MG revealed its first ever ute – the U9 – in Melbourne just over one week ago, and now the Chinese carmaker isn’t wasting any time in preparing the vital new model for its local release later this year.
The U9 is already undergoing local road testing, with the planned regime set to include far-flung locations such as Broome, Penguin, Albany, and Cooktown.
MG Motor Australia says it’s conducting the testing “to ensure the MG U9 meets the unique demands of Australian roads – whether in the city, the bush, or on the worksite”. The program is being led by MG’s in-house engineering team.
A key part of its plan to become a top-three auto brand in Australia by the end of this decade, the U9 will be MG’s first light commercial vehicle Down Under when it debuts in the fourth quarter of 2025, as a rival to some of the nation’s most popular models including the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.
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It will also serve as an alternative to the upcoming LDV Terron 9, which shares the same underpinnings as the MG U9 and China’s Maxus Star X.
LDV began local testing of the Terron 9 last year, focusing on traffic sign recognition, lane-keep assist and other electronic driver aid systems in a bid to better calibrate the ute for Australian road conditions.
The Terron 9 will arrive earlier than its MG twin under the skin, around the middle of this year.
Both utes will be powered by a high-output 164kW 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, and they will match the class-leaders with a 3500kg towing capacity.
Other confirmed features for the local market U9 include a massaging driver’s seat, “flexible seat functionality to maximise storage and comfort”, and a JBL sound system.
Pricing and full specifications will be revealed closer to launch.
The MG U9 will be covered by the brand’s benchmark 10-year/250,000km warranty (seven-year/160,000km for commercial buyers).
MORE: 2026 MG U9 dual-cab ute revealed to take on Ranger, HiLux
