KGM Musso EV

Whilst it shares the Musso moniker, it is in fact based on the Torres EVX SUV. So factor in an SUV ride & handling & distinctly a non pick-up monocoque body & multi-link rear suspension.

In effect it may look like a pick-up but with payload of under 1 tonne ( it comes in at 690kg ) it can’t be classed as a commercial vehicle. However, with a starting price of £39,995 including vat it’s incredibly good value for money when put up agains rivals from Toyota, Isuzu & Maxus. And since double-cab pickups are now subject to emissions-based Benefit-in-Kind, with zero emissions the Musso EV even qualifies for a £5,000 plug-in van grant (PiVG) because it weighs less than 2,500kg.

Simple, one with five optional colour options above standard white. Space black, Marble grey, Ultra marine blue, Amazon green or Blazing gold, which add another £750 to the cost.

Generous with front & rear parking sensors, LED headlights, leather seats, heated front & rear seats, a heated steering wheel, automatic dual zone air-con, twin 12.3” screens, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto connectivity via a cable, a 360 degree monitor system & intelligent adaptive cruise control.

Musso EV comes with 8 airbags, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, Safety Exit Warning, Rear Blind Spot-detection & Rear Cross Traffic Warning. A suite of driver attention warnings also feature & you’ll need to get used to entering the screen to turn the most annoying of these off .

Outside, the electric Musso looks great with its 17” diamond cut alloys, black roof rails, slim led front lights, flat front grille & deep low down side lights. Plastic cladding adorns the wheel arches with a subtle KGM in the rear tailgate & vertical rear corner lights.

The interior looks & feels ‘SUV’ which for passengers is plainly a good thing. The twin 12.3” screens are neatly joined & curve toward the driver. Almost everything is controlled via these screens, save for the steering wheel controls where you can access the cruise control, the telephone, select your media options, heat the steering wheel & adjust the volume. The centre binnacle features a floating piece which contains the gear lever, twin cup holders & a wireless phone charger. Window switches open & close the windows & there’s an electric mirror adjustment set-up too.

Everything is finished nicely in black & silver with a copper coloured bottom to the dash front with matching stitching on the dash top. Quality is good with the cheaper, scratchier stuff hidden lower down.

Twin front USB’s, a medium sized glove box, large front & rear door pockets, under armrest space, another underneath the floating centre console & rear USB inputs offer decent usefulness. V2L also features.

Front leg & headroom is excellent & in the rear two adults will sit comfortably behind taller front passengers. The centre rear seat though is small & legroom compromised by the rear climate set-up.

Power of 237 PS comes from two electric motors with torque of 339Nm equating to a 0-62mph time of 8 seconds.  The truck also comes with full-time all-wheel drive system & self levelling rear suspension.

Off road & usefulness

Ground clearance is 181mm with approach & departure angles of 20.2 & 24.3 degrees. Braked trailer capacity sits at 2300kg & maximum payload comes in at 690kg. The load bed of the Musso EV measures 1,515mm wide X 1345mm long X 510mm high so is large enough to take a Euro pallet.

The tyres on our test truck were also more on-road like than off-road & there’s no 4×4 controls on-board, rather the Musso EV is always in AWD. It will handle some tough stuff but as we discovered driving on sand, this isn’t pick-up to go anywhere.

Driving in town

Climb aboard & you’ll immediately feel at home in the car-like interior. All controls fall easily to hand & forward, side & rear views are good even with the narrow rear window & longish load-bed.

Whilst KGM are Korean the infotainment & safety system feel very Chinese  So expect great graphics, fast responses but also a myriad of menus & incredibly over-sensitive driver safety warnings,  which trust us, you’ll want to learn how to disable quickly.

Once you’ve done that you’ll settle in to find a pick-up that drives & handles much like the Torres SUV that the Musso EV is based on. So factor in a quiet cabin, a smooth ride, comfortable & adjustable seats, plus some decent acceleration. The vehicle size means its doesn’t feel long nor wide & is simple to manoeuvre & park in town & is super-easy to drive in an urban environment.

Regeneration

You can utilise 3 levels of regenerative braking via te steering wheel paddles & all work well. One-pedal isn’t quite met but if you select Level 3, then the Musso will slow down impressively whilst adding a touch of extra range to the battery.

Out & about

Hit some open & undulating A & B roads & the suspension is excellent & the light steering feels just right. Even unladen, the usual pick-up bounce was mostly absent thanks to the more sophisticated chassis fitted to the electric Musso.

On the motorway you can select adaptive cruise control, point & go & whilst the cabin noise does increase, it’s really not intrusive. And at constant 70mph the truck feels happy.

Driving range

After a week & several trips locally & along the motorway we were able to give a view on the battery range. We were driving alone, in a warm August with no payload & fully charge the Musso indicated 221 miles of range After an 84 mile around trip to the beach on mostly motorway that range had fallen to 123 miles so a touch below a 1:1 ratio of miles driven to range used. We’d surmise that if you add passengers, a payload & colder weather then a 150-175 mile range is the likely outcome.

Pros

Cheaper than the competition. Drives & handles like an SUV. Nicely appointed. Looks sharp too. Low BIK & useful payload for those who need it.

Cons

Under 1 tonne payload. Lower towing capacity, load bed size, approach & departure angles than most pick-up’s. Doesn’t feel built for the tough stuff.

Simply put, the Musso EV is an absolute bargain & is well worth your consideration. That is if you don’t require your electric pick-up to match a diesel one for usefulness. A deep sigh ? Not really. Many will find that what the Musso EV offers is plenty enough for them & we can see it being utilised by local council’s & health authorities for park & site activity ticking the zero emissions box as it goes.