2026 MG U9 Black Edition review (video)

MG is still a relatively new player in Australia’s fiercely competitive dual-cab ute market, but the U9 certainly doesn’t suffer from a lack of presence. In fact, it’s one of the biggest and most imposing utes in the class, and the new Black Edition turns the visual impact up to new levels.

So far this year, MG Australia has sold 1003 examples of the U9 (through July, according to VFACTS), which puts it in 13th position on the 4×4 ute sales leaderboard for the year. This Black Edition comes in at a perfect time, potentially reinvigorating the nameplate.

2026 MG U9 Black Edition: Specifications

Engine: 2.5-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder
Output: 160kW@3800rpm / 520Nm@1500-2500rpm
Gearbox: Eight-speed auto
Drive type: Four-wheel drive
Wheels: F & R: 18×8.0, 265/65
ANCAP: Five stars
Tare weight: 2433kg
Power-to-weight: 15.20:1 (kg:kW)
Official consumption: 7.9L/100km
Our consumption: 10.1L/100km
Fuel tank/Fuel type: 80L/Diesel

Power efficiency: 20.25kW:L/100km
0-60km/h: 5.15 seconds*
0-100km/h: 11.42 seconds*
60-110km/h: 8.50 seconds*
1/4 mile: 18.25 seconds at 119.9km/h*
Max acceleration: 0.766g*
100-0km/h braking: 53.07m in 4.44 seconds*
Max deceleration: -0.983g*
Decibel at idle: 47*
Peak decibel at 60-100km/h: 78*
Starting price: $54,990

*Figures based on regular Explore Pro, as previously tested by Driving Enthusiast. Manufacturers’ claims may be different

2026 MG U9 Black Edition: How much does it cost?

This is where the MG U9 Black Edition becomes particularly difficult to dismiss. MG has adjusted the price since the Black Edition was originally announced, with the vehicle now available from $54,990 drive-away. At that point, you get an impressive amount of vehicle for the money.

The U9 certainly isn’t perfect, but many of its shortcomings become easier to accept when you consider how much similarly-equipped alternatives can cost. MG offers a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty for the U9, while other MG passenger cars are covered for seven years.

2026 MG U9 Black Edition: Interior & packaging

It’s a substantial vehicle even by dual-cab ute standards, measuring 5500mm long and 1997mm wide. The upside becomes obvious once you climb inside. Cabin space is excellent, particularly across the front where the wide centre console and generous shoulder room give the U9 an almost American pickup-like sense of scale. There’s plenty of room in the back as well, making this a genuine family-capable vehicle rather than simply a work ute with a second row of seats.

Large 12.3-inch displays stretch across much of the dash, offering Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, surround-view cameras, and digital radio, providing a modern package that’s considerably better-equipped than the U9’s price might suggest. There’s also heated front seats and dual-zone climate control, although the Black Edition does miss out on the higher-end 8-speaker JBL sound system of the top Explore Pro, instead making do with a more basic 6-speaker setup.

One significant issue with the on-board tech becomes apparent after sunset, however. The digital instrument cluster is simply too bright at night. Even with the brightness adjusted to its lowest setting, it remains noticeably brighter than many competitors.

That’s not merely an aesthetic complaint. On a dark country road, a driver’s eye needs to adapt to the low-light environment ahead. Having a bright screen constantly illuminating the cabin creates unnecessary contrast between the instrumentation and the road, forcing your eyes to continually compensate. It’s distracting and something that should be easily rectified through revised software for a greater dimming range.

Specifically for the Black Edition, sitting just beneath the top Explore Pro, it adds darker cabin finishes, including a black headliner and pillars, as well as ‘MGU9’ stamping on the tailgate, black front grille and badges, black roof rails and window surrounds, and a set of unique 18-inch alloy wheels wearing 265/65 all-terrain tyres – it is the only variant in the current Aussie showroom with all-terrain tyres.

There are plenty of clever touches elsewhere. The electrically-releasing tailgate incorporates an integrated fold-down step, making it easier to climb into the tub, and the tailgate itself even includes cup holders when lowered. They’re small details, but they demonstrate that MG has thought about how owners might actually use the vehicle.

As for towing and hauling gear, the U9 Black Edition retains a 3500kg braked towing capacity, putting it in line with the standard expectation for modern dual-cab utes. With a GCM of 6500kg and a kerb weight of 2550kg, it means you have about 450kg GCM leftover for passengers and cargo when towing at 3500kg. However, you’ll run into the 3320kg GVM first, leaving 420kg once you factor in 10 per cent download. That excludes the tow bar. Still quite good for the class.

MG has also introduced a towing-specific cruise control function, while the combination of a relatively refined diesel engine, conventional eight-speed automatic and substantial physical dimensions should make it well suited to caravan and trailer duties.

Its size is worth keeping in mind, though. What makes the U9 spacious and comfortable during touring also makes it cumbersome in urban environments. Parking spaces designed around smaller passenger vehicles can feel particularly tight, and owners moving from a medium SUV will need some time to become accustomed to its dimensions.

2026 MG U9 Black Edition: Powertrain & handling

Under the bonnet is a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder producing 160kW and 520Nm, paired with a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. Those figures are competitive. In fact, they sit slightly above the roughly 150kW and 500Nm benchmark that has become common among four-cylinder diesel utes.

The engine itself is also relatively quiet and refined for the class. Diesel clatter is well suppressed and the ZF transmission generally goes about its business smoothly, contributing to a driving experience that feels more sophisticated than you might expect at this price, and for this category of vehicle. However, the numbers on the spec sheet don’t translate into particularly strong on-road acceleration.

During our performance testing, the U9 completed 0-100km/h in 11.42 seconds. That’s towards the slower end of the modern dual-cab ute field, despite its healthy power and torque outputs. It’s certainly adequate for normal driving, but buyers expecting particularly muscular performance from those figures may be disappointed.

Where the U9 takes an unusual approach is underneath. Instead of the traditional leaf-sprung live rear axle used by many utes (the platform-sharing LDV Terron 9 uses its own live axle as well), MG employs a multi-link independent rear suspension setup. This contributes to a more SUV-like dynamic, particularly when the vehicle is unladen. There’s less of the rear-end skipping and shuddering that can affect traditional commercial vehicles over broken surfaces, although, it’s worth noting, it is not as compliant or as comfortable as an SUV. There is still some jittering over corrugations.

Off road, the hardware looks great. The four-wheel drive system includes both front and rear differential locks in the Black Edition, providing the ability to mechanically improve traction across difficult terrain. In saying that, we found during our testing, those differential locks proved to be more of a necessity than an added bonus.

With the locks disengaged, the electronic traction management struggles to effectively control torque when individual wheels begin losing grip. On obstacles where other modern 4×4 utes we’ve tested have simply relied on their electronic traction control systems to maintain progress, the U9 can quickly become stuck spinning its wheels.

Engaging the differential locks transforms its ability, and having both front and rear lockers available from the factory is undoubtedly an impressive feature at this price. With the Black Edition you also get those 265/65 all-terrain tyres which bite with firmer grip on slippery surfaces, compared with the regular road-oriented tyres.

There’s plenty of mechanical capability here, and 220mm of ground clearance is pretty good. Due to its overall length, the break-over angle of 20 degrees doesn’t stack up that well against some, but a 28-degree approach and 25-degree departure angle seem reasonable for a variant like this. Some additional calibration work on the traction control would further enhance the overall package in our opinion.

2026 MG U9 Black Edition: Key attractions/reasons to buy

• Outstanding value for money: At $54,990 drive-away, very few utes offer this combination of size, equipment, 4×4 hardware for less money.
• Huge and spacious cabin: Its substantial exterior dimensions can be inconvenient around town, but they translate into excellent passenger accommodation inside.
• Refined diesel powertrain: The 2.5-litre turbo-diesel is relatively quiet for the class and works smoothly with the eight-speed ZF automatic, with strong on-paper figures.

2026 MG U9 Black Edition: Key considerations before you buy

• Traction control needs improvement: Despite offering good off-road promise, the electronic traction management struggles off road where some rivals can progress without needing their differentials locked.
• Slow for its outputs: Our 11.4-second 0-100km/h result is disappointing considering the healthy 160kW and 520Nm figures.
• Instrument cluster too bright at night: Even at its dimmest setting the screen creates too much glare on dark roads.

2026 MG U9 Black Edition: Video