Meet the Munro Mk_1 - the electric Defender rival
Mon, 17 Apr 2023
- New British-built 4x4 EV claims to be world’s most capable electric off-roader
- Munro Mk_1 offers up to 16 hours of run time
- On sale from early 2024 with prices from £59,994
New British EV manufacturer Munro is set to launch what it describes as the ‘world’s most capable all-electric 4x4.’
Based in Scotland, Munro aims to take on established leaders in the all-wheel drive pick-up sector, including the new Ford Ranger, the robust Isuzu D-Max and the popular Toyota Hilux.
Munro says it will do this by offering lower whole life running costs and a vehicle with greater durability for those who use a 4x4 for work rather than leisure. As a result, the Munro has been engineered as an extreme off-road vehicle first and a road car second.
The base of the Munro Mk_1 is a separate steel chassis made from 5mm thick metal, which is more than three-times the thickness used for most other body-on-frame 4x4s. The chassis will be galvanised and coated in protective paint to make it as long-lasting as possible.
Longevity is a key principle for the company as it expects customers to keep their vehicle for much longer than existing pick-ups and SUVs, which will offset the initially higher price of the Munro Mk_1.
Munro provides a five-year warranty on all vehicles, and those maintained within the company’s service network will have that extended to 10-year cover.
Munro has also designed the Mk_1 to be easily updated and upgraded throughout its life. The major components are easy to access for servicing, repair, or replacement.
That includes the battery packs, which sit within the chassis to keep the weight low for good handling and off-road lean protection. The batteries are encased in 5mm thick water-tight boxes.
There is built-in roll protection and Munro offers optional extra roof strengthening to meet Falling Object Protection standards so the vehicle can be used in industries such as mining and quarrying.
The body is made from simple flat aluminium panels. While the chassis and body are produced in-house by Munro, it uses outside suppliers for the suspension. The firm builds its own axles, but the suspension has been developed from off-road competition specification equipment to be as strong as possible.
There’s full-time four-wheel drive with a low-ratio transfer box to give the best off-road driving.
Munro CEO, Russell Peterson said: "From the start, the Munro MK_1 was designed and engineered without compromise for ultimate off-road ability and exceptional longevity. That is why we chose a single-central mounted electric motor that delivers power to a robust, proven and easily maintained mechanical four-
wheel drive system."
Munro says the the best way to drive off-road is to ensure that the same amount of torque is delivered to each wheel and that all the wheels spin at the same speed and that is always best achieved by a single power source and a single unified mechanical driveline.
Along with 480mm of ground clearance, 800mm wading depth, and front approach and rear departure angles of 84- and 51-degrees respectively, the Munro is hugely able off-road.
The name of the company is inspired by mountains in Scotland that are more than 3000ft tall, which are called Munros.
During a passenger ride, we didn’t scale any hills that high, but the Munro Mk_1 tackled severely rutted gradients, deep water and slippery ground that most standard SUVs and 4x4s would struggle with.
As well as making easy progress with no hint of ever getting stuck, the most impressive part of the Mk_1’s drive was how smooth the ride and suspension were over such pitted routes.
That’s important when the Munro is pitched as a work vehicle as this sort of comfort reduces fatigue for the car’s occupants, even when carrying up to a 1000kg payload.
There’s also plenty of space in the cabin of the five-seat estate version, and the company will offer crew cab and pick-up bodies, as well as working with customers who want specialised conversions.
A simple digital dash is easy to read and most switches are borrowed from the tractor industry so they are very tough and easy to use even when wearing thick gloves.
Munro has modest sales targets of 50 Mk_1s by the end of 2023, followed by 250 in 2024 and rising to 2500 by 2027.
Prices start at £59,994 for the base Utility model that comes with climate control, 2500kg towing capacity, and driving range of up to 141 miles.
The Range version can cover up to 190 miles on a full charge and also comes with heated seats from £71,994. The Performance has a 375PS electric motor in place of the others’ 295PS motor and can tow up to 3500kg. It costs from £83,994.
Which 4x4 do you recommend for towing and general farm work?
