MG U9 ute makes global debut in Melbourne 

The Melbourne Motor Show has hosted the global reveal of the new MG U9 ute, which will join the Aussie pick-up wars before the end of 2025. 

Known as the P9 in China, it will initially be sold here only as a dual cab 4x4 pick-up, with power courtesy of a 164kW 2.5-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. 

The first ute to be sold by MG in Australia, it will come here with the requisite 3500kg braked towing limit and roughly one-tonne payload capability required to compete with category heavyweights like the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max. 

Pricing and trim variants are not yet being discussed by MG Motor Australia, but there can be no doubt it will be sharply priced. It will also be covered by MG’s 10-year/250,000km warranty. 

MG has confirmed a plug-in hybrid will come in 2026 to take on the BYD Shark 6 and other petrol-electric utes. 

However, an all-electric U9 is not a high priority for MG Motor Australia because of the practical payload, towing and range limitations imposed by going full BEV (battery-electric vehicle). 

As revealed by recent spy photography, the MG U9 shares a fair slab of exterior sheetmetal with the LDV Terron 9 ute and eTerron 9 EV that launch in Australia around mid-year. Like MG, LDV – or Maxus as it is known in other markets – is a subsidiary of the giant Chinese SAIC Motor conglomerate. 

It’s also been confirmed the two utes share the same underpinning architecture and diesel powertrain. 

Like the Terron 9, the U9 has been tested locally, but they will have slightly different driving tunes. 

“We certainly had a lot of feedback into the vehicle and a lot discussion about it,” confirmed MGMA chief commercial officer, Giles Belcher. 

“We’re super-excited, to be honest. Having a ute in Australia rounds out a brand’s portfolio. Until you have one it feels like something’s missing. 

“I think I was asked 18 months ago about a ute and I said at that time, ‘Yes we would bring one, but it has to be the right one’. 

“This is the right one.” 

The U9 will be the seventh and final new model launch from MGMA in 2026, six of which feature on its Melbourne Motor Show stand this weekend. 

The others are the MGS5 compact electric SUV, the seven-seat QS large SUV, hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the HS medium SUV, and the foundation IM5 and IM6 models from its IM Motors premium electric spin-off. 

The missing vehicle is the MG7 Toyota Camry fighter, which MGMA couldn’t organise for its stand, although it is confirmed to arrive here in 2025. 

MG’s local product avalanche reflects its local sales ambitions to rise into the top five sellers by 2027 and the top three by 2030. 

A ute is critical to those ambitions as the segment is Australia’s second largest, although MGMA is being conservative on sales expectations as it won’t have 4x2, cab chassis and single cabs to lower the price entry point. 

“It [U9] fits in with what Australia needs,” said Belcher. “The towing is good, the safety is fine; all those key things you have to tick we have ticked. 

“It drives beautifully. This car is as good as anything in the market today you can buy. It’s our first go at it and as with everything we do we have done it as hard as we can and as good as we can and our parent company has delivered us an outstanding product for Australia. 

“We are super-excited about bringing this to market. It opens up new avenues for us and the Australian consumer. 

“It gives them another choice and we think it’s a good one.” 

One feature highlighted by MGMA is access to the rear of the cabin from the load tub. The seats in the rear fold down to provide this access. 

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