The MG U9 dual-cab ute – a challenger to the dominant Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux – is now available for pre-order ahead of its launch in Australia later this year.
The automaker has announced a $1000 accessory bonus for customers placing early orders, ahead of the vehicle’s arrival in showrooms in the last quarter (October-December) of this year.
While pre-orders are open, MG Motor Australia is yet to announce pricing and spec details for the U9.
However, it’s expected to cost more than the LDV Terron 9 dual-cab it’s twinned with, which went on sale here in June from $50,990 drive-away for ABN holders.
The U9 is expected to offer a higher level of equipment than the LDV, while MG has also confirmed it’ll feature multi-link independent rear suspension.
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This means the U9 will potentially offer better ride and handling than the U9 – and other rivals – yet while also offering the category benchmark 3500kg braked towing rating.
No dual-cab currently in showrooms – even a Ranger or HiLux – currently offers independent rear suspension, with the leading models’ 3500kg tow ratings coming with leaf-spring rear suspension, typically preferred for carrying heavy loads but offering less sophistication and comfort than multi-link, coil-spring arrangements.
The LDV Terron 9 uses leaf-spring rear suspension, too, one of several aspects that set it apart from its almost identically styled MG cousin.
Both the U9 and LDV share key dimensions, including a 5500mm length – making them both slightly larger than a Ranger (up to 5425mm), but smaller than full-size pickups from the United States, such as the Ram 1500 (5916mm or longer) or the Ford F-150 (from 5884mm).
The U9 is 1997mm wide, 1860mm tall and sits on a 3300mm wheelbase, with 220mm of ground clearance on 18-inch or optional 20-inch alloy wheels.
According to government approval documents seen by CarExpert, the U9 will be offered in two model grades at launch.
Both will use the same 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine and eight-speed automatic transmission as the Terron 9, with all-wheel drive.
Power is listed at 160kW, with no official torque figure yet – although the Terron 9 locally produces 163kW of power and 520Nm of torque from 1500-2500rpm.
The U9 will have a broader payload spread than the Terron 9’s 1005-1100kg figures, with the approval documents showing an 880kg payload for one model grade and up to 1102kg for the other.
Inside, the U9 will offer a spacious cabin – as evident by the Terron 9’s roominess – that will feature dual 12.3-inch screens. It’ll differ from the LDV in featuring a console-mounted gear shifter.
The U9 – like the Terron 9 – is yet to receive a rating from safety authority ANCAP, though it’s also expected to feature a comprehensive suite of standard active safety and driver assist features.
The arrival of the MG’s first dual-cab ute should help boost the brand’s sales in Australia, which – after several years in the top ten – slipped to 12th in July 2025, behind rival Chinese brands GWM, BYD and Chery.
Of those, only Chery is without a dual-cab ute, with BYD Australia’s Shark 6 dual-cab ute its best-selling vehicle locally, while the Cannon dual-cab ute sits third behind the Haval Jolion and the Haval H6 in the GWM lineup.
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