- Very well priced compared with electric pick-up rivals
- Impressive performance and refinement
- Limited payload and overly-sensitive driver monitor
The KGM Musso EV brings electric pick-up motoring at a lower price than we’ve seen before – and has more than value going for it to attract buyers.
Overview
The slow progress of electrification in the world of LCVs versus the car market has been well documented, and that has proved particularly so for pick-up trucks. However, a few electric trucks are now on the market, and the latest to arrive is the KGM Musso EV.
Although an electric truck might seem like mainly a fleet proposition – and indeed part of the reason for the model’s UK market introduction is the impact of benefit-in-kind tax changes on diesel pick-up sales – KGM previously told us it has seen just as much interest in the model from the retail market. It has said first-year UK sales of the Musso EV could be around 500+ – the manufacturer is not under pressure to force take-up of the model due to its market position escaping the reach of ZEV mandate targets.
The Musso EV is coming to the UK with a single electric powertrain option – two electric motors combining to produce 237PS and 339Nm of torque, with an 80.6kWh battery and all-wheel drive. That battery is supplied by EV giant BYD, using its Blade lithium iron phosphate technology.
Although KGM has been applying the Musso name to its pick-up trucks for many years, including in its previous incarnation as SsangYong, the Musso EV has little in common with the current diesel Musso, which also remains available. First impressions of the EV are of a smart-looking modern truck, albeit one that isn’t as tall as a typical pick-up.
Other fully electric pick-up trucks currently on the UK market include the Isuzu D-Max EV, Maxus eTerron 9 and Toyota Hilux BEV.
Pricing and spec
The Musso EV is being sold in the UK with a single trim level option. This comes with a comprehensive standard equipment list, with features such as LED lights, 17-inch diamond cut alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control and a wireless phone charger,
With a 690kg payload, the Musso EV does not reach the one tonne level required for commercial vehicle VAT exception – KGM is anticipating HMRC will adjust the VAT rules relating to electric pick-up trucks, but this is yet to come into force. The Musso EV does however benefit from the UK Government’s £5,000 Plug-in Van Grant.
Including this grant, the Musso EV is priced at just under £40,000 – complying with KGM UK’s business case requirement for the Musso EV’s price to be aligned with a diesel truck. The Musso EV is also significantly cheaper to buy than all of its full EV pick-up rivals – even the D-Max EV being VAT exempt with a one-tonne payload is nowhere near enough for it to compete on price with the KGM.
The Musso EV comes with an impressive seven-year/90,000-mile warranty, while service intervals are 12 months/10,000 miles.
Technology
The Musso EV features a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen alongside a 12.3-inch driver display. The infotainment screen works reasonably well, although it can take a second for different menus to be loaded. The screens don’t have the most interesting graphical presentation but carry all the info drivers should need. The touchscreen contains the climate control functions, which are at least easy to bring up via a shortcut icon.
Safety
Driver assistance systems with the Musso include autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and keep assist, blind spot detection and rear cross traffic warning. Front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera system help with manoeuvring.
Swiping down from the top of the touchscreen brings access to a shortcut menu allowing audible ADAS notifications to be turned off, which drivers will particularly want to do with the distracted driver system, which is much too sensitive and tells you off for perceived indiscretions with a series of loud beeps.
The Musso EV has not been tested by Euro NCAP – indeed nor has the diesel Musso.
Driving experience
The Musso EV’s 237PS output offers a level of acceleration which can push you back into your seat in an impressive manner for a pick-up – you’d need a Ford Ranger Raptor to gain speed as quickly with ICE power, with the Musso EV officially going from 0-62mph in just under eight seconds. There can however be a bit of a delay in the KGM’s powertrain response when accelerating from a standstill, which drivers need to factor into their thinking when pulling out at junctions – we found shifting to the incongruously named Sport driving mode helped to mitigate this.
The 80.6kWh battery offers an official WLTP combined range of 236 miles between charges – significantly more than the Hilux and D-Max on 159 and 163 miles respectively, but less than the 267 miles offered by the eTerron 9. The Musso EV’s battery can be charged from 10-80% in 36 minutes via a DC charger.
The level of regenerative braking is adjustable via steering wheel-mounted paddles, including three levels of charging, plus off. The most severe doesn’t quite get to full one-pedal driving levels, but a decent amount of deceleration is available. We would however note that we found it tricky to come to a smooth stop using the regular brake pedal.
Compared with a diesel truck, the Musso EV’s level of smoothness and refinement is unsurprisingly highly impressive. This, combined with light steering, means it’s hard to imagine an easier truck to drive around town. It’s also an accomplished motorway performer, with plenty of torque for overtaking and the level of powertrain smoothness maintained.
As for handling, the Musso EV might not be the most engaging truck in this regard, but it changes direction in an assured manner, benefiting from the lower centre of gravity that comes with the EV battery.
The suspension does a good job insulating the cabin from road surface imperfections, doing its best to make up for the Musso EV’s firm seats. Bigger bumps can cause a bit of bouncing around, but this may not have been helped by our truck being unladen on our test drive. In case a heavy load does need to be carried, the Musso EV is equipped with a self-levelling suspension system.
Practicality
The Musso EV’s cabin is well appointed for a pick-up, with lots of leather trim, and everything feels robustly put together. We’re not so sure about the wood-look plastic on the dashboard, however, though this does at least add some variety to the design.
The seats come with a great range of electrical adjustment, including of lumbar support for the driver. The front seats are heated and ventilated, and the rear ones are heated too, with rear passengers also benefiting from air vents and USB chargers. Legroom back there is OK and headroom is good.
As detailed above, the Musso EV has a 690kg payload – KGM believes this will generally be enough for buyers’ needs. The load bay features eight tie-down points.
At a depth of 510mm the Musso EV’s load bed is 60mm shallower than that of a diesel Musso Rhino, and it’s also 55mm narrower – although the EV’s load bed is 45mm longer. The tailgate can support up to 150kg.
From a load carrying point of view there’s not too much to choose between the KGM and its Maxus and Toyota rivals. As previously mentioned, however, the Isuzu D-Max does offer a one-tonne payload, and its load bed is also notably longer.
The Musso EV has a braked towing capacity of 2,300kg – superior to the Hilux BEV, but worse than the D-Max EV and eTerron 9.
