Toyota HiAce vs MG Mgu9

What's the difference?

Fact: almost one in every two mid-sized (2.5-3.5-tonne GVM) commercial vans sold in Australia is a Toyota HiAce. And if you take note of the diverse range of businesses that rely on this ubiquitous workhorse, as we did recently, you can appreciate its widespread appeal.

Apart from countless couriers and tradies, the HiAce is favoured by a vast range of businesses from locksmiths and pool maintenance specialists to window cleaners and mobile coffee baristas.

To ensure the HiAce maintains its broad business appeal, Toyota has recently released an upgraded range with enhanced active and passive safety features, improved instrumentation, electric power steering and other refinements. We recently spent a week at work with the latest offering to determine if its market dominance is justified.

There’s another ute in town, and this time it’s from MG. The new MG U9 is offered in three grades, and we’re family-testing the flagship Explore Pro.

It lands with a seriously impressive list of standard equipment and the promise of genuine off-road ability. But it’s clear MG isn’t just dipping a toe into the dual-cab market, it’s diving right in.

Does this newcomer have what it takes to challenge the segment heavyweights, or does it need to prove its toughness before earning the trust of Aussie ute fans?