Even amid the near-constant discussion of utes in Australia, 2025 has been a momentous year. We’ve already seen the arrival of the BYD Shark 6, Ford Ranger PHEV and Kia Tasman. Now comes the latest new contender looking to shake-up the establishment - MG.
The formerly-British-turned-Chinese brand has made no secret of the fact its Australian aspirations involve challenging Toyota, Ford and Mazda at the top of the sales charts. To achieve that it knew it needed a ute and needed one quickly.
Luckily for MG, it had a way to shortcut the development and get a new ute into the market in next to no time. It was called the LDV Terron 9, an upsized ute from the commercial vehicles division of SAIC, parent company to MG.
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In a throwback to the days of ‘badge engineering’ (if you don’t remember, kids, google ‘Toyota Lexcen’ or ‘Holden Apollo’), the LDV swapped badges and became the MG U9. To be fair, there are some key technical differences that we’ll explain, but the majority of the two vehicles are shared, saving time and money to help MG enter the ute contest as quickly as it could.
The LDV arrived in Australia a few weeks before the MG, but the arrival of the U9 marks a key moment, not only for the ute market, but also the brand itself. MG Australia boss Peter Ciao admitted this is a watershed moment, when MG stops focusing on small vehicles like the MG3, MG4 and ZS and takes on the literal big boys of the car industry.
Before we dive into the details, it must be noted at this point the cars we tested were pre-production examples and while mechanically the same as the vehicles which will ultimately arrive in showrooms, the trim and equipment was not the final version.
MG U9 2026: Explore
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| Price From | $52,990 |
Price and features – Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with?
9 / 10
By not having to worry about developing its own ute from scratch, MG was able to focus on its key selling strength - price. MG has a reputation for its aggressive pricing strategy in Australia, trying to win over buyers with the most affordable or best value products in any given market sector.
To that end, the MG U9 range begins at just $52,990, drive-away, for the U9 Explore, undercutting not only the Terron 9 Origin (from $53,674, drive-away) but also the similar-sized GWM Cannon Alpha (from $61,490) and even the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux dual-cab pick-up ranges.
For $52,990 the U9 Explore comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, side steps, painted tub liner, synthetic leather seats, keyless entry and ignition and a six-speaker stereo with digital radio and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.
Next up in the range is the U9 Explore X, which starts at $55,990, drive-away. For the extra money you get 19-inch alloys, a cargo slide rail with a hook in the tray, heated front seats, acoustic glass, vehicle app connectivity, voice command, a wireless smartphone charging pad, satellite navigation, Amazon music and the ability to receive over-the-air updates.
The flagship Explore Pro is priced from $60,990, drive-away, and has 20-inch alloy wheels, an eight-speaker JBL sound system, a panoramic sunroof, suede headlining, heated outboard rear seats and the clever tailgate step we’ll detail later.
Design – Is there anything interesting about its design?
7 / 10
The U9 is an upsized ute. It’s bigger than a Ford Ranger but smaller than a Ford F-150. This is a popular size from China, with not only the Terron 9 (obviously) the same size but also the GWM Cannon Alpha.
Specifically, the U9 is 5500mm long, 1874mm high and 1997mm wide (excluding mirrors) - so it’s a proper, big ute.
It cuts an imposing presence even when standing still, with the giant grille dominating the nose but it’s flanked by vertical headlights that frame it nicely.
Obviously the LDV badge has been replaced with the classic octagonal MG one, and it’s a very strange visual to see the MG logo, once synonymous with small, convertible sports cars on such a big and bulky ute. As big and bulky as it is on the outside, on the inside it follows the modern trend of looking less and less like a hard-working utility vehicle and more and more like a family-friendly SUV.
The double digital screens, and the more SUV-like materials used throughout, create a more premium feel. While the large centre console and jet-style gear selector add a bit of ‘toughness’ to the interior design.
It would have been nice if MG had created more visual separation between the U9 and Terron 9 (heck, they even have the same number in the name) but the slab-sided look works and gives the MG nice proportions for such a sizeable ute.
Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside?
8 / 10
That SUV-like interior and the larger dimensions make for a very pleasant cabin with loads of space. We didn’t get too much time to experience the multimedia system, but the 12.3-inch touchscreen looks good and operates smoothly, while the inclusion of large physical buttons for the air-conditioning and audio system is a positive for those who value ease-of-use.
There’s a generous amount of room up front, but it’s the back that really impresses. Unlike the sometimes cramped back seats in a conventionally-sized dual-cab ute, the U9 has plenty of legroom and headroom for four or even five adults to fit in comfort.
There’s also plenty of small item storage, including a wireless charging pad (but only on the high-grades) and USB outlets just ahead of the gear selector.
As for the tray out the back, that is so important to ute buyers, it measures 1600mm by 1600mm at the top, but narrows to 1230mm between the wheel arches. Despite its big size, the payload is only rated at 870kg for the Explore, 835kg for the Explore X and just 770kg for the Explore Pro.
However, MG has introduced a party trick no-one else, not even LDV offers, in the tray. At the press of a button, the rear tailgate opens and then with another press a section of the tailgate drops down, revealing a step. While not the quickest way to climb into a tray, it might be the nicest and is definitely the easiest this reviewer has experienced locally.
The even more elaborate party trick the U9 offers is what MG calls a ‘Smart Hatch’. This allows for the rear glass to retract and the bottom of the cabin to recline into the interior, creating a direct connection between the tray and the cabin for especially long items. While MG is, rightfully, very proud and keen to promote the Smart Hatch, it must be noted it is only available as an option on the Explore Pro and costs $5500 (which is nearly 10 per cent of the total cost of the car) so you’ll want to really need the extra space.
Under the bonnet – What are the key stats for its engine and transmission?
7 / 10
MG has plenty of hybrid knowledge, but has opted to keep it simple for the U9. It’s powered by a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel engine, which should be popular with the ute crowd.
It produces a solid, if unspectacular, 160kW and 520Nm, enough for it to offer a 3500kg maximum braked towing capacity, which is also something that should be popular with potential buyers.
The engine is paired with an eight-speed (torque-converter) automatic transmission and 'Super Select' 4WD system capable of sending drive to all four wheels.
Like so many new brands in the ute market, MG was keen to highlight that the transmission is built by ZF and the 4WD system is from BorgWarner, both brands with a long history in their respective areas.
Efficiency – What is its fuel consumption? What is its driving range?
7 / 10
As all three variants are powered by the same engine and all return the same fuel economy. Rated at 7.9L/100km on the combined (urban/extra-urban) cycle.
As our test drive was limited to off-road only we can’t assess its real-world usage, so that will need to wait until we can spend extended time behind the wheel.
Notably, with an 80-litre fuel tank the U9 has a theoretical driving range of more than 1000km, which is great for anyone looking to take their ute on a long road trip.
Driving – What's it like to drive?
7 / 10
While the fancy tailgate step and the Smart Hatch are the most obvious changes between the LDV and MG utes on the surface, arguably the biggest change is what’s underneath. MG has opted to buck the conventional leaf spring, live rear axle set-up and has instead opted for a more SUV-like independent, multi-link rear suspension.
This explains why such a big ute has a sub-one-tonne payload, but it speaks to MG’s aspirations to try and lure ‘urban’ ute buyers. There is no doubt a large group of ute owners who don’t go off-road regularly and instead use their vehicle as a family transporter.
To that end, opting for a more SUV-like suspension set-up should be beneficial to its on-road manners and unladen ride. Unfortunately, as mentioned earlier, we couldn’t test that because our drive was limited to unsealed roads. But it was enough for us to get an initial impression of how the U9 drives and the early signs are positive.
The engine sounds like a traditional ute, with the gruff diesel ‘chug’ and smooth pulling power. The towing test provided was well below the 3500kg maximum rating, only 1500kg, so naturally the U9 has little trouble pulling the horse float along.
As for the ride on the suspension, it's fairly well composed on a gravel road and offers no obvious signs of struggle on more challenging muddy trails and creek crossings. So there are promising signs that the U9 should be able to hold its own against the more established ute contenders.
Warranty & Safety Rating
Safety – What safety equipment is fitted? What is its safety rating?
8 / 10
In terms of safety, the U9 has all the usual features you should expect of any new car in 2025. This includes airbag protection for all occupants, plus active safety features including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist and a host of others.
That’s enough for it to achieve a maximum five-star Euro NCAP score and MG expects the same from ANCAP. However, it must be noted Euro NCAP crash tested the LDV e-Terron 9, the electric version of the ute, which obviously has no diesel engine in the front of the vehicle and instead a smaller electric motor and a storage space.
It also worth noting even on our limited, off-road only drive, the driver attention system seemed very sensitive, which suggests better calibration is needed. So we’ll reserve final judgement on the other systems until we can fully experience them, too.
Ownership – What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs?
8 / 10
This is a crucial area for many ute buyers, so MG has tried to make itself as appealing as possible to discerning pick-up prospects.
However, the U9 is covered by MG’s seven year warranty, not the newer 10 year coverage from its passenger vehicles. And even then, that requires you to service the vehicle via an authorised MG dealer for the full seven years to apply.
However, this only applies to non-commercial use vehicles, so while tradies will be covered, fleet buyers are stuck with a five-year warranty.
Over the first five years, if you spend the $2395 capped price costs, you’ll get the extra two years of coverage. The first service is due after 10,000km, but the rest are at 12-months/15,000km.
MG has also worked on expanding its dealer and servicing network to respond to some growing pains and ensure owners aren’t burnt and are more likely to return for their next MG. There are currently 120 MG dealers across Australia with plans to gradually expand that footprint into regional areas following the launch of the U9.
Verdict
I can’t give you a definitive verdict on the U9 based on our limited time behind the wheel. However, what I can say with certainty is MG is serious about making its first ute a success. The price alone demonstrates how motivated the brand is to win buyers over. Undercutting the likes of the Ranger and HiLux with a physically larger ute is a strong opening move from MG.
The clever features, spacious cabin and smart technology will also help to win over buyers, as will the choice of a conventional diesel engine. But none of that guarantees success. As the dominance of the Ford and Toyota demonstrates, ute buyers are loyal and drawn to the most popular options, so MG will need to fight hard for every sale to ensure the U9 isn't lost in the increasingly crowded ute market.
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