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Impending MG ute an ANCAP star
Richard Bosselman
Sept 23, 2025
Independent national auditor says model’s LDV history helped sort score.
STRONG results accrued by a LDV cousin have been beneficial to the first ute to carry a badge historically best known for its British sports car breeding.
Though launch timing, price and the model choice has yet to be confirmed, the U9 from MG is said to be a certain starter for New Zealand.
The national safety auditor has already given the dual cab model a thumbs up, accrediting it with the same score as it has provisioned to the LDV Terron 9, which is effectively the same vehicle but from another brand that started out in England, but is now very much in Chinese ownership.
The NZ Government-ratified Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP) says the five star score it determined for the U9 largely based on the results of the LDV, though it says MG also provided additional data.
The rating the Melbourne independent assessor has just announced applies to all MG U9 diesel variants.
Overall ratings are 91 percent for adult occupant protection and 89 percent for children. The vulnerable road user score was 84 percent while the Safety Assist score was 85 percent (accident prevention).
The type has dual frontal, side chest- and side head-protecting airbags are standard, along with a front centre airbag to prevent head clashes.
Autonomous emergency braking, lane support system with lane keep assist (LKA), lane departure warning (LDW), emergency lane keeping (ELK) and advanced speed assistance system (SAS) with speed sign recognition all feature.
One note made by ANCAP is sharing its score was that installation of child restraints in the second row centre seating position is not recommended due to the lack of a top tether.
MG U9 has just launched in Australia in three levels of trim, all with a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine, producing 160kW - so 4kW less than the LDV - but identical 520Nm torque.
Much discussed design features of the new model have been a two-step tailgate and electrically folding rear hatch access. These are exclusive to only the top-spec Explore Pro across the Tasman, with the latter availing as a $7300 extra.
