Not so long ago, the idea of an EV ute was both antithetical and a political football. Cries of it being out to ‘steal your weekend’ hit a nerve with some Australians, but a lot has changed in the last 5 years.
The first meaningful attempt to electrify the pickup utility was the laughing stock LDV eT60, which was as well-received as a turd in a swimming pool. As our September 2026 VFACTS report will attest, there is now an electrified contender in the top 5 in the form of the BYD Shark 6. Has the electric ute’s moment finally arrived?
Measuring 5500mm long, 1997mm wide, and 1874mm tall on a 3300mm wheelbase, the MG U9 EV shares its unibody-style architecture with the overseas Maxus eTerron 9. Crucially, it is the first fully electric ute in Australia engineered for a full 3500kg braked towing capacity, eclipsing the 1800kg limit of the KGM Musso EV AWD and the heavily restricted Toyota HiLux BEV. This is a major psychological barrier for ute buyers and suggests capability on par with diesel stalwarts.
Generating a combined 325kW and 700Nm for a claimed 5.8-second 0–100km/h sprint, the U9 EV is a formidable on-paper proposition. To see if it represents a coming-of-age moment for electric utes, MG invited us to tackle dedicated off-road and towing obstacle courses at Berry Hill in the Hawkesbury region, where we also sat down with MG Motor Australia marketing director Dimitri Andreatidis and Hhead of product Meng Chen to have a chat.
2026 MG U9 EV: Specifications
Electrical: 102.2kWh LFP battery
Output: 325kW / 700Nm
Gearbox: Single-speed auto
Drive type: All-wheel drive
Tare weight: 2815kgPower-to-weight: 8.66:1 (kg:kW)
Official range: 430km
Claimed 0-100km/h: 5.8 seconds
Max charging AC/DC: 11kW/115kW
Starting price: $78,990
2026 MG U9 EV: How much does it cost?
The 2026 MG U9 EV is priced from $78,990 before on-road costs. This positions it $14,990 north of the KGM Musso EV AWD but $4000 below the sparsely equipped Toyota HiLux BEV SR5, whilst delivering vastly superior performance and towing capability.
MG marketing director Dimitri Andreatidis explained the U9 EV is expected to capture an entirely new demographic. Classified as a commercial dual-cab with a 3500kg GVM, it opens up lucrative commercial leasing structures, instant asset write-off benefits, and FBT exemptions for ABN holders looking to cut emissions.
Ownership is backed by a seven-year, 200,000km warranty when serviced within the authorised MG network. Under MG’s Precise Price Servicing program, maintenance intervals occur every 12 months or 15,000km. The first five years (or 70,000km) of scheduled servicing is capped at a total of $2395, averaging a highly accessible $479 per workshop visit.
2026 MG U9 EV: Interior & packaging
Ditching the diesel engine liberates a cavernous, power-operated 236-litre front boot (frunk) equipped with a 2.2kW Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) outlet. The rear tub measures 1600mm long by 1600mm wide, featuring a factory-painted liner, electric tailgate, and dual 2.2kW V2L outlets , plus an external 6.6kW CCS2 V2L capability.
Weight mathematics require scrutiny, however: a 2815kg tare weight against a 3500kg GVM yields a 685kg maximum payload. Hitching a 3500kg trailer leaves a tight 335kg of GVM capacity for occupants and gear. However, it runs into the GCM (6500kg) first, leaving just 185kg at maximum towing.
Inside, the 3300mm wheelbase provides an expansive, American pickup-like cabin. The dash pairs dual 12.3-inch displays running MG’s iSmart system with wireless smartphone mirroring, satellite navigation, and an eight-speaker JBL sound system. Comfort is exceptional for a ute, offering leather trim, 64-colour ambient lighting, and an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with heating, ventilation, and massage functions.
How safe is the 2026 MG U9 EV? It carries a five-star ANCAP rating, based on crash testing of its eTerron 9 sibling (which scored 91 per cent for adult occupant protection). Passive safety includes seven airbags. The active safety suite features autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control (ACC), lane keep assist (LKA), blind-spot detection (BSD), rear cross-traffic alert (RCTA), and a 1080p 360-degree camera.
2026 MG U9 EV: Powertrain & handling
The U9 EV utilises a 125kW front and 200kW rear electric motor, delivering a combined 325kW and 700Nm. It hits 0–100km/h in a claimed 5.8 seconds. This obliterates its 160kW turbo-diesel U9 sibling (11.42s tested) and shows staggering progress compared to the glacial, 16.2-second LDV eT60 of just a few years ago.
Energy comes from a 102.2kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, providing 430km of WLTP-tested range. While 11kW AC charging takes 12 hours, DC fast-charging peaks at a modest 115kW, replenishing from 20-80 per cent in 42 minutes. During our interview with Meng Chen and Dimitri Andreatidis, we queried the range impact of heavy towing and the potential for future ‘SolidCore’ semi-solid-state or PHEV integrations. While timelines remain unconfirmed, MG acknowledges the platform’s multi-powertrain flexibility.
At the Hawkesbury obstacle courses, the U9 EV’s double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension – equipped with four-wheel Electronic Air Suspension (EAS) – ironed out ruts with SUV-like plushness. Raising the EAS yields 300mm of clearance. Seeing it raised to maximum height was amusing and reminiscent of GM USA’s Hummer pickup (which is also electric).
Best of all, the suspension can lower with a second press of the tailgate release switch, making accessing the tray easier. Inside, two power outlets sit under a flap on the side, with one in the very cavernous frunk (front trunk) – accessed by a mechanism reminiscent of the erstwhile Ford F-150 Lightning. This writer can also attest the anti-trap mechanism works too, sacrificing my forearm for the test.
Across seven All-Terrain System (ATS) modes, the dual motors metered out millimetre-precise torque, crawling up steep inclines without driveline snatch, while 700Nm hauled a loaded trailer from a standstill effortlessly. No switching to high or low range, just fuss-free and quiet capability across a multitude of surfaces. Best of all, the absence of noise means you can hear the heartbeat of wildlife and connect with nature in a way which a diesel clattering in the background would otherwise interrupt.
Along the towing route, the advantages of electric power delivery became apparent. Features that help with this include Trailer Reversing Assist, as well as a dedicated mode for the terrain system. As a result, this spatially-challenged writer was able to reverse a 2000kg camper trailer with aplomb.
2026 MG U9 EV: First impressions
The 2026 MG U9 EV is a massive engineering leap forward. By combining 325kW of dual-motor AWD power, a 102.2kWh battery, electronic air suspension, and a full 3500kg braked towing rating for $78,990, MG has delivered the first battery-electric dual-cab that isn’t a half-baked compliance exercise.
Physics still applies; a 685kg payload and modest 115kW DC charging speeds mean it won’t replace a diesel workhorse for heavy outback caravanners. However, for urban tradespeople and ABN holders keen to leverage EV leasing incentives on a fast, luxurious dual-cab, the MG U9 EV is comfortably the most complete electric ute to hit Australian soil yet.
And let’s not avoid the elephant in the room – how long will it be able to tow 3500kg for? We’ll have to report back on that one as MG executives were coy on the subject, but to be fair, the instant thrust of 700Nm mean the two-tonne caravan we tested with barely made a dent on the battery range throughout the day, so perhaps we should give them the benefit of the doubt?
2026 MG U9 EV: Video
