KGM sold the Musso EV as an eight-airbag ute. It has six.
KGM Australia has admitted the marketing was wrong. Its Musso EV, the brand's first electric ute, was advertised with eight airbags. The Australian version actually leaves the factory with six.
The two missing bags are a front-centre airbag and a driver-knee airbag. Both are fitted to the South Korean-spec Musso EV, but not the one you can buy here.
It was crash-safety body ANCAP, not KGM, that flagged the gap. The brand says the ute has always been built in this six-airbag configuration and that only the published material was wrong.
Why this matters more than a spec-sheet typo
A front-centre airbag sits between the front occupants and cuts head-clash injuries in a side impact. A knee airbag protects your lower body in a frontal hit. Neither is a rounding error.
Buyers who signed for a Musso EV believing it carried eight airbags were paying for a safety story that did not match the car in the driveway. That is the kind of gap most people only discover after the money has changed hands.
KGM says it is finalising a coordinated customer communication and redress approach and will contact affected owners. What that redress actually looks like has not been spelled out yet.
What KGM has and has not committed to
The brand has updated its marketing and spec sheets to show six airbags. It has not said whether it will re-engineer the Australian car to add the missing two.
Nothing has been confirmed at this stage, a KGM spokesperson said, pointing only to ongoing product improvements. In plain terms, do not assume a retrofit is coming.
If you own one, keep every brochure, order form and spec sheet you were handed at the point of sale. Documented proof of what you were promised is what any redress claim will hinge on.
This is a pattern worth knowing before you sign
Australian-market cars are sometimes built to a different safety spec than the same model sold overseas. The current Suzuki Swift is a recent example, where local versions initially differed from the European car before later production was brought into line.
The takeaway for buyers is simple. Confirm the exact airbag count, driver-assist list and ANCAP rating for the Australian variant and build date, in writing, before you commit.
Where the Musso EV sits in the market
The Musso EV launched here in late 2025 and starts from $60,000 drive-away. Unlike the body-on-frame Musso diesel, the EV rides on a monocoque platform shared with KGM's Actyon and Torres SUVs.
Single-motor front-wheel drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive versions are offered. Electric ute choice is still thin locally, and its most obvious rival is the Toyota HiLux BEV.
At $60,000, this is a big commitment, and the safety kit is part of what you are paying for. Carseekers helps buyers pin down the real drive-away price on a car like this, and if you are funding it, Loanseekers compares more than 70 lenders so the finance does not quietly cost you more than the ute itself. Getting both right is how you avoid overpaying twice on the one purchase.
The finer details
Your questions answered.
How many airbags does the KGM Musso EV have in Australia?
Six. KGM had advertised eight, but the Australian-delivered Musso EV misses out on the front-centre airbag and the driver-knee airbag that the South Korean version gets. ANCAP identified the discrepancy and KGM has since corrected its marketing.
How much does the KGM Musso EV cost in Australia?
The Musso EV starts from $60,000 drive-away. It launched locally in late 2025 in single-motor front-wheel drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive versions. At that price the safety equipment is a real part of what you are paying for, so confirm the exact spec before signing.
Will KGM add the two missing airbags to the Australian Musso EV?
Not confirmed. KGM says nothing has been decided and points only to ongoing product improvements. For now, treat the Australian car as a six-airbag vehicle and do not assume a retrofit or an upgraded build is coming.
How does the KGM Musso EV compare to the Toyota HiLux BEV?
The Musso EV is one of the very few electric utes on sale in Australia, and its most direct rival is the Toyota HiLux BEV. Unlike the body-on-frame Musso diesel, the EV uses a monocoque platform shared with KGM's Actyon and Torres SUVs, so it is more SUV-like underneath than a traditional ute.
What should I do if I bought a Musso EV thinking it had eight airbags?
Keep every brochure, order form and spec sheet from the point of sale, since documented proof of what you were promised is what any claim will rely on. KGM says it is finalising a customer communication and redress approach and will contact affected owners. You can also contact KGM Australia or your dealer directly.
Is the KGM Musso EV still safe to drive with six airbags?
Six airbags is still a reasonable count and KGM says the ute remains compliant with its Vehicle Type Approval. The issue is that buyers were told they were getting eight, including two bags that reduce side-impact and lower-body injuries. If those specific protections matter to you, factor the real count into your decision.
