The niche segment of electric pickups is slowly, but surely, beginning to beef up this side of the Atlantic. The Toyota Hilux and Isuzu D-Max, two stalwarts of the game, now come as EVs, while China’s Maxus will also sell you the American-sized eTerron 9.
The latter, however, will set you back around €86k, while the electric Hilux and D-Max are only good for a range of no more than 300km. So, is there a happy medium? Yes, to a degree, with the new KGM Musso EV.
KGM, or SsangYong as it once was, is no stranger to pickups having first launched the Musso more than 30 years ago. Despite the shared name, the Musso EV is very much its own machine.
In essence, the KGM Musso EV is a Chinese-powered, Korean pickup, as it sits on an 80.6 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery from BYD. With a quoted range of 419km (c.375km in the real-world), this gives it the advantage over the aforementioned Japanese pairing.
My test Musso EV was powered by a 152.2kW FWD single motor, producing 207hp and 339Nm of torque. KGM says it has a towing capacity of 2.3 tonnes and a 690kg payload. There is also the option of a 413hp 4WD duel motor version (152.2kW at both the front and rear), but this lowers the quoted range to 379km.
Sold only as a double-cab pickup, the Musso EV does feel as though it is having an identity crisis. On one hand you have the space and utility of a pickup, and on the other the ride height akin to a Hyundai Tucson (181mm). This may appeal to some, but I wasn’t overly confident taking the Musso EV off-road à la the Ford Ranger.
It did tick all of the boxes for ride comfort, handling and turning circle.
There is no doubt that the Musso EV is a head-tuner. At the front, a black grille, LED lighting, muscular wheel arches, and diamond-cut alloy wheels create a strong presence. It is available in boring black or grey, but I would urge any prospective buyer to opt for the ‘ Ultra Marine’ (pictured) or ‘Amazon Green’. The ‘Blazing Gold’ would be another bold choice.
Inside, the cabin has a clean layout. A panoramic widescreen integrates a 12.3-inch digital cluster with a 12.3-inch infotainment display. The Musso EV will soon be updated to include wireless Apple Carplay and physical buttons for climate controls, so perhaps hold off on buying until that becomes available.
While certainly not an outright workhorse, the KGM Musso EV’s attractive price tag of €45,390 (including SEAI grant, VAT and VRT), makes it well worth a look at.
