Launch ·
KGM Musso EV lands in Australia — Australia's first electric ute, and what it means for caravan towing
Australia's first fully electric ute, from $60k drive-away. 1,800 kg braked towing makes it relevant for camper trailers and pop-tops, not full-size caravans — but a signpost for what's coming in EV towing.
By Caravanist
KGM Australia (formerly SsangYong) has launched the 2026 Musso EV — Australia’s first fully electric dual-cab ute — from $60,000 drive-away. Deliveries began through KGM dealerships in late 2025, with full sales open December 2025. For caravanners, the relevant figure is towing: 1,800 kg braked capacity, with some sources citing a 2,300 kg variant subject to market-specific homologation.
The numbers that matter for caravan buyers
| Spec | 2WD | AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Driveaway price | $60,000 | ~$67,000 |
| Battery | 80.6 kWh LFP | 80.6 kWh LFP |
| Range (WLTP) | 420 km | 380 km |
| Payload | 905 kg | 805 kg |
| Braked towing | 1,800 kg | 1,800 kg |
The 1,800 kg towing rating puts the Musso EV firmly in camper-trailer and small hybrid-camper territory, not full-size caravan towing. For context:
- Camper trailers (soft-floor or hard-floor): typically 1,200–1,800 kg ATM ✓ fits
- Compact hybrid campers (small MDC, smaller Track Trailer Tvan): typically 1,400–2,200 kg ATM ⚠️ depends on variant
- Pop-top caravans (e.g. Avan Aspire 555 at 1,880 kg ATM): ✓ fits
- Mid-size caravans (Jayco Discovery, New Age Manta Ray at 2,500–3,000 kg ATM): ✗ exceeds
- Off-road touring caravans (3,000–3,500 kg ATM): ✗ exceeds significantly
If you’re shopping for a caravan above ~1,800 kg ATM, the Musso EV in current spec isn’t the answer. For lightweight setups, it’s a credible electric alternative to the diesel ute it would otherwise replace.
Range with a trailer attached
The 420 km WLTP figure is unladen, unhooked, optimal conditions. Real-world towing typically cuts EV range by 40–60% depending on trailer weight, frontal area, speed and terrain. Towing a 1,500 kg pop-top at 90 km/h on Australian highways, a Musso EV owner should plan for roughly 170–250 km of real-world range per charge — substantially shorter than the diesel equivalent’s ~700 km between fuel stops, and a meaningful constraint on long-haul touring.
Why it still matters
Even if the Musso EV won’t tow your touring van, the launch matters as a signpost:
- It’s the first. Other manufacturers — Ford, Toyota, Isuzu, BYD — are watching how Musso EV sales develop. A successful first year creates pressure for heavier-duty electric utes (3.5 tonne tow) to arrive faster.
- Pricing is genuinely accessible. $60k drive-away is cheaper than most premium ICE dual-cabs and competitive with mid-spec diesels. The Musso EV undercut surprised the market.
- Fast-charging infrastructure expansion along major touring routes (Bruce Highway, Stuart, the Nullarbor) is being driven partly by anticipation of EV-towing demand. Even if Musso EV owners don’t tow caravans, their charging-network usage maps to the eventual EV-touring market.
Verdict for caravan buyers
If your van’s ATM exceeds 1,800 kg (most caravans do), keep shopping diesel for the foreseeable future. If you tow a camper trailer, pod trailer or small hybrid camper, the Musso EV is now a legitimate option to put on the comparison list. And if you’re planning a tow-vehicle replacement 3–5 years out, this launch is a useful data point for what the electric-ute market will look like by then.