2.0 software, which promises faster and more intuitive operation. Materials are positioned as premium, with powered, heated and cooled front seats, ambient lighting and a rear bench that benefits from heating on the outer positions and a 60/40 split for flexibility.
Space And Practicality
This is where the Musso EV does not disappoint. It combines the utility of a ute with the roomy rear seat space you expect from a mid-size SUV. The tub mirrors the Musso’s dimensions and includes eight tie-down hooks, a moulded tub liner that wraps over the top edge for protection, and tub lighting for late-night loading. Rear passengers get surprising headroom at 1,002 mm, generous legroom, an 80 mm sliding range and a 32-degree recline on the outer seats. For towing and hauling, a factory-fitted self-levelling rear suspension keeps the ride height correct under load, improving stability and safety compared with conventional setups.
EV System
Under the floor sits an 80.6 kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate blade battery, chosen for durability and thermal resilience. The 2WD model uses a 152 kW front motor with 339 Nm of torque. Opt for AWD and a matching 152 kW rear motor is added, bringing combined output to 266 kW and 630 Nm. The 2WD version claims a combined range of 420 km at around 230 Wh/km, while the AWD is rated at about 380 km with 260 Wh/km efficiency. Cell-to-Cell technology is used to increase energy density and the pack is impact-resistant. Regenerative braking has three adjustable levels via steering-wheel paddles and the system also adapts automatically to gradients and traffic to maximise energy recovery. With 300 kW DC fast charging, the battery can be taken from 20% to 80% in roughly 31 minutes, and Vehicle-to-Load functionality lets you power camping gear or tools from the vehicle.
Models And Equipment
At launch the line-up includes a well specified 2WD, an AWD and a unique 2WD Black Edge edition. The 2WD comes with adaptive cruise control, 17-inch alloy wheels, LED lights, self-levelling rear suspension, dual-zone climate, a 12.3-inch dual display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 3D 360-degree camera, leather-look 8-way powered front seats with driver lumbar, sliding and reclining rear seats, heated front and rear outer seats, ventilated front seats, ambient lighting, a leather heated steering wheel, power folding mirrors, rain sensing wipers, wireless phone charging and a durable tub liner with lighting and bumper corner steps. The AWD adds all-wheel drive to that specification. The Black Edge package introduces leather and suede seats, suede headrests and door trim, black 17-inch wheels and blacked-out exterior highlights including bonnet garnish, mirrors, tailgate badge, sail plane and C-pillar emblem, alongside dark wood grain dash trim.
Safety
Safety is comprehensive and standard. The Musso EV includes eight airbags, autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assist, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, front vehicle start alert, high beam assist, safety distance alert, electronic stability control, ABS with brake assist, emergency stop signal, multi-collision braking, trailer stability assist and front and rear parking sensors.
Key Specifications And Pricing
Key figures to remember: battery capacity 80.6 kWh, onboard AC charging around 10.5 kW with a 0-100% time on an 11 kW charger of roughly 10 hours 20 minutes, and fast charging figures that depend on charger and conditions. Length is 5,160 mm, width 1,920 mm, height 1,750 mm and wheelbase 3,150 mm, with minimum ground clearance of 181.4 mm. The tub measures 1,345 mm long, 1,515 mm wide and 510 mm deep. Kerb weight sits around 2,165 kg for 2WD and 2,285 kg for AWD, maximum payloads are about 905 kg and 805 kg respectively, and braked towing capacity is 1,800 kg. Recommended drive-away pricing starts at $60,000 for the Musso EV, $62,000 for the Black Edge and $64,000 for the AWD. Metallic paint is an extra $700.
The MY26 Musso EV range is backed by a 7-year unlimited kilometre vehicle warranty, with the high-voltage battery covered for 10 years and unlimited kilometres. Vehicles will reach selected dealerships in November, with sales starting on 1 December 2025.
Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.
