The KGM Musso – previously often known as the SsangYong Musso, and likewise previously the KGM SsangYong Musso – has acquired some adjustments not too long ago.
The brand new dual-cab ute vary sees the long-wheelbase XLV variant provided range-wide, and a few particular variations between the tradie-focused base grade and the higher-end choices.
The mannequin examined right here is the Final XLV, the flagship providing that sports activities a brand new look which makes it extra fashionable trying than the remaining.
This evaluate will cowl what this ute does nicely, the stuff if stuffs up, and whether or not it’s best to contemplate it or not.
How a lot does the KGM Musso value?
The just-updated KGM Musso vary is a bit pricier because of upgraded know-how on supply.
| Mannequin | Drive-away pricing |
|---|---|
| 2026 KGM Musso ELX | $42,500 |
| 2026 KGM Musso ELX XLV | $44,000 |
| 2026 KGM Musso Advance | $46,500 |
| 2026 KGM Musso Advance XLV | $48,000 |
| 2026 KGM Musso Final | $51,500 |
| 2026 KGM Musso Final XLV | $53,000 |
The distinction between the usual mannequin and the XLV is the wheelbase and tub size. Purchase an XLV and also you get a stretched chassis and an extended tub, however the cabin is similar dimension. I believe the XLV mannequin seems to be higher and extra muscular, personally.
Since launch, costs for this era of Musso have continued to ascend, however there are some top-notch alternate options to contemplate, from GWM, LDV, MG and Mitsubishi, and naturally from Korea’s different ute, the all-new Kia Tasman.
To see how the KGM Musso traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability instrument
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What’s the KGM Musso like on the within?
The final replace to this mannequin introduced a seismic shift to a extra tech-focused cabin comprising two new 12.3-inch digital screens.
The media display screen is fairly primary if you happen to ask something extra of it than to take heed to the radio or mirror your cellphone, and it’s essential to use a USB cable to attach as much as CarPlay or Android Auto, too. There’s not rather more past that and the display screen is quite plain, however at the least it’s easy to leap to the place you need to be by means of the menus.
The digital instrument cluster is vibrant and clear, with numerous configurations and a depth of information obtainable by means of the buttons on the steering wheel… which can also be the place you’ll discover the one buttons for quantity and tuning for the media display screen.
The controls for the air-con are extra user-focused, with touch-sensitive toggles and a financial institution of buttons there in your fan pace, air-con modes, and extra.
Excessive-grade examples additionally rating entrance seat heating and cooling, which is great contemplating the buy-in worth. Some big-name utes don’t have these on their $75k fashions, and lots of don’t supply seat air flow by any means.
There’s a pair of cupholders, a lined centre console bin, bottle holders within the doorways and a small unfastened merchandise cubby in entrance of the gear selector, however you don’t get a big console bin or storage spot in your cellphone, and there’s nonetheless no wi-fi cellphone charging, which is irritating.
Again-seat house is sufficient, however not as roomy as in different utes within the phase. At 182cm/6’0” tall, I had my knees up in opposition to the seatback, and it’s a tough plastic seatback, too (good for fogeys, not so nice for grown-ups). Foot room and head room are good, although, and you’ll match three adults throughout the again.
However. And it’s a giant previous however…
The center seat STILL misses out on a lap-sash seatbelt, which is deplorable for a modern-day ute. There’s a lap-only seatbelt, which can have been acceptable in a Nineteen Nineties Navara, however this class of auto calls for higher security at present.
Nonetheless, it has three – sure, three – top-tether factors to connect child-seat straps too. So, if you happen to have been to place a child seat within the center with simply the lap-strap belt in play, you’d nonetheless be capable of tether it in place utilizing the center top-tether. Plus after all there are ISOFIX factors within the window seats.
Second-row facilities embody directional air-vents, map pockets, and bottle holders in each doorways, plus a flip-down armrest with cupholders.
The seat base doesn’t flip up within the Musso, however you may choice a intelligent pull-out drawer accent if you wish to make it a bit extra helpful inside.
Now, the bathtub.
The XLV is the go if it’s essential to use the cargo zone quite a bit, as a result of it gives considerably extra usability.
The usual tub is 1300mm lengthy, and measures 1570mm extensive, with 1140mm between the arches (that means it’s a contact too slim for the 1165mm-square Aussie pallet), however has better tub depth than most utes – 570mm.
Selecting the XLV model gives you the identical width, arch-gap and depth, however an enormous 1625mm of flooring tub size. Meaning you’ll be capable of drop the tailgate and match two Euro pallets in, nose-to-tail..
For reference, the common Musso is a comparatively tiny (for a dual-cab ute) 5095mm lengthy and has a 3100mm wheelbase, whereas the XLV is 5409mm lengthy and has a 3310mm wheelbase.
| Dimensions | KGM Musso | KGM Musso XLV |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 5095mm | 5409mm |
| Width | 1950mm | 1950mm |
| Peak | 1840mm | 1855mm |
| Wheelbase | 3100mm | 3310mm |
| Tub size | 1300mm | 1625mm |
| Tub width | 1570mm | 1570mm |
| Tub depth | 570mm | 570mm |
To see how the KGM Musso traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability instrument
What’s below the bonnet?
The KGM Musso vary continues to be provided with one powertrain in two totally different states of tune, and so they’re each lower than what you get if you happen to’re contemplating the associated Rexton SUV.
| Specs | KGM Musso | KGM Musso XLV |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2.2L 4cyl turbo-diesel | 2.2L 4cyl turbo-diesel |
| Energy | 133kW @ 4000rpm | 133kW @ 4000rpm |
| Torque | 400Nm @ 1400-2800rpm | 420Nm @ 1600-2600rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed auto | 6-speed auto |
| Drive sort | 4-wheel drive | 4-wheel drive |
| Gas economic system (claimed) | 8.6L/100km | 9.0L/100km |
| Gas economic system (as examined) | N/A | 9.7L/100km |
| CO2 emissions (claimed) | 226g/km | 236g/km |
| Gas tank | 75L | 75L |
| Weight | 2097kg | 2107kg (Advance, Final) 2217kg (ELX) |
| Payload | 790kg | 880kg (Advance, Final) 1010kg (ELX) |
| Braked towing capability | 3500kg | 3500kg |
| Gross car mass (GVM) | 2880kg | 2980kg (Advance, Final) 3220kg (ELX) |
| Gross mixture mass (GCM) | 6380kg | 6380kg (Advance, Final) 6720kg (ELX) |
The Musso’s 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine is sweet for 133kW of energy, however peak torque is 400Nm for SWB fashions, and 420Nm for XLV fashions. They’re heavier, in order that helps.
All variations of the Musso have a six-speed Aisin computerized transmission, and selectable four-wheel drive (2H, 4H and low-range 4L) with an auto-locking rear differential.
All grades include unbraked towing capability of 750kg and a braked most towing capability of 3500kg – the benchmark for dual-cab utes.
The gross car mass (or GVM) for the SWB variations of the Musso is 2880kg, and that jumps to 2980kg for the XLV variations of the Journey and Final. However if you happen to select the ELX XLV, the determine is 3220kg because of its leaf-spring rear suspension, the place the opposite variations are all operating a coil-sprung rear-end.
That has an affect on gross mixture mass (GCM), too, with the SWB fashions rated to 6380kg, and the Journey and Final XLV long-wheelbase fashions are pegged at 6480kg. However the ELX XLV has an enormous GCM of 6720kg – correctly appropriate for heavy-duty hauling.
All SWB variations have a payload of 790kg, whereas XLV coil-sprung variations are rated at 880kg. The leaf-sprung ELX XLV is rated at 1010kg.
To see how the KGM Musso traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability instrument
How does the KGM Musso drive?
There’s a bit to love concerning the Musso’s drive expertise.
The two.2-litre turbo-diesel is as much as the duty, with a pleasant quantity of mid-range shove obtainable whenever you give it a poke at tempo. It isn’t fast from a standstill, however there’s sufficient punch that can assist you overtake with out fuss in most conditions.
The six-speed auto is nicely thought-about at decrease speeds, providing easy shifts and first rate logic at speeds under 80km/h.
However at freeway tempo, it may get busy – particularly if you happen to’re not loaded up. To me it felt like it will have been capable of simply use the torque of the engine in sixth gear, however as an alternative would shuffle between the ultimate cogs greater than it arguably wanted to.
As a part of the adjustments, there was a brand new steering system added to all however the ELX XLV, and it does make a distinction to the arrogance on supply. The final time I drove a Musso with the pre-updated hydraulic steering, it felt inconsistently weighted and arduous to evaluate. However the brand new electric-assisted steering is way extra manageable, and gives extra intuitiveness.
The suspension was decently comfy, with the rear coil-spring setup enhancing the expertise to really feel a bit extra SUV-like than different utes within the phase. Even unladen it’s moderately nicely mannered, and it corners with confidence.
There’s not lots of annoyance for the security tech both. The lane departure warning system now additionally does some assisted steering for you, however it has a easy button on the steering wheel to disable it if you happen to don’t prefer it.
However annoyingly, KGM nonetheless hasn’t acquired adaptive cruise management in any model of the Musso, regardless of the actual fact you get that within the Rexton now.
One other huge plus for the Musso is that it’s comparatively quiet. Many different dual-cab utes have loud engines or let in lots of wind and highway noise, however this is without doubt one of the quietest pickups within the phase.
| Off-road dimensions | KGM Musso XLV Final |
|---|---|
| Monitor entrance and rear | 1640mm |
| Floor clearance | 220mm |
| Method angle | 25.0 levels |
| Departure angle | 20.0 levels |
| Ramp breakover angle | 20.0 levels |
| Wading depth | N/A |
To see how the KGM Musso traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability instrument
What do you get?
Right here’s a rundown of the spec lists for the KGM Musso vary.
2025 KGM Musso gear highlights:
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- HID headlights (projector halogen on XLV)
- LED daytime operating lights
- Entrance fog lights
- Silver roof rails
- Cruise management
- Hill descent management
- Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
- Peak adjustment
- Attain adjustment
- Material upholstery
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
The Advance provides:
- 18-inch black alloy wheels
- Black grille
- HID headlights
- LED entrance fog lights
- Rear privateness glass
- Black roof rails
- Leatherette upholstery
- Heated and ventilated entrance seats
- Heated steering wheel
- Twin-zone local weather management
The Final provides:
- LED headlights with sequential indicators
- Energy sunroof
- ‘Particular design’ entrance bumper and grille
- Proximity entry with walk-away auto door locking
- Black inside highlights
- 8-way power-adjustable entrance seats
- Energy lumbar for driver’s seat
- Heated outboard rear seats
To see how the KGM Musso traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability instrument
Is the KGM Musso secure?
There isn’t any ANCAP or Euro NCAP ranking for the Musso. By no means has been, in all these years on sale.
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Then there’s the lap-only centre rear seatbelt. Lap-sash belts have been round for the reason that Nineteen Fifties. It’s previous time this ute acquired 5 lap-sash belts.
Commonplace security gear throughout the vary contains:
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Lane departure warning
- Lane-keep help (excludes XLV variants)
- Reversing digicam
- Entrance and rear parking sensors
- 6 airbags
The Advance provides:
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Protected exit warning
- Tyre strain monitoring
The Final additionally encompasses a surround-view digicam.
To see how the KGM Musso traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability instrument
How a lot does the KGM Musso value to run?
KGM has continued on related aftersales provisions for the Musso because the SsangYong model it changed. There’s a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee for personal and enterprise clients.
| Servicing and Guarantee | KGM Musso |
|---|---|
| Guarantee | 7 years, limitless kilometres |
| Roadside help | 5 years |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | 7 years or 105,000km |
| Common annual service value | $462 |
| Whole capped-price service value | $3234 |
Servicing intervals are each 12 months/15,000km, and there’s a seven-year capped-price service program that spans out to 105,000km, with the typical upkeep price capped at $462. Simply be conscious that some consumable gadgets might appeal to further charges.
KGM gives a five-year roadside help plan.
To see how the KGM Musso traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability instrument
CarExpert’s Tackle the KGM Musso
The KGM Musso is a good choice for these available in the market for a dual-cab ute that gives refined driving and a extra SUV-like expertise, however nonetheless with massively sensible tub house and benchmark towing functionality.
It’s let down by some oversights – no adaptive cruise, no lap-sash center seatbelt within the again – but when these aren’t a priority to you, it’s a snug and likeable diesel ute that’s nicely value a search for budget-focused consumers.
CarExpert can prevent hundreds on a brand new KGM Musso. Click on right here to get an incredible deal
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