The Korean ute you’ve been waiting for: 2026 KGM Musso fully detailed as the diesel-powered alternative to Chinese utes like the GWM Cannon, JAC T9 and Foton Tunland

KGM, formerly known as SsangYong, has fully detailed its next-gen ‘Q300’ Musso ute in its Korean home market, ahead of an expected launch in Australia in mid-2026.

The new Musso is surprisingly traditional, despite adopting a completely new and modern styling language, primarily powered by a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine producing 150kW/441Nm according to Korean specs. It is mated to a six-speed torque-converter automatic transmission. 

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For reference, the current Musso offered in Australia is equipped with a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine producing 133kW/420Nm mated to a six-speed auto.

All versions of the new ute are able to be equipped with a 4x4 system and a locking rear differential, although at least for now the Q300 Musso is only available in dual-cab form.

The new-generation Musso continues to offer the option of two tray lengths, with a standard deck measuring 1300mm long and offering 1011 litres of storage, or a long deck (previously known locally as the XLV) measuring 1610mm long with 1262L of storage. Both are 1670mm wide with a depth of 570mm.

The new ute is longer than the outgoing model, although it shares the same overall width, with total dimensions coming in at 5150mm long, 1950mm wide, and 1865mm tall for the standard tray, with the additional length of the long tray totalling 5460mm.

Its minimum ground clearance is 245mm and the standard body version has an approach angle of 30.9 degrees.

The new Musso can also be chosen with either coil- or leaf-spring rear suspension, with the coil-spring version allowing a payload of 500kg and the leaf-spr-ng version allowing a payload of 700kg according to Korean specifications.

The modern styling language sees the Musso adopt the same blocky face as the smaller Musso EV ute and its Torres SUV relation which also recently launched in Australia, complete with full LED lighting and a light bar crossing the front, and more blocky plastic fittings across its body.

Interestingly, there are two style packages available in the Korean market, either the standard version, or the Grand Style grade which features an alternate grille design, a new lower spoiler piece, a unique tailgate and increased body-coloured trims.

The interior is also significantly more modern than the outgoing Musso, now featuring a 12.3-inch digital dash and matching multimedia touchscreen with the brand’s latest software, ambient interior lighting and increased soft-touch trims. The new ute also features over-the-air capability and digital key connectivity via a phone app.

The interior also continues to feature physical climate controls on a dedicated climate panel, and the Korean market offers two interior themes, either brown or black. Some grades also feature a new 'clear sight view' feature, allowing the cameras to provide a see-through body for navigating off-road conditions.

The new Musso can’t come soon enough for KGM which took a battering in 2025 courtesy of delays to new product and aggressive Chinese rivals expanding onto its affordable alternative market niche.

The brand was down 23.7 per cent for the year, with the Musso forming the bulk of its sales over that period.

The brand’s other new-generation products, the Torres mid-size SUV and Actyon upper mid-sizer have struggled to make an impact, amassing just 288 and 166 sales for the year, respectively.

The brand is no doubt hoping its figures will be bolstered by the arrival of hybrid variants of its SUVs and the arrival of the Musso by the middle of 2026.

The next-generation version of the Musso’s Rexton SUV spin-off is yet to be revealed, but will also be important for the local division as its second-best-selling product.