Commercial Vehicle News Electric Cars Reviewed

KGM Musso EV review: Is the commercial EV market finally picking up?

November 14, 2025 Matt Allan

The electric pick-up market has struggled to get going in the UK but the KGM Musso EV might just point towards a brighter future

While the electric car world is booming, with more models and buyers every day, the commercial vehicle segment has struggled somewhat, especially when it comes to pick-up trucks.

In fact, apart from the Maxus T90 EV, there aren’t any commercially available electric pick-ups in the UK. That will change next year, however, when the Isuzu D-Max EV and Toyota Hilux BEV arrive along with today’s test subject – the KGM Musso EV.I don’t thin

The Musso pick-up has been around a long time, but the Musso EV doesn’t share anything more than a name with the diesel truck. Instead, it’s based on the Torres EVX SUV to offer an all-electric alternative to the oil-burner. That results in some compromises on practicality but benefits elsewhere, as we explore below.

It’s worth noting that the car I drove was an early demonstrator and not the final UK spec. We’ll find out more about equipment, pricing and final technical specs closer to its launch date.

Design, interior and technology

The Musso EV shares more than just its running gear with the Torres EVX. Head-on they’re almost identical, with the same slimline LED headlights, same segmented lightbar beneath the bonnet and the same chunky low-level running lights. The Musso gets a more aggressive slatted “grille” and bright red overrider-style elements, and the overall effect is a surprisingly good one, especially in relation to the slab-faced diesel truck.

Behind the five-seat cabin a couple of odd grab handles give a bit of definition where you might usually find a roll hoop and there’s the de rigueur black cladding to add a bit of a rugged look.

The pick-up bed itself is slightly smaller than most one-tonne trucks’ but still a decent enough space unless you’re planning to haul tonnes of stuff around. Which you won’t be, but more on that later.

Inside, the Musso’s SUV roots show through again in a positive way. The cab is borrowed wholesale from the Torres, which means a very car-like layout and feel, plus plenty of space for four adults. There’s leather on the seats, ambient lighting, a tasteful copper finish to the dashboard, and materials that are a step up from a lot of pick-ups. There are also two 12.3-inch screens – one for instruments and the other to control virtually every function on the vehicle.

The Musso EV’s interior is lifted wholesale from the Torres EVX (Image: Matt Allan)

That’s where the Musso EV slips up. KGM’s touchscreen is incredibly slow and cursed with poor design and over-complicated menus that make even basic tasks feel like a chore. It’s particularly frustrating when all you want to do is adjust the temperature or turn off the horrifically intrusive and irritating driver assistance systems. On the bright side, once the screen eventually starts working, it does support Android and Apple mirroring.

KGM Musso EV battery, motor and performance

While it’s related to the Torres EVX, the Musso EV gets a bigger battery – 80.6kWh – and four-wheel drive courtesy of a second motor. Power is still limited to 204bhp, like the Torres, with 250lb ft of torque.

They’re favourable stats compared with the D-Max EV and the Hilux, which have 66.9kWh and 59.2kWh batteries respectively, and both offer around 190bhp from their two-motor arrangements.

Cheekily, the specs provided by KGM quote range at 290 miles but that’s on the city cycle. The combined cycle is probably closer to 235 miles, although that’s still to be confirmed. Nonetheless, that’s significantly better than the Isuzu’s 163 miles or the Toyota’s 150 miles.

The Musso EV will charge at 120kW, allowing a 10-80% refill in 36 minutes. The Hilux manages 150kW, but the D-Max is nowhere close, limited to just 50kW. Another point to the KGM.

On the road, the 204bhp and 250lb ft feels sufficient to get the Musso EV moving nicely. There are multiple drive modes to adjust the throttle and three levels of braking regeneration for a very car-like driving experience. It also feels remarkably refined for a pick-up. The SUV origins show through once again with good noise insulation, and the ride is more composed than a traditional pick-up. Even unladen, it feels settled and controlled on twisty country roads.

Payload, towing and practicality

The flip side to that SUV-like refinement is that the Musso EV can’t match the practicality of a traditional diesel truck.

As well as a shorter load bed, the Musso EV’s payload is limited to just 690kg, compared with the usual pick-up standard of 1,000kg. Towing capacity, too, is restricted. It’s 2,300kg rather than the diesel-standard 3,500kg.

The Musso EV offers a payload of 690kg and up to 2,300kg towing capacity (Image: Matt Allan)

The Musso’s pulling ability is still enough for many applications, including mid-sized trailers, and its payload will still suffice for many less heavy-duty trades, but for the most demanding users it will fall short.

In KGM’s defence, the Toyota Hilux only manages to tow 1,600kg and has a similar payload, but Isuzu has managed to retain the 1,000kg/3,500kg standard with the D-Max EV.

It’s worth noting at this point that while the sub-tonne payload means business buyers can’t claim back VAT, the Musso EV wins out on company car tax. Double cab diesel trucks have taken a beating on that front this year but thanks to its zero-emissions powertrain the Musso EV commands a Benefit in Kind rate of just 3%.

KGM Musso EV price and specification

Simply put, we don’t yet know how much the Musso EV will cost.

As a guide, the D-Max is set to start at £59,995 plus VAT when it goes on sale next year, and we’ve heard rumours that the Hilux will sit at around £50,000 plus VAT.

We would expect KGM to try and undercut both those rivals, and numbers as low as £40,000 plus VAT have been bandied around.

There’s no word on final specs either, but my test car came with 17-inch alloys, LED lights, heated Nappa leather seats front and rear, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control and vehicle-to-load capability. That’s very similar to the Torres K40 spec, and if I had to guess, I’d imagine there will be a less generously kitted out model in the vein of the Torres K30.

Verdict

There’s no shying away from the fact that the Musso EV is compromised as a workhorse.

Its load and towing capacities can’t match its diesel-powered rivals or the D-Max EV. However, for some businesses its lesser capabilities will be sufficient and its superior range, power, charging and refinement will play in its favour.

I can also see it appealing to a small section of lifestyle buyers who want an SUV feel but don’t want manky mountain bikes or soaking paddle boards messing up their car’s interior. There’s a reason the first public test drives were held at a cross-country triathlon…

So the KGM Musso EV isn’t perfect, but it is a positive sign that the electric pick-up market might be about to, well, pick up.