Engine and Performance
Under the hood, the Extender favors a torquey diesel. In most markets it uses a 2.0‑liter turbocharged diesel (common-rail), which produces about 161 horsepower and 375 Nm of torquemgcars.com. This engine can be paired with either a 6‑speed manual or a 6‑speed automatic transmission (with manual shift mode)mgcars.com. For Pakistan’s U9 launch, MG has fitted a larger 2.5‑liter turbo-diesel (from the Maxus Terron 9) which makes roughly 215 hp (160 kW) and 520 Nmpropakistani.pk. This powerful mill is mated to an 8‑speed ZF automatic and full-time 4×4 drive. The result is very strong low-end pulling power – on paper the 2.5L U9 matches or exceeds rivals like the Toyota Hilux and Isuzu D-Max in output. MG’s own data highlights the 2.0L’s 161 hp/375 Nm figuresmgcars.com, while Pakistani releases emphasize the 2.5L’s 215 hp/520 Nmpropakistani.pk.
Transmissions are robust: as noted, a 6‑speed manual or auto is offered abroad, while Pakistan’s model uses an 8‑speed auto for smooth shifts. The drivetrain also includes heavy-duty hardware for towing and hauling. In fact, the Extender/U9 can tow up to 3,500 kg (braked)carexpert.com.au. Its gross vehicle mass is around 3,320 kgcarexpert.com.au, meaning it can handle payloads on the order of 770–870 kgcarexpert.com.au depending on spec. In practice the 2.5L diesel gives strong acceleration for a pickup of this size; reviewers noted it “shouldn’t be short of a gallop” even when towing heavy loadscarexpert.com.au.
Fuel Efficiency
Fuel economy for the MG Extender is modest by modern standards, but typical for a 4×4 diesel ute. Official claimed fuel consumption is about 7.9 L/100 km (roughly 12.7 km/L) for the 2.5L turbo-diesel versioncarexpert.com.au. Real-world figures in Pakistan align with this: user data reports about 10 km/L in city driving and 12 km/L on the highwaypakwheels.com. With its ~73–80 L fuel tankpakwheels.comcarexpert.com.au, that translates to an impressive range on a tank – on the order of 700–880 km per fill under mixed driving. For example, PakWheels calculates around 730 km city / 876 km highway range for the Extenderpakwheels.com. In short, expect mid-10s km/L in real use: not class-leading compared to a small car, but reasonable for a powerful 4×4 pickup.
Off-Road Capabilities
The MG Extender is built for the rough stuff. It comes standard with 4×4 drive and low-range gearing, and includes both front and rear differential locks (the rear lock is standard on all models, the front lock is on top trim)carexpert.com.au. Ground clearance is a healthy 220 mmcarexpert.com.au, and approach/departure angles are about 29°/25° (with a 20° breakover)carexpert.com.au. Wading depth is rated at 550 mmcarexpert.com.au, enough for most water crossings short of deep flooding. These specs put it on par with or slightly better than many rivals. For example:
4WD System: Selectable full-time 4×4 with low-range transfer case and off-road driving modescarexpert.com.au.
Differential Locks: Rear diff-lock standard; front diff-lock available on high trimscarexpert.com.au.
Clearance & Angles: 220 mm ground clearance, 29° approach, 25° departure (20° breakover)carexpert.com.au.
Wading: 550 mm maximum depthcarexpert.com.au.
Towing: Up to 3,500 kg braked (one of the class’s best figures)carexpert.com.au.
Payload: About 770–870 kg (depending on variant)carexpert.com.au.
MG even provides a special “Off-Road Expert” mode in the infotainment, which displays vehicle pitch/roll and wheel track information on-screen, and gives quick access to crawl control, hill-descent control, etc.carexpert.com.au. Early drive reviews confirm the Extender’s off-road kit is effective – with selectable modes and diff locks it can “make light work of basic water crossings” and maintain traction on loose terraincarexpert.com.au. The ladder-frame chassis with a coil-sprung multi-link rear suspension (a rare setup in this segment) also smooths out rough trails, giving a more car-like ride over bumpscarexpert.com.au. In summary, the Extender/U9 is genuinely off-road ready, not just a showroom special.
Interior Design and Comfort
Inside, the MG Extender’s cab is spacious and well-equipped for its class. MG emphasizes a premium look and feel: the dashboard and doors use soft-touch plastics, and the seats have a two-tone (brown/black) leatherette design in some marketsmgcars.com. The ride is set up for comfort – the wheelbase is quite long (~3.3mcarexpert.com.au) so rear legroom is generous for a crew cab. Key interior highlights include:
Seating: The Extender seats 5 adults. Even the base model gets a 6-way power adjustable driver’s seat. In upper trims (Explore X and Pro) this becomes an 8-way power seat with power lumbar support, plus heating, ventilation and massage functionscarexpert.com.au. Passenger seat is 6-way power with heat. Higher trims also add leather upholstery (base models have synthetic/leatherette)carexpert.com.au.
Space & Trim: The cabin is big and airy. MG advertises “roominess with fully-loaded comfort”mgcars.com. There’s a flat floor in back, and headroom is ample. The tailgate even has a built-in fold-down step. A unique “smart-hatch” (foldable rear cabin access panel) is optional, letting you fold rear glass forward to extend load length (particularly useful for long items).
Convenience: Standard features include a multi-function leather steering wheel, keyless entry with push-button start, and dual-zone automatic climate controlcarexpert.com.au. Rear-seat passengers get their own AC vents and reading lights. The Extender’s tailgate is electric (on top trim) for easy loading, and the sliding tray in the cargo bed has a power-release step (like on the Ford F-150).
Materials: The build quality feels competitive. Some luxury touches (ambient cabin lighting, a padded armrest console, chrome accents) appear on higher grades. MG’s Thai site even calls it a “British-style” cabin to highlight styling cuesmgcars.com.
Overall the cabin rivals many rivals in terms of comfort. Reviewers note that the independent rear suspension makes the ride on bad roads surprisingly supplecarexpert.com.au. Despite its size, visibility is decent thanks to large side mirrors and front cameras (if equipped). In short, passengers get a comfortable, well-appointed interior more akin to an SUV than a bare-bones work truck.
Technology and Infotainment
The MG Extender is heavy on gadgetry. It comes with dual 12.3‑inch screens: one digital gauge cluster and one central touchscreencarexpert.com.au. (MG’s marketing sometimes lists a 10‑inch screen, but tested models have a large 12.3″ display). The infotainment supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Autopropakistani.pk, plus built-in navigation and voice commands. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi hotspot capability and multiple USB ports.
Other tech features include:
Audio: A premium 8‑speaker JBL sound system on top trimspropakistani.pk (base models use a simpler 6-speaker stereocarexpert.com.au).
Cameras and Sensors: Rear-view camera with dynamic guidelines is standard. Upper trims add a full 360° surround-view camera, front/rear parking sensors, and a head-up display.
Driving Aids: Adaptive (intelligent) cruise control with stop/go, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning and driver fatigue alert (on higher models) are availablecarexpert.com.au. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert come on the Explore X and Procarexpert.com.au. The center screen also includes MG’s Off-Road Expert app (showing wheel articulation and shortcuts for off-road aids)carexpert.com.au.
Convenience: Wireless phone charging pad, rain-sensing wipers, auto-dimming rearview mirror and power-folding side mirrors come on higher trimspropakistani.pkcarexpert.com.au.
In practice, the user interface is modern and easy to use. The 12.3″ screen is crisp, and the wireless CarPlay/Android works smoothly for maps and music. Higher trims even offer over-the-air (OTA) update capability, so the system can get new features. All told, the Extender’s tech stack feels on par with mid-range SUVs rather than a bare pickup.
Safety Features
Safety has been a strong point for MG’s new models, and the U9/Extender is no exception. Australian ANCAP tests (for the related MG U9 sold there) gave it a 5‑star safety ratingancap.com.aucarexpert.com.au. Standard safety gear includes 7 airbags: dual front, front-side, curtain (side head protection) and a centre front airbag to protect occupants in side impactsancap.com.au. Beyond passive safety, the Extender has an advanced driver-assistance suite:
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB): Car-to-car, pedestrian and cyclist AEB is standard, even at highway speeds. It also handles intersection braking and backover scenariosancap.com.au.
Lane and Sign Assist: Lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning and automatic speed limit recognition are includedancap.com.au. Adaptive cruise control (intelligent cruise) works with lane-centering on higher models.
Additional Aids: Higher trims add blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a 360° cameracarexpert.com.au. A driver-drowsiness monitor and front/rear parking sensors are standard across the range.
Chassis Controls: Of course, it has ABS, electronic stability control, traction control, and hill-start assist. There’s also a Trailer Stability Program when towing.
Because MG claims the U9 inherits crash performance from the electric Maxus eTerron 9, it scores particularly well in adult and child protection (90+% in ANCAP tests)ancap.com.aucarexpert.com.au. In short, the Extender comes loaded with modern safety tech usually reserved for cars.
Price & Availability in Pakistan
In Pakistan, MG has just begun taking bookings for the U9. The booking fee is Rs 8,000,000 (PKR)propakistani.pk and the official launch is expected in early 2026. This places it near the top end of the local pickup market in price. Because the U9 is fully imported (CBU), final on-road prices will be higher after duties and taxes.
For comparison, used first-generation MG Extender pickups (imported from Thailand) are selling around PKR 60 lakh (~6.0 million) for 2024–25 modelspakwheels.com. MG Pakistan has not yet announced official new car pricing, but the Rs 8M pre-book tag suggests a sticker north of PKR 8–9 million for a loaded U9. This would position it above mid-spec competitors but below the very top-of-line Hilux/Ranger. Availability will initially be limited to Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad showrooms; MG’s dealer network should expand as the model rolls out.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Power and Capability: The 2.5L turbo-diesel (215 hp / 520 Nm) is very strong for its classpropakistani.pk. It easily hauls heavy loads or trailers (3,500 kg tow) without strain.
Off-road Kit: Genuine 4×4 with low-range, terrain modes and diff locks means it can tackle rough trails much like an Isuzu or Toyotacarexpert.com.au. Approach angles and clearance are on par with rivals, so it’s not just a pretend off-roader.
Tech and Comfort: Loaded with modern features: dual 12.3″ screens, wireless CarPlay/Android Auto, JBL audio, premium seats with massage/heating, etc.propakistani.pkcarexpert.com.au. Few competitors give this level of luxury and gadgetry at a similar price.
Ride Quality: The independent multi-link rear suspension delivers a smooth, “car-like” ride, superior to traditional leaf-spring rivalscarexpert.com.au. Passengers enjoy good comfort even over rough roads.
Safety: Full five-star safety spec with 7 airbags, AEB, lane assist, blind-spot warnings and moreancap.com.aucarexpert.com.au. This is a major advantage, as many pickups skimp on crash tech.
Value: Early reviews note that top-spec Extenders come packed with features for a price “little more than a stripped-out Ranger or HiLux”carexpert.com.au. In other words, it undercuts some competitors while offering more kit.
Cons:
Payload: With about 770–870 kg payloadcarexpert.com.au, it’s a bit lighter-duty than some rivals (many Hilux/D-Max variants carry ~900+ kg). Not ideal if maximum load capacity is your priority.
Wading Depth: 550 mm water fording is decent but somewhat modest; some rivals can manage ~700 mm. Also, 220 mm clearance is ok but not best-in-classcarexpert.com.au.
Fuel Economy: The diesel’s ~7.9 L/100 km (12–13 km/L) is reasonable, but not exceptionally frugal by modern standardscarexpert.com.au. Buyers used to very high MPG might find it thirsty compared to a smaller sedan.
New Brand Uncertainty: MG is relatively new to the Pakistani market, and the Extender/U9 is new for the brand. Long-term reliability and resale value remain to be seen. (Some early test units showed minor build-quality issuescarexpert.com.au.)
Price: Even at Rs 8M, it’s a big investment. After taxes, the high-end U9 will compete with luxury-spec Japanese utes. Budget buyers may be steered to cheaper alternatives.
Manual Option: Pakistan’s U9 appears automatic-only (no manual gearbox offered), which some off-road enthusiasts may prefer for low-speed crawling.
Overall Value
Overall, the MG Extender/U9 delivers excellent value for money if you need a fully-featured, comfortable 4×4 ute. It packs more comfort, tech and safety into the package than many rivals, for what reviewers call “little more” than the base prices of Toyota or Ford pickupscarexpert.com.au. In its favor, it comes loaded even before adding optional extras. The trade-offs are its higher price point and slightly lower payload capacity.
For buyers in Pakistan eyeing a premium diesel pickup, the Extender/U9 could be very compelling – especially for those who will use it for mixed duty (daily driving, light towing and off-roading) rather than maximum payload. The robust engine, full 4×4 system, and advanced amenities mean it punches above its weight. If MG maintains build quality and backing (the truck has a 5-year/200,000 km warranty), the Extender may establish itself as a practical yet sophisticated new choice in the utility truck segmentcarexpert.com.au.
Sources: Detailed specs and features are drawn from MG’s official info and automotive reviewsmgcars.comcarexpert.com.aupropakistani.pkancap.com.aucarexpert.com.aupakwheels.compakwheels.com, with local Pakistani pricing and fuel figures from PakWheels and news reportspakwheels.compakwheels.compropakistani.pk.