MG Motor Australia has confirmed its first ute, the MG U9, will bring independent multi-link coil-sprung rear suspension when it’s launched here next month, giving it a key point of difference to other dual-cab utes including its recently launched twin, the LDV Terron 9.
Indeed, independent rear suspension (IRS) will be the only major mechanical difference between the Terron 9 and U9, which will also come with an MG-exclusive grille, U9 badging, body-coloured lower front bumper, new wheels and a slightly revised interior including a traditional console-mounted gear selector instead of a steering column-mounted stalk shifter.
However, the battery-electric version of the MG’s sister model, the eTerron 9, will also bring independent multi-link rear suspension when it goes on sale here, which CarExpert understands won’t happen before the U9’s launch.
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Despite the fitment of IRS, Australian government homologation documents confirm the MG U9 will still offer towing and payload capabilities to match its key rivals including the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux, as promised by MG.
Designed to improve ride comfort and road holding, IRS is commonly seen in passenger cars but is rare in the ute world, where rear leaf springs are employed almost exclusively to handle heavy loads in the tub.
That said, there are several utes available with coil-sprung rear-ends, including the Ranger Raptor, Nissan Navara, GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV, and certain versions of the LDV T60 and KGM Musso, but all of them have solid or ‘live’ rear axles that lack independent rear wheel control.
The BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) is one of the few exceptions to this rule in the mid-size ute segment, by featuring independent multi-link rear coil suspension.
MG says the U9’s multi-link IRS system was designed specifically for Australian conditions, tested on urban and rural roads as well as highways and trails, and will provide “exceptional comfort, grip, and handling for versatile performance across a range of on and off-road conditions”.
“We researched the Australian market significantly for our MG U9 product, and we share Australia’s love for the outdoor, sport and adventure lifestyle, but often the utes they drive just don’t offer the comfort they want or deserve,” said MG Motor Australia and New Zealand CEO, Peter Ciao.
“I wanted to offer a ute with no compromise on driving comfort or capability. And we’ve done this by engineering our multi-link rear suspension platform specifically for the demands of our local drivers”.
MG says the U9’s IRS was benchmarked against its competitors by local engineering development teams and will be unique to Australian-delivered examples of the Chinese brand’s first ute, which will be a key model in its previously stated plan to become a top-three auto brand Down Under by 2030.
“The MG U9 meets our desire to offer top quality, excellent comfort and performance, rewarding Australian customers for their trust in the MG Motor brand. It underpins our strategy to become one of Australia’s top five automotive brands in the near term,” said Mr Ciao.
MG claims multi-link rear suspension transforms the U9 into a ute that delivers more stability when carrying loads, as well as a smoother, more composed ride for all occupants in all driving situations.
Specifically, it says key benefits of the U9’s multi-link rear suspension include:
- Enhanced comfort – Independent wheel movement absorbs bumps and uneven surfaces with minimal disturbance.
- Superior handling – Increased cornering stability and reduced body roll, no skittish rear-end whether empty or under load.
- Improved traction – Enhanced tyre contact with the road for better grip in all conditions.
- Versatile performance – Balances off-road durability with refined on-road driving dynamics.
MG has received Australian Design Rule certification for two versions of the U9 dual-cab, both powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine producing 160kW of power (peak torque isn’t in approval documents, but Chinese data suggests it will be 520Nm).
Both will come standard with an eight-speed automatic transmission and what’s referred to as an automatic all-wheel drive system.
One has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 3500kg and a tare mass of 2398kg, from which we can calculate a payload figure of 1102kg. The other variant has a GVM of 3320kg and a tare mass of 2498kg, resulting in a payload figure of 822kg.
The MG U9 measures a sizeable 5500mm long, 1997mm wide and 1860mm tall on a 3300mm wheelbase, while an optional luggage rack bumps height up to 1874mm.
That makes it significantly longer and wider than the top-selling Ranger 4×4 dual-cab, which measures 5403mm long, 1918mm wide and 1886mm tall on a 3270mm wheelbase.
Dual-cab Rangers also offer a payload figure of between 929kg and 1018kg depending on the variant.
Ground clearance for the MG is 220mm, and the U9 will ride on either 18- or optional 20-inch wheels.
Other previously confirmed available features for the MG U9 include a flip-down rear tailgate step, massaging driver’s seat, “flexible seat functionality”, a JBL sound system, and even walkthrough cab/tub capability.
Unlike its LDV Terron 9 twin, an electric vehicle (EV) powertrain won’t become available for the MG U9 in the short-term. Instead, MG is understood to be planning a plug-in hybrid powertrain to match the Shark, Cannon Alpha and Ranger.
Pricing is yet to be announced, but MG has confirmed the U9 will be backed by a shorter warranty than the rest of its range, and it’s now taking expressions of interest ahead of first customer deliveries around November, following its official launch in September.
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