MG U9 Explore Pro review: the big ute that thinks its an SUV

MG’s first entry into the ute segment is something that can’t be ignored. Literally; its massive, chrome-laden and utterly in your face, particularly in the vibrant blue you see here. Those who favour keeping a low profile need not apply.

But there are other reasons the MG U9 can’t be ignored, and the main one of those is the brutal value for money it brings to the ute segment - positioned size-wise somewhere between the popular diesel one-tonners and the big American pick ups, the MG drops in for a startlingly low price that sees the top-spec Explore Pro you see here land at roughly the same price as a mid-spec Ford Ranger XLT V6.

There’s no hiding the fact that the MG U9 is a close relation to the LDV Terron 9 - I mean, they literally hardly bothered to hide the fact, with the only real tangible difference between the two is badging and the fact that the MG’s enormous grille is bright chrome, while the LDV’s is a subtler dark chrome finish. This is badge engineering at its most literal.

Still, that’s not a bad thing anyway, and there are some real, tangible differences under the skin that sets the two apart - mainly MG’s choice of coil sprung rear suspension, instead of the LDV’s leaf spring set up.

Unlike the traditional ladder-frame construction used by most utes, the Terron and the U9 ride on a unibody chassis, giving them a much closer connection to the way a car or crossover SUV is built and, in turn, rides.

This set up, plus MG’s decision to use coil springs at the rear rather than the leaf-spring setup found in the LDV, makes for a ute that behaves very differently on the road. There’s less of that traditional commercial-vehicle feel, with the U9 instead offering a more composed and car-like ride.

It’s a fairly radical departure from the conventional ute formula – and you notice it almost immediately from behind the wheel - but the clever bit is that MG hasn’t had to sacrifice the things that matter to ute buyers to achieve that more car-like character. The U9 still retains a full 3.5-tonne towing capacity, along with close to 800kg of payload, but does so with a level of ride comfort that sets it apart from the traditional ute crowd.

In fact, the ride is arguably the U9’s biggest trump card – it’s easily the best-riding ute in its class.

On the outside: what are the MG U9 Explore Pro's main design features?

There’s no denying that the MG U9 commands attention with its large, handsome, and squared-off design. The front is dominated by an enormous chrome grille that gives it a bold, imposing presence, but one of its most distinctive features is the unibody construction that means the tray is integrated into the body, unlike the separate tub on a traditional ladder-chassis ute.

It’s a fairly radical departure from the conventional ute formula – and you notice it almost immediately from behind the wheel.

This design, reminiscent of American unibody trucks like the Honda Ridgeline, causes people to do a double-take, even if they’re not too sure why.

Our test vehicle's striking blue paint garnered numerous compliments, with one person even going so far to describe the big, square truck as "beautiful” (I like it, but I don’t know if I’d go that far), and while some minor details might appear a bit clumsy - like the integration of the rear lower bumper into the tray that looks a tad awkward - the overall aesthetic is one of robust and modern style.

In short; it looks big and truck-like, while also being slick and modern.

OVERVIEW

On the inside: what's the MG U9 Explore Pro's cabin like?

Stepping inside the MG U9 reveals an impressively high-quality cabin of the likes not normally seen in a ute. The materials used throughout are impressive, with most surfaces being soft to the touch and feeling genuinely nice. Even the plastics, which are used sparingly, feel pleasant.

As a pricey optional extra, you would need a very clear and frequent need for it to justify the extra. Or a dog.

The overall impression is that of a surprisingly premium vehicle, and our top-spec Explore Pro featured heated and ventilated front seats, along with a massage function for the driver that is genuinely one of the better systems available outside of ultra-high-end luxury cars.

Overall, the MG U9’s cabin is a comfortable, well-appointed, and impressively finished interior that punches well above its price point, and not just in the ute segment, but the defining feature of this particular MG U9 is the optional "Smart Hatch".

The $6190 Smart Hatch is a clever system that allows not only the rear window to be lowered, but then the entire rear wall of the cabin can be dropped down to extend the tray's load length into the cabin.

It's an interesting idea, albeit for fairly specific use cases, like carrying long items you don't want on the roof or, perhaps more importantly, giving your dog the ability to choose covered or open-top motoring.

However, the execution has limitations: the floor of the dropped section doesn't sit flush with the tray bed inside the cabin, creating a step that makes it unsuitable for sliding long, flat, or fragile items, which in turn makes its usefulness quite specific.

The driving experience is where the MG U9 truly separates itself from the competition.

While it’s a neat party trick, the Smart Hatch's value is questionable given its significant cost of $6190. If it were standard, it would be a brilliant feature, but as a pricey optional extra, you would need a very clear and frequent need for it to justify the extra. Or a dog.

INTERIOR

On the road: what's the MG U9 Explore Pro like to drive?

The driving experience is where the MG U9 truly separates itself from the competition. Thanks to its unibody construction and coil springs at the rear, it delivers an impressively smooth, quiet, and refined ride that is arguably the best in the one tonne ute segment.

In terms of power, it's best to think of the U9's outputs as "perfectly acceptable" - it isn't exactly a rocket off the line, but its mid-range is strong and willing.

It feels infinitely more composed than a traditional leaf-spring ute, without sacrificing its ability to tow and carry heavy loads, and on the open road, it feels more like a big, comfortable SUV than a workhorse ute. But there is a downside, and it is primarily due to its sheer size.

Because the MG U9 is so wide, the lane-keeping systems are almost constantly active on country roads. Fortunately, these can be easily disabled through a customisable button in the settings menu on the touchscreen. This setting does, however, need to be enabled each time the vehicle is started.

Another minor annoyance comes from the exterior door handles, which require a single push to open but a prolonged hold to lock, making a simple proximity key function feel like a missed opportunity.

In terms of power, it's best to think of the U9's outputs as "perfectly acceptable" - it isn't exactly a rocket off the line, but its mid-range is strong and willing. Basically you just need to be somewhat reserved when going for gaps in traffic, but can happily belt past slower traffic when up and running.

SPECIFICATIONS

On ownership: what's the MG U9 Explore Pro's warranty and servicing situation?

The MG U9 comes standard with MG's Light Commercial warranty that covers it for 5 years/unlimited kilometres, with the ability to extend this to 7 years/200,000km if the vehicle is serviced at an authorised MG dealer. The warranty also includes roadside assist for the duration and service intervals are every 15,000km or 12 months, with the first service at 10,000km or 12 months.

On the whole: what do we think of the MG U9 Explore Pro?

The MG U9 is a superbly impressive vehicle. It delivers a level of refinement, comfort, and interior quality that is truly remarkable, especially considering it's the brand's first effort in this segment.

When you factor in its price of under $70,000, it represents incredible value for money: it is capable, comfortable, and has a premium feel that belies its cost.

While the "Smart Hatch" option is an innovative idea, its relative cost and specific limitations make it a questionable value proposition for the average buyer. That aside, the MG U9 is a fantastic and highly recommendable truck.

There is one other problem for the MG, however, and that is that closely-related LDV Terron 9. LDV has parted ways with its current New Zealand distributor, and while the company insists that local distribution will continue, we have yet to hear any details around this.

What it does mean is that the current distributor has absolutely slashed the prices of its current stock, meaning you can now buy an LDV Terron 9 Premium  - that is roughly similar spec as the U9 Explore Pro (sans the rear coil spring suspension and option hatch) - for just $47,990.

That's a remarkable price for a ute that was already an undeniable bargain at its full retail price, but the uncertainty around LDV's presence here may offset that big price difference for some.

MG U9 Explore Pro FAQs

What kind of car is the MG U9 Explore Pro?

A double cab wellside ute.

Does the MG U9 Explore Pro have hybrid or EV technology?

No.

What’s the fuel economy of the MG U9 Explore Pro?

MG says the U9 returns a combined consumption figure of 7.9l/100km, but this is measured under the Australian ADR standards. RightCar lists the U9's 3P-WLTP figure as 9.1l/100km, with real world use being closer to 11l/100km.

Is the MG U9 Explore Pro safe?

The MG U9 has a 5 Star ANCAP rating and features 7 airbags, including a front centre airbag.

What safety and assistance features does the MG U9 Explore Pro have?

What are the MG U9 Explore Pro's main rivals?

• LDV Terron 9 ($47,990): similarly specced, more trucky feel, remarkable discount...
• Ford Ranger XLT V6 ($71,990): up on power, down on spec and size, not quite as comfortable.
• GWM Cannon Alpha Ultra PHEV ($69,990): same size, but with petrol/plug-in hybrid power
• BYD Shark 6 Premium ($71,990): similar levels of quality and ride, but also with PHEV power.
• Toyota Hilux Adventure Hybrid ($63,990): impressive update on previous model is remarkably sharp value for money.