2002 MG TF Reviews

If you need any proof that Australians are well and truly in favour of Chinese cars, just take a look around your local supermarket car park.

MG’s first ute in Australia, the U9, is set to launch in September to take on the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.When it does land here it will come with an Aussie-specific multi-link suspension setup that the brand says will suit our roads and increase comfort.This is a big difference to the LDV Terron 9 which is essentially the same ute under the skin. Both LDV and MG are owned by China's SAIC Motor.The LDV Terron 9, on the other hand, has rear leaf springs. Many utes come with this type of suspension due to the affordability, strength and load-carrying capacity. However, leaf springs aren’t known for their ride comfort and on-road dynamics.With the MG U9's more sophisticated rear multi-link setup, it has been benchmarked locally.“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”.Multi-link suspension is typically used in SUVs and cars for the better ride and on-road dynamics it offers, however it generally doesn't offer as much load-carrying capability.The MG U9 won't be the first ute to feature a rear multi-link setup in Australia. The BYD Shark 6 features this kind of rear suspension, though it only has a braked towing capacity of 2500kg.Despite having a rear multi-link setup, the MG U9 will still offer a segment benchmark braked towing capacity of 3500kg, like the leaf-sprung LDV Terron 9, as well as the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.The MG U9 will be offered solely in a dual-cab body style and use the same platform as the Terron 9 with a ladder-frame chassis and four-wheel drive.Under the bonnet is a 2.5 litre turbo-diesel engine making 164kW, which is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission.A hybrid version of the U9 is likely to follow after the launch of the diesel variant, with the possibility of a fully electric model coming later.Pricing and more detailed specifications for the MG U9 have yet to be announced. However, prospective Australian buyers are now able to pre-order the U9 through MG dealers.The U9 will arrive following MG's successful rise in Australia off the back of popular models such as the MG3 hatch, MG ZS SUV and affordable electric vehicles such as the MG4 and Terron 9.

Not so long ago the sedan seemed to be on its last legs in the Aussie new-car market. But EVs, the Tesla Model 3 in particular, have changed that. And now a new liftback-style electric sedan, the MG IM5 has arrived to challenge not only the Tesla but other EV five-seaters from BYD (Seal), Hyundai (Ioniq 6) and Polestar (2).

Just as MG’s premium ‘IM’ brand has launched in Australia, the model it’s likely to sell in the greatest volume has been given a hefty update and a new hybrid range-extender (EREV) in its home market.

I’m going to let you in on a little secret that ever-so-slightly undermines the good work I and others do for this esteemed tome. But do keep it between us, ok?

MG’s most affordable electric vehicle (EV) range in Australia will become a lot more complicated and cheaper next year.

They were supposed to herald a new era of electric vehicles. Crushing range anxiety with the ability to drive over 1000km on a single charge. They would see the end of internal combustion engines as this new technology finally fixed the biggest issue of electric vehicle (EV) uptake.

MG is preparing its new cut-price EV.

Move over Toyota and BYD, there is a new hybrid behemoth.

Australia’s ute market is about to get very crowded.