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MG desires a chunk of the ute pie in Australia and its ute-nsil of alternative is that this – the U9.
Based mostly on the identical platform because the LDV Terron 9, the MG U9 combines a standard four-cylinder turbo-diesel powertrain, progressive packaging and premium inside presentation, positioning it as a lovely dual-cab 4×4 pickup different to phase staples together with the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, and Isuzu D-Max.
That positioning can be mirrored within the pricing. MG will ask $52,990 drive-away for the entry-level variant at launch, whereas the flagship Discover Professional is priced at $60,990 drive-away. As such, it additionally competes with different Chinese language challengers such because the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha.
MG desires to be among the many best-selling auto manufacturers Down Underneath by 2030, however the achievement of that objective hinges largely on the success of this ute. In any case, four-wheel drive utes accounted for greater than 200,000 gross sales or virtually one-fifth of Australia’s complete new-vehicle market final yr.
No strain, then.
Keenly conscious of the excessive stakes concerned, MG invited us to Glenworth Valley in New South Wales to briefly expertise pre-production examples of the U9 as a part of a nationwide launch occasion, forward of first buyer deliveries within the fourth quarter of this yr.
How a lot does the MG U9 price?
MG Motor Australia has undercut preliminary estimates by pricing its first ute consistent with low-spec variations of the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.
| Mannequin | Drive-away value |
|---|---|
| 2026 MG U9 Discover | $52,990 |
| 2026 MG U9 Discover X | $55,990 |
| 2026 MG U9 Discover Professional | $60,990 |
To see how the MG U9 strains up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument
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What’s the MG U9 like on the within?
You’ll be arduous pressed to discover a extra inviting ute inside at this value level.
The U9 is greater than most mainstream dual-cabs and that further measurement is straight away obvious while you clamber up into the cabin. It’s simply so roomy, with a way of house that’s extra akin to a full-size American pickup than a Ranger or HiLux.
The seats are huge and accommodating to a wide range of physique sorts, whereas the centre console is really expansive. Our Discover Professional check autos additionally featured a cream-coloured suede headliner and panoramic sunroof, each of which brighten up the inside and draw additional consideration to its beneficiant dimensions.
These options additionally draw your eyes to the design of the cabin, which neatly blends a utilitarian aesthetic with premium materials decisions. Each the sprint and higher door playing cards are trimmed in soft-touch plastics, and key contact factors are completed in both leather-based (Discover Professional) or an artificial substitute.
As such, the U9 feels extra upmarket than the overwhelming majority of equally positioned rivals, bar perhaps the BYD Shark 6. And importantly, it’s not attempting too arduous like, say, the GWM Cannon Alpha.
Nonetheless, I maintain considerations in regards to the hardiness of the U9’s inside over the lengthy haul.
Whereas it’s troublesome to make concrete assertions based mostly on testing of pre-production autos, there have been some regarding indicators of untimely put on. For instance, the electrical parking brake change in a single U9 on the occasion had come free, whereas others suffered creaks from the seats and door playing cards.
These points could solely concern prototype variations, however additionally they could not.
Doubts could exist over construct high quality, however there’s no questioning the extent of ordinary gear supplied throughout the U9 vary. From a consolation perspective, the Discover Professional will get power-adjustable seats with heating (entrance and rear), air flow, and therapeutic massage features. All variants function twin 12.3-inch shows.
It’s the identical display setup present in different latest-generation MG fashions, with a single panel housing each the infotainment system and instrument show.
Fashionable and clear in look, the tech is large on performance, though you’ll need to go for both the Discover X or Discover Professional if you’d like entry to the total suite of related options together with Amazon music, satellite tv for pc navigation, and OTA updates.
Wi-fi smartphone mirroring is normal throughout the vary, though you may nonetheless join your telephone by way of a alternative of USB-A or USB-C shops. Upgrading to the Discover X brings a wi-fi charging pad.
Ute patrons are inclined to favour perform over type, and MG has taken that under consideration when designing the management centre of the U9. The touchscreen is complemented by a central strip of bodily buttons devoted to local weather controls and key shortcuts, all of which come in useful when making changes on the transfer.
You don’t have to search around for the amount, cruise or mirror controls, both. And also you definitely gained’t miss the aircraft-style gear lever, a design spotlight that dominates the centre console space.
Contemplating the sheer width of the U9, the cabin storage choices up entrance are just a little disappointing except for the inclusion of split-level door bins.
The lockable glovebox is tiny, and whereas many fashionable utes provide an extra storage tray above the glovebox, that’s absent right here.
Regardless, you’re nonetheless getting loads of bang in your again with the U9, and that theme holds true within the second row.
There’s ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room for a full complement of tradies again there, though you’ll wrestle to squeeze steel-capped boots underneath the entrance seats. There’d be much more room overhead if not for the sunroof, though it stays an possibility price having.
Rear facilities contains USB shops, air vents, map pockets, door bins, B-pillar seize handles, and a folding centre armrest with built-in cupholders – a fairly beneficiant assortment for an inexpensive ute. Stepping as much as the Discover Professional brings outboard seat heating.
The U9 lacks further space for storing underneath the rear seats much like what you’d discover in a Kia Tasman, however that deficiency is outweighed by the practicality of the automobile as an entire.
All U9s function ‘MultiFold’ rear seatbacks that may be folded flat for further cargo house, whereas the entrance passenger seat will also be folded backwards to increase the flat floor.
The flagship Discover Professional provides the MG Good Hatch possibility ($5500), which permits the rear window to be retracted and the divider between the bathtub and cabin to be folded ahead and flat, extending the load house considerably.
Down again, the U9 contains a energy tailgate with a built-in, fold-down step and cupholders; it’s a spin on comparable tailgates seen on the Ford F-150 and GWM Cannon.
MG has seemingly targeted on cabin house with the U9, as the bathtub doesn’t match some rival choices for capability until you make use of the Good Hatch.
With that mentioned, you may nonetheless match an ordinary Australian pallet again there, whereas tie-down factors and sliding slates make it simpler to safe awkward hundreds.
A full-size spare wheel is fitted beneath the bathtub.
| Dimensions | MG U9 |
|---|---|
| Size | 5500mm |
| Width | 2265mm |
| Top | 1874mm |
| Wheelbase | 3300mm |
| Tub quantity | 1053L (approx.) |
| Tub size | 1600mm |
| Tub width | 1230mm |
| Tub depth | 535mm |
To see how the MG U9 strains up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument
What’s underneath the bonnet?
The MG U9 and LDV Terron 9 share the identical 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, eight-speed computerized transmission and four-wheel drive system, and though peak energy is down by 3kW on this utility it betters the outputs of the volume-selling four-pot diesel engines within the HiLux and Ranger.
| Specs | MG U9 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.5L 4cyl turbo-diesel |
| Energy | 160kW |
| Torque | 520Nm |
| Transmission | 8-speed computerized |
| Drive sort | 4-wheel drive |
| Gasoline financial system (claimed) | 7.9L/100km |
| CO2 emissions (claimed) | 208g/km |
| Gasoline tank | 80L |
| Weight | 2450-2550kg |
| Payload | 770-870kg |
| Braked towing capability | 3500kg |
| Gross automobile mass (GVM) | 3320kg |
| Gross mixture mass (GCM) | 6500kg |
On paper, there’s actually not so much to separate the U9 from different four-cylinder dual-cabs in the marketplace, nonetheless. It matches class leaders on towing capability, whereas fuel-efficiency is middling for the phase.
With that mentioned, the U9 provides up floor within the payload stakes, as equally priced variations of the HiLux, Ranger, Triton, BT-50, D-Max and Navara quote between 900-1100kg.
To see how the MG U9 strains up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument
How does the MG U9 drive?
The rigorously curated nature of this transient first drive meant that it was powerful to get a deal with on how the U9 behaves in common driving, however I used to be nonetheless left with a constructive impression of MG’s new ute.
We spent about 20 minutes behind the wheel of pre-production examples on the launch occasion, biking by way of a mixture of off-road actions that included low-speed towing, ‘soft-roading’, and river crossings.
As such, I can’t communicate to how the U9 drives on the highway, or at any pace exceeding 50km/h for that matter – however I can let you know the way it handles primary Aussie adventuring.
From the outset, I used to be impressed by the refinement of the turbo-diesel powertrain. It begins up with out nice fanfare and settles right into a quiet, easy rhythm, or not less than that’s the sense you get from contained in the cabin.
There’s an actual sense of quietness contained in the U9 – not fairly to the extent of the sometimes-EV BYD Shark 6 or ultra-sophisticated Kia Tasman, however definitely above what you count on from an ordinary dual-cab 4×4 ute.
And regardless of its softly spoken nature, the U9 shouldn’t be in need of a gallop. The two.5-litre four-cylinder produces 160kW and 520Nm, that are aggressive figures for the phase. In saying that, the U9 is heavier than most at round 2.5 tonnes.
However, it was in a position to tow a 2660kg caravan across the campground with no points. The automobile doesn’t shunt forwards and backwards with a heavy load in tow, nor does it require vastly exaggerated throttle inputs to make progress.
A lightweight steering setup additionally aids manoeuvrability while you’ve bought just a few metres of additional size to cope with, and you’ll join trailer cameras to the infotainment system for an unimpeded rear view.
Whether or not these traits translate to snug high-speed towing stays to be seen.
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The U9’s punchy engine is mated to an eight-speed computerized that likewise seems as much as activity. It modifications cogs easily at low speeds and our check autos had been fitted with paddle shifters that come in useful when towing. With that mentioned, the transmission is sluggish to reply to guide inputs.
All issues thought-about, the drivetrain needs to be a powerful match for the U9. However that wasn’t my primary takeaway from this preview drive. Reasonably, it was simply how snug this ute is over tough surfaces.
MG has traded the Terron 9’s extra conventional dwell rear axle and leaf springs for a extra car-like coil-sprung multi-link unbiased rear suspension system, and because of this it feels, properly… extra car-like.
The U9 doesn’t bounce over lumps and bumps like leaf-sprung rivals, as a substitute delivering an opulent experience that protects occupants from harsh impacts. Low-frequency vibrations are equally dulled by the chassis – not less than when driving on unsealed terrain…
Past a forgiving suspension system, which can come on the costly of some payload, the U9 boasts an abundance of helpful tech and mechanical options to make off-roading that little bit simpler.
All variants come outfitted with selectable four-wheel drive together with a low-range switch case, devoted off-road terrain modes and a rear differential lock, whereas the top-spec Discover Professional positive factors a entrance differential lock. That’s loads of equipment for a ute that’s additionally large on luxurious.
And in apply, the above inclusions make the U9 really feel genuinely succesful off the blacktop. It doesn’t scrabble for traction when confronted with free or slippery terrain, and makes mild work of primary water crossings.
I say primary as a result of wading depth is capped at 550mm – a disappointingly low quantity by phase requirements. Likewise, the U9 is proscribed by its 220mm claimed floor clearance.
It’s doable to keep away from pointless obstacles by benefiting from MG’s ‘Off-road Professional’ infotainment utility. The useful app concurrently shows a top-down view of the automobile with marked wheel tracks, key information and shortcut icons for crawl management, hill descent management, and ESC.
Once more, the precise stage of the U9’s off-road functionality will solely turn into clear once we’re in a position to put it by way of prolonged rigorous testing, however the early indicators are promising.
| Off-road dimensions | MG U9 |
|---|---|
| Observe entrance and rear | 1685mm |
| Floor clearance | 220mm |
| Method angle | 29 levels |
| Departure angle | 25 levels |
| Ramp breakover angle | 20 levels |
| Wading depth | 550mm |
To see how the MG U9 strains up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument
What do you get?
The MG U9 will initially be supplied in three dual-cab 4×4 pickup variants in Australia: the bottom Discover, mid-spec Discover X, and flagship Discover Professional.
2025 MG U9 Discover gear highlights:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Rain-sensing wipers
- LED headlights
- Heated facet mirrors
- Painted tub liner
- Keyless entry with push button begin
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- DAB+ digital radio
- Twin-zone local weather management
- Microfibre leather-based steering wheel
- 6-way adjustable electrical driver’s seat
- Synthetic leather-based upholstery
- 6-speaker sound system
The Discover X provides:
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- LED rear tub lights
- Tub cargo slide rail with hook
- Electrical folding facet mirrors
- Heated steering wheel
- 6-way adjustable electrical passenger’s seat
- Heated entrance seats
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Amazon music
- Over-the-air updates
- Voice management
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- Wi-fi telephone charger
The Discover Professional provides:
- 20-inch alloy wheels
- Black window trim
- Black roof rails
- Electrical tailgate
- 64-colour ambient lighting
- Suede headliner
- Electrical panoramic sunroof
- 8-way adjustable electrical driver’s seat
- incl. lumbar, air flow and therapeutic massage features
- Leather-based upholstery
- Heated rear outboard seats
- Trailer reversing help
- 8-speaker JBL sound system
Optionally available Electrically Foldable Rear Cabin Entry Panel
To see how the MG U9 strains up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument
Is the MG U9 secure?
The U9 will launch in Australia with a full five-star ANCAP score, though it’s based mostly on testing of the associated Maxus eTerron 9 electrical dual-cab offered abroad.
| Class | MG U9 |
|---|---|
| Grownup occupant safety | 91 per cent |
| Little one occupant safety | 89 per cent |
| Susceptible highway person safety | 84 per cent |
| Security help | 85 per cent |
Normal security gear contains:
- 7 airbags
- Clever Cruise Help
- Lane-keep help
- Lane departure warning
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Driver fatigue monitoring
- Ahead collision warning
- Rear collision warning
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Tyre strain monitoring
- Entrance and rear parking sensors
- Reversing digicam
Discover X provides:
Discover Professional provides:
To see how the MG U9 strains up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument
How a lot does the MG U9 price to run?
MG will again its U9 with a shorter guarantee than most of its fashions – simply 5 years, with no kilometre restrict for personal patrons however a 160,000km restrict for business prospects.
That is bumped as much as seven years or 200,000km – matching the LDV – when homeowners service inside the MG seller community. Service intervals and pricing will likely be introduced nearer to launch.
To see how the MG U9 strains up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument
CarExpert’s Tackle the MG U9
It’s troublesome to come back to any definitive conclusions in regards to the U9 after such a restricted first drive, however there’s sufficient proof to counsel that it’s a worthwhile addition to Australia’s bustling ute market.
It’s larger and extra plush than most inexpensive utes, whereas the turbo-diesel powertrain and four-wheel drive system appear match for function. The multi-link rear suspension setup additionally guarantees to be a powerful promoting level for individuals who prioritise consolation over payload.
Most significantly, the worth is true. We didn’t get the possibility to pattern a base Discover, however the Discover Professional flagship is completely loaded with know-how, luxurious and practicality for little greater than a stripped-out Ranger or HiLux.
Nonetheless, a number of query marks stay. The prototypes we sampled confirmed worrying indicators of damage and tear, casting doubt over the sturdiness of the U9.
We had been additionally dissatisfied to search out the intelligent Good Hatch is a $5500 possibility unique to the top-shelf Discover Professional. Cheeky, MG.
Additional, we nonetheless don’t know what the U9 is prefer to drive on public roads. With that in thoughts, it is sensible to take a wait and see method with this promising, but unproven ute.
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