ANCAP Finds Musso Electric ute Missing Two Key Airbags: What It Means for Buyers
Safety regulators have uncovered a significant gap in the SsangYong Musso Electric ute’s occupant protection package. The vehicle, which was expected to compete strongly in the growing electric pickup segment, has been found lacking two critical airbags that Australian buyers have come to expect as standard.
The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) confirmed that the electric version of the Musso omits both a centre airbag (designed to prevent head-on collision between front occupants) and a driver’s knee airbag. These omissions could materially affect the vehicle’s safety rating and, more importantly, real-world crash outcomes.
Why the Missing Airbags Matter
Airbags are not interchangeable accessories. Each one serves a specific purpose in a crash event, and their absence changes how forces are distributed to the human body during an impact.
The front-centre airbag is a relatively recent innovation that deploys between the driver and front passenger. Its job is to stop heads from colliding in a side impact or offset frontal crash. Without it, occupants in the front seats are at risk of striking each other—a scenario that can cause traumatic brain injuries even when seatbelts are properly worn.
The driver’s knee airbag performs a different but equally important function. It prevents the driver from submarining under the seatbelt and reduces lower-leg injuries by managing energy transfer to the knees and femurs in a frontal collision. Its absence means the steering column and lower dashboard become the primary contact points in a severe crash.
Key Takeaway: Airbag omissions are not about cost-cutting alone—they represent a deliberate engineering decision that shifts crash-energy management onto other safety systems, which may not fully compensate.
ANCAP’s Testing Protocol and What It Exposes
ANCAP’s assessment process goes beyond counting airbags. The organisation conducts physical crash tests, including frontal offset, side impact, and pole tests, then cross-references those results with the vehicle’s standard safety equipment list.
The Musso Electric’s missing airbags were flagged during the equipment verification phase, before crash testing even began. This is notable because it means the vehicle entered the assessment with a known deficiency in its occupant protection package.
The regulator’s concern is compounded by the fact that the internal release mechanism for the bonnet is difficult to identify and operate because it closely matches the colour of the surrounding interior trim. In a severe crash that disables the electrical system, the regulator warns, occupants could struggle to get out of the vehicle.
This combination—missing airbags plus a poorly visible emergency release—creates a compounded safety risk that goes beyond what a single star rating can communicate.
How the Musso Electric Compares to Its Rivals
The electric ute segment is still young, but the safety expectations are already established. Here is how the Musso Electric’s airbag configuration stacks up against key competitors:
| Vehicle | Front Airbags | Side Curtain Airbags | Front-Centre Airbag | Driver Knee Airbag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SsangYong Musso Electric | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| BYD Shark 6 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ford F-150 Lightning | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rivian R1T | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
The pattern is clear. Every major competitor in the electric ute space includes both the front-centre and driver knee airbags as standard. The Musso Electric is the outlier, and that distinction carries real consequences for its safety credentials.
The Engineering Trade-Off Behind the Omission
Automakers make deliberate choices about where to allocate weight, cost, and structural complexity. Omitting airbags is rarely an oversight—it is a calculated decision based on platform constraints and market positioning.
The Musso Electric is built on a body-on-frame platform that was originally designed for diesel powertrains. Adapting it for electric propulsion required significant structural changes to accommodate the battery pack, and those changes may have limited the available space for certain airbag installations.
There is also a cost dimension. Electric utes face intense price pressure, and every component added to the bill of materials affects the final showroom price. Airbags are not inexpensive—a full complement adds several hundred dollars to manufacturing costs.
Key Takeaway: When a vehicle omits safety equipment that rivals include as standard, buyers should ask whether the savings are being passed on to them or retained as margin.
What This Means for Australian Buyers
For consumers considering the Musso Electric, the missing airbags should factor into the purchasing decision alongside price, range, and towing capacity.
The vehicle may still achieve a passable ANCAP rating, but it will likely fall short of the five-star standard that buyers in this segment have come to expect. That has implications for insurance premiums, fleet purchasing decisions, and resale value.
Families, in particular, should weigh the absence of the front-centre airbag carefully. This component is specifically designed to protect front-seat occupants from colliding with each other in a side impact—a scenario that is more common in utes and SUVs due to their higher centre of gravity and increased rollover risk.
The Bigger Picture: Safety Standards Are Rising
The Musso Electric’s airbag omission arrives at a time when global safety regulators are pushing for more stringent occupant protection requirements. The front-centre airbag, once a luxury feature, is rapidly becoming a baseline expectation in new vehicle designs.
European NCAP protocols already reward vehicles that include this airbag, and it is only a matter of time before Australian regulations follow suit. Buyers who purchase a vehicle without it today may find themselves holding an asset that is structurally disadvantaged in future safety assessments.
What to Do If You Already Own a Musso Electric
If you have already taken delivery of a Musso Electric, the news is not a reason to panic, but it is a reason to be informed.
- Check your vehicle’s build date to confirm whether your unit includes any running changes.
- Review your insurance policy to understand how a lower safety rating might affect your premiums.
- Contact SsangYong Australia to ask whether a retrofitted airbag solution is planned for existing vehicles.
- Practice using the bonnet release in daylight so you can locate it quickly in an emergency.
The Bottom Line
The Musso Electric’s missing airbags are a genuine safety shortfall, not a minor specification difference. ANCAP’s discovery highlights a growing divergence between what buyers expect from electric utes and what some manufacturers are willing to deliver.
The electric ute market is competitive, and buyers have options. Every rival in this segment offers the full airbag complement as standard. The Musso Electric’s omission is a clear differentiator—but not in the way SsangYong would have hoped.
Before you sign on the dotted line, ask your dealer directly: Why does this vehicle lack two airbags that its competitors include as standard? The answer will tell you a great deal about how the manufacturer views safety—and how it views you as a customer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Musso Electric have any airbags at all?
Yes, the vehicle includes front airbags and side curtain airbags. It is specifically missing the front-centre airbag and the driver’s knee airbag.
Will the missing airbags affect the ANCAP star rating?
It is likely. The omissions will be factored into the safety assessment, and the vehicle may not achieve the five-star rating that competitors in this segment typically earn.
Can the missing airbags be added later?
Retrofitting airbags is technically complex and expensive. It is unlikely that SsangYong will offer a retrofit solution for existing vehicles, so the omission is effectively permanent for current owners.
Is the Musso Electric still safe to drive?
The vehicle is not unsafe, but its occupant protection package is less comprehensive than its rivals. In a severe crash, the absence of these airbags could result in injuries that would have been prevented in a fully equipped vehicle.
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