MG Motor Australia’s first ute will be priced between $55,000 and $65,000 when it launches here before the end of 2025.
The MG U9 will initially be offered in three dual-cab 4×4 pickup variants in Australia: the base Explore, mid-spec Explore X, and flagship Explore Pro.
MG Motor Australia hasn’t confirmed whether the price range it announced today excludes on-road costs or is drive-away.
The related LDV Terron 9 is currently priced at $52,674 drive-away for the base Origin and $57,937 drive-away for the top-spec Evolve. These prices are reduced to $49,990 and $54,990 drive-away, respectively, for ABN holders.
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In dual-cab four-wheel drive diesel configurations, the top-selling Ford Ranger is priced from $51,130 to $80,090 before on-roads.
If MG’s pricing is before on-road costs, that would make a top-spec U9 significantly more expensive than a top-spec Terron 9, but around the same price as the mid-spec Ranger XLT Bi-Turbo.
The top-spec Explore Pro will be the only U9 offered with the MG Smart Hatch. This optional feature allows the rear window to be retracted and the divider between the tub and cabin to be folded flat, extending the load space significantly.
The front passenger seat can also be folded backwards to create an even longer flat surface.
The Terron 9 isn’t available with this functionality. And while it looks much the same as the MG, there are some other changes between the two utes.
Most significantly, the MG trades the Terron 9’s live rear axle and leaf springs for a more car-like multi-link coil-sprung independent rear suspension system. However, MG still claims the U9 will offer an identical braked towing capacity of 3500kg, matching the class leaders.
Down back, the Terron 9 has a conventional tailgate but the U9 features a power tailgate with a built-in, fold-down step and cupholders, a spin on similar tailgates seen on the Ford F-150 and GWM Cannon.
The MG also features an ‘aircraft-inspired’ gear selector on the centre console, instead of the column-mounted shifter of the LDV.
Both the U9 and LDV share key dimensions, including a 5500mm length – making them both slightly larger than the Ranger dual-cab (up to 5425mm), but smaller than full-size dual-cab pickups from the US such as the Ram 1500 (5916mm or longer) and Ford F-150 (from 5884mm).
The Chinese twins share the same 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, eight-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive system.
According to government certification documents, peak power outlet for the U9 is listed at 160kW, with no official torque figure yet – although the Terron 9 locally produces 163kW of power and 520Nm of torque over 1500-2500rpm.
The U9 will have a broader payload spread than the Terron 9’s 1005-1100kg figures, with approval documents showing an 880kg payload for one model grade and up to 1102kg for the other.
Pre-orders for the U9 opened last month, with MG announcing a $1000 accessory bonus for customers placing early orders.
Above: MG U9, LDV Terron 9
MG will back its U9 with a shorter warranty than most of its models – just five years, with no kilometre limit for private buyers but a 160,000km limit for commercial buyers.
The LDV, in contrast, is offered with a seven-year, 200,000km warranty.
Full pricing and specifications will be announced closer to the U9’s launch.
While it’s MG’s first ute in Australia, the company has offered a version of the LDV T60 – called the Extender – in Thailand since 2019.
LDV and MG are both owned by Chinese giant SAIC Motor.
MORE: Explore the MG U9 showroom
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