MG Motor has officially confirmed pricing and specification for the all-new MG U9 ute during its local launch, marking the brand’s long-awaited entry into one of Australia’s most competitive segments.

Available in three variants – Explore, Explore X and Explore Pro – the U9 will launch locally from $52,990 drive-away, while the mid-tier Explore X is priced at $55,990 drive-away and the flagship Explore Pro tops the range at $60,990 drive-away.

Unveiling the model in Australia, MG Motor Australia managing director Peter Ciao said the U9 represents a turning point for the brand.

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“Many of you have witnessed my journey leading MG from zero to a top-ten brand in Australia and New Zealand. That story enters a new chapter today. From this moment, the era of MG only making small cars is over,” he said.

It’s a bold statement reflective of where the brand currently sits in the Australian new car market. MG has appealed to Australian buyers with a strong value proposition, long lists of standard features, aggressive pricing and a long warranty – but only in segments that aren’t quite as pivotal as the dual-cab segment. Was an MG-badged dual-cab always part of the plan? Or is it an admission that the brand needs such a vehicle to take the next leap up the sales charts?

Ciao is rightly strong on what the U9 can do for MG in a market that has shown Australians will buy dual cabs from competition brands. Strong sales from the likes of GWM, LDV and BYD in a segment once weighed down by heritage is proof Australians will look to alternatives, and Ciao is adamant that MG has a contender on its hands.

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“Today we present a truly large vehicle, this 5.5m long MG U9,” he said. “This brand new ute marks a major milestone for MG. We know that a ute is not just a car, it signifies your freedom and your lifestyle and with the arrival of the MG U9, we enter the iconic ute segment.”

Ciao went on to explain that MG knows this segment is about more than just transport, certainly in 2025, where the dual cab has come to define driveways in family homes all over the country, moving well beyond its work horse origins.

MG reckons the U9 will attack the segment with a different approach though, featuring a few party tricks we’ve never seen before (like the drop down tailgate and foldable rear bulkhead), the aggressive pricing we’d expect, and up to date cabin technology.

“This is a different ute,” Ciao said. “We are the next generation, created not just to meet the driver’s needs, but to exceed their expectation. A perfect blend of comfort and ability, and we will set a new standard.” According to Ciao, part of that ‘new standard’ revolves around the expected ride quality
that comes from a coil spring – rather than leaf – rear end.

“For a long time, ute owners have had to endure a rough ride from leaf spring suspension,” Ciao said. “MG U9 changes that. Our independent multi-link rear suspension delivers comfort, and pleasure, while innovations like the rear seat design, and tail gate, make this different from any other ute.”

While the complex rear bulkhead arrangement and step down tailgate are optional equipment on the top-spec model, the rear suspension system is standard across the range. Like KGM with the Musso before it, and Nissan with the Navara, it’s a bold move away from tradition, less focused on heavy payloads and more reflective of the way most high-end dual cab buyers use their vehicles.

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For MG Motor Business Director, Kevin Gannon, success is something the brand won’t try to claim too soon. “We won’t be claiming sales targets and volume,” Gannon said. “In 12 months time, we’ll get a better understanding of where the U9 sits. “Buyers will come from SUVs and other dual cabs as well, it’s a big segment and a market that continues to grow.”

“Pricing is right for the market, and the key features of the vehicle will appeal,” Gannon said.

Measuring more than 5.5 metres long, the U9 is a full-sized dual-cab designed to compete head-on with established rivals like the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger. It is powered by a 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel engine producing 160kW and 480Nm, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and selectable four-wheel drive. Braked towing capacity is rated at 3,500kg, with a payload exceeding 1,000kg depending on variant.

Inside, buyers can expect a tech-laden cabin, with higher grades offering a 14.6-inch infotainment screen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless smartphone mirroring, heated and ventilated front seats, and a power-assisted tailgate. Safety is also a priority, with a suite including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring and a 360-degree camera system.

Ciao described the U9 as a vehicle designed not just for work, but to embody adventure and lifestyle.

“Owning a ute is more than transport. It’s freedom, exploration and lifestyle. With the arrival of U9, MG proudly joins that story,” he said.

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