MG U9 ute begins Australian testing
MG’s first ute hits Aussie roads and bush tracks for crucial local testing and calibrationMG Motor Australia has commenced local testing of its first-ever pickup truck, the MG U9, following its global unveiling at the 2025 Melbourne motor show.
The Chinese brand is conducting a nationwide testing and development program to calibrate the vehicle for Australian conditions, ahead of its local Aussie launch in the final months of 2025.
MG says the localised testing program will take the U9 ute to places such as Broome, Albany, Cooktown, Penguin and ‘everywhere in-between’, with the company’s in-house engineering team leading the development process.
“The reaction to the MG U9 at its global reveal at the Melbourne motor show was fantastic,” said MG Australia’s CEO, Peter Ciao.
“Our local team is committed to fine-tuning the MG U9 over the coming months to meet the needs of Australian drivers,” he added.
Powered by a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine producing 160kW and 520Nm and paired with a 4x4 drivetrain, MG claims a 3.5-tonne towing capacity will match established competitors in the segment like the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.
The vehicle includes MG’s Pilot safety suite with 360-degree cameras and the iSMART remote access phone app, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality.
One notable feature is the ability to access the cabin from the load bed, with rear seats that fold down to create a pass-through option.
The U9 will compete in Australia’s highly competitive ute market, where established players from Toyota, Ford and Isuzu dominate the sales charts.
MG has not yet released pricing details, though the brand typically positions its vehicles at lower price points than mainstream competitors – carsales expects aggressive positioning in line with the brand’s value proposition.
The ute will be backed by MG’s substantial 10-year/250,000km warranty while the Chinese car-maker has also confirmed plans for a plug-in hybrid version of the U9 to arrive in 2026. The latter will compete directly with the BYD Shark 6, among other electrified pick-ups.
However, the company has indicated a fully electric U9 isn’t a high priority due to practical limitations around payload capacity, towing capability and driving range inherent to battery-electric vehicles in this segment.
Recent spy photographs have revealed significant body panel commonality between the MG U9 and the LDV Terron 9 diesel and eTerron 9 EV models launching in Australia mid-2025.
This platform sharing isn't surprising, as both MG and LDV (known as Maxus in other markets) operate under the same parent company, Chinese automotive giant SAIC Motor. The two utes also share their fundamental architecture and diesel powertrain.
MG will sell the U9 through its national dealer network when it launches late in 2025, with complete specifications and pricing to be announced closer to the release date.
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Related: MG set to launch Aussie-specific hybrid system
Related: MG U9 ute makes global debut in Melbourne
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