The battalion of dual-cab utes available in Australia will soon have yet another new recruit, with the all-new MG U9 pickup now confirmed to go on sale locally before the end of this year.
Revealed for the first time globally in Melbourne this evening, the U9 will become the fast-growing Chinese carmaker’s first light commercial vehicle in Australia.
Last year utes accounted for about 20 per cent of all new vehicles sold in Australia, split between 11 brands, and the U9 will be a key part of MG’s plan to be among the country’s five most popular auto brands by the end of 2027 and the top three brands by the end of 2030.
“The U9 isn’t just a new model – it’s a turning point for us,” said MG Motor Australia CEO Peter Ciao.
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“We’ve built our reputation on delivering unmatched value, and now we’re bringing that same promise to one of Australia’s most competitive segments.
“If we want to be a top-three brand in this country, we need a ute that punches above its weight – and the U9
does exactly that.
“It’s tough, capable, and built for the way Australians drive. We know the demand is there, and we’re ready for it.”
Aimed directly at this market’s most popular models, the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux, the MG U9 effectively a rebadged version of China’s Maxus Star X and its twin, the upcoming LDV Terron 9.
Maxus/LDV and MG are both part of SAIC Motor, China’s largest carmaker, and the Terron 9 is due to arrive in Australia showrooms around the middle of this year.
MG already has a ute on sale in Thailand, the Extender, but this is a rebadged LDV T60, and has been ruled out for Australia.
Differences between the MG U9 and the LDV Terron are limited to a chromed grille, fresh wheels and new badges.
While MG has yet to reveal full pricing and specifications for the U9, which is known as the MG P9 in China, it has confirmed the dual-cab will be powered by a 164kW 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, and it will match the class-leaders with a 3500kg towing capacity.
Chinese data suggests peak torque will be 520Nm, which also trumps its key mainstream competitors, with drive sent either to the rear or all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Other confirmed available features include a massaging driver’s seat, “flexible seat functionality to maximise storage and comfort”, a JBL sound system, and even walkthrough cab/tub capability.
MG has yet to provide any details on the U9’s payload or the size of its tray, but of course it will be covered by the brand’s benchmark 10-year/250,000km warranty (seven-year/160,000km for commercial buyers).
Measuring a full 5.5 metres long, almost 2.0 metres wide and 1860mm high on a 3300mm wheelbase, and offering more than 220mm of ground clearance, the U9 is significantly larger than the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.
| Dimensions | MG U9 | Ford Ranger | Toyota HiLux |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 5500mm | 5389mm | 5325mm |
| Width | 1997mm | 1850mm | 1855mm |
| Height | 1860mm | 1848mm | 1865mm |
| Wheelbase | 3300mm | 3220mm | 3085mm |
The MG U9’s sister model, the LDV Terron 9, is also available as an electric vehicle (EV) badged as the eTerron 9, which features a slightly revised front-end design and will also be released in Australia in the second half of this year.
Both single-motor rear-wheel drive and dual-motor four-wheel drive layouts have been approved for sale here, developing 200kW and 325kW respectively,
The eTerron 9’s electric motors are fed by a 102kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, which can provide up to 430km of claimed driving range based on the WLTP test cycle in the dual-motor variant.
However, MG Motor Australia says it doesn’t yet see battery-electric utes as a good fit for this market.
“We’re considering other drivetrains [for the U9] at the moment, but probably not the EV in the first instance. We’re considering something else [like] plug in hybrid,” said chief commercial officer Giles Belcher.
