New electric ute dinged for lacking advertised safety features

Independent safety authority ANCAP is warning owners and prospective buyers of the KGM Musso EV electric ute that it doesn’t have the full complement of airbags it had been advertised as having.

Launched locally in November 2025, the KGM Musso EV was advertised as coming standard with eight airbags: dual front, front-side and curtain airbags, plus centre (aka driver’s far-side) and driver’s knee airbags.

However, ANCAP has warned the latter two airbags are absent from the approximately 306 Musso EVs delivered locally thus far.

KGM Australia updated its website and other marketing material ahead of August to confirm there are only six airbags on locally delivered Musso EVs.

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“The specification difference was observed following ANCAP’s independent procurement of test vehicles and conduct of the initial destructive crash test," said ANCAP chief executive Carla Hoorweg in a statement.

"During the crash test, there was no centre airbag deployment. Upon post-crash inspection, ANCAP found that a centre airbag was not fitted to the test vehicle.

“A review of the vehicle specification materials alongside the physical vehicles confirmed that there was a discrepancy. This discrepancy applied to both the centre airbag and driver knee airbag.

“KGM Australia has moved quickly to amend its marketing materials, and ANCAP encourages KGM to deliver a production change that would see centre and driver knee airbags fitted to Australian-supplied vehicles.”

ANCAP has advised customers with concerns to contact KGM Australia or their local KGM dealer.

KGM Australia hasn't confirmed if the centre airbag and driver’s knee airbag will be added in a future model year update.

"KGM Australia is working closely with KGM headquarters in Korea to review the specification of future Musso EV models, including opportunities for future product enhancements," a KGM Australia spokesperson said in a statement.

A centre airbag, referred to by KGM as a “front row far-side” or “front seat centre airbag”, is positioned at the front of the cabin to prevent injuries from a driver and front passenger striking each other in a side impact collision.

A driver’s knee airbag, as its name suggests, is housed in the lower part of the dashboard beneath the steering column and helps reduce occupant movement and loading during a crash.