Is The MG RX9 Worth Your Investment? A Deep Dive

In the UAE, MG Motor is a well-known automotive brand. The British car company, which is owned by Chinese interests, makes a wide range of cars, such as hatchbacks, sedans, and SUVs. It's no surprise that it's the company's SUVs that attract the most buyers. In this case, we're talking about the monocoque platform-based MG RX9 midsize crossover SUV.

In November 2024, the 2025 MG RX9 made its first appearance in the UAE. It was a more premium choice next to MG's existing ladder-frame RX8 SUV. It competes with cars like the Chinese Jetour Dashing, plus well-established but pricier models like the Toyota RAV4 and the Mitsubishi Outlander. However, is it competitively priced?

Variants and Price

Picking the right variant of the 2025 MG RX9 is a non-hassle, as there are only three of them to choose from. You could pick the entry-level STD 2WD at a starting price of around AED 99,000. Even so, this makes the base RX9 more expensive than the base Dashing.

The mid COM 4WD variant of the RX9 is priced at around AED 108,000, though not actually accompanied by vastly more features. If you want the MG RX9’s LUX 4WD variant, that will cost you around AED 121,000. However, here you do get more standard kit for your money than the mid variant.

At the very top as well, the MG RX9 is pricier than the Jetour Dashing. While the MG RX9’s base variant is similarly priced to the base Toyota RAV4, the latter’s top variants are considerably more expensive. Offered alongside the new MG RX9 in the UAE is a 6-year/200,000 km manufacturer's warranty.

Exterior

The bold 'Starburst Wing Grille' from MG takes centre stage on the front fascia. It fits perfectly with the fancy 'Jewel‑Like' headlight assembly. There are 245 laser-engraved LED units in each headlamp cluster. When these lights are on, they resemble sparkling jewels because of their faceted design.

The RX9's sleek, high-tech look is enhanced multifold by all these small but crucial details. The RX9 is the widest car in its class, measuring 1,967 mm across. This wide track gives it a planted, athletic posture and makes it seem stable and in place, which is quite important for a seven-seat SUV on the UAE's busy city streets and vast highways.

MG offers the new RX9 in six colours, taking inspiration from nature. These finishes have been created to show off the RX9's sculpted surfaces and sharp character lines in various kinds of light. While plenty of cars in this segment provide 18- or 19-inch wheels, the 2025 MG RX9 stands out with its suave 21-inch rims.

These two-tone alloy wheels are striking, both in size and design, enhancing the overall exterior aesthetics of this SUV. The entry-level RX9 comes equipped with impressive 20-inch wheels, which again showcase a comparable dual-tone design. Flush door handles are becoming increasingly common in newer, contemporary cars.

However, they were once only found on high-end models. But the MG RX9 gets these modern-looking units, which further help to reduce aerodynamic drag. These door handles, which are hinged at the front, swing out when you unlock the RX9 – a neat party trick. In another flex, the MG RX9 is both longer and wider than the costlier Toyota RAV4.

Interior

For a premium crossover SUV costing over 120,000 dirhams, the inside of the 2025 MG RX9 feels pretty sophisticated. You can get it with beige & brown leather upholstery with embellishments of metal, wood, and piano black. The RX9 will accommodate up to seven people across three rows, which is certainly more than the Jetour Dashing.

The back seats of the RX9 can be split and folded to make the cabin even more practical. There is still room for a couple of suitcases and a few soft bags, even with all three rows in place. The new MG RX9 boasts up to 1,026 litres of cargo capacity when the third row is down.

The second-row seats can recline up to 140 degrees, and the last row can recline up to 35 degrees. The MG RX9 has a flat roof; thus, there is plenty of headroom. The light hues on the inside and the panoramic sunroof also make the interior feel more expansive.

The hollowed-out centre console in the front gives you additional room for storage, while the enclosed cubby and centre armrest regions make the space even more useful. There are also handy storage pockets on the backs of the front seats.

Features

The MG RX9's driver's seat can be electrically adjusted in up to eight ways. The front passenger seat can also be electrically moved around with up to four settings. The driver's seat in the top LUX variant has a memory function, while the front seats can also be heated or cooled.

Where most of its competitors feature the usual single or dual air-conditioning zones, the 2025 MG RX9 boasts a three-zone automatic climate control system. This not only adds additional value, but it also makes the people in the second row feel more comfortable. Furthermore, there are vents in the roof for those seated in the third row.

There are two digital displays on the front of the 2025 MG RX9. These 12.3-inch panels incorporate a digital driver's display and a touchscreen infotainment system. Both panels get reasonably bright, and you can control a lot of their features using actual buttons on the steering wheel and dashboard. However, their contrast levels aren't outstanding, especially when it's sunny or bright outside.

The MG RX9's digital gauge cluster isn't packing an extensive array of display settings or cool animations. That said, it performs effectively, although the thick bezels around the two screens look undesirable. The 12.3-inch infotainment screen is tilted toward the driver, making it simpler to reach. It works well and is easy to use, plus it has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The new MG RX9 offers a wireless charging pad and several USB ports. The base STD and mid COM variants get an 8-speaker sound system. It's not excellent, but it gets the job done. The range-topping RX9 LUX, on the other hand, features an upgraded 12-speaker Bose system that sounds considerably better.

Engine and Performance

You can get the 2025 MG RX9 with either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The engine is a 2.0-litre turbo-four with 201 hp and 350 Nm of torque, and it is connected to a 9-speed automatic transmission. There are five driving modes on the MG RX9: Auto, Eco, Sport, Snow, and Off-Road.

When combined with its AWD system, the RX9 becomes quite good and safe to drive even in bad weather. This crossover is still not a good off-roader, though, but it can handle some rough bits without getting fazed. The RX9’s top speed is 200 kmph, and it can hit 100 kmph in 9 seconds.

Meanwhile, the fuel economy is rated at 11.3 kmpl (8.8 L/100 km). The RX9's handling is well-balanced, so driving it through narrow city streets is straightforward. This also makes it easy to perform multi-point turns or park this SUV, despite its nearly 5-metre length!

Once you get up to speed on the highway, the MG RX9 relaxes into a calm, confident ride. The body stays poised at higher speeds as well, with barely any noticeable pitch or roll. Apart from its balanced suspension, the well‑insulated cabin of the RX9 feels comfy even at triple-digit speeds.

Safety

The 2025 MG RX9 has a number of sophisticated safety features, just like some of its closest competitors. A few of these are ABS with EBD, traction control, electronic stability program, hill-hold assist, and hill-descent control. The RX9 also has an electronic parking brake with auto-hold, tire-pressure monitoring, and six airbags.

The SUV boasts parking sensors front and back, a camera system with a 360-degree view, emergency calling (E-Call), ISOFIX anchors, and three-point seatbelts. These are backed up by advanced safety tech in the form of Level 2 ADAS, here known as "MG Pilot." Some of these features, such as adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking, can be really useful.

You also get blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, emergency lane-keeping, adaptive high-beam control, and traffic-jam assist, in addition to those. These active safety elements are built into the RX9, whose body is made of ultra-high-strength thermoformed steel and over 81% high-strength steel.

Conclusion

With its segment-leading width, fancy styling cues, the MG RX9 blends bold design with practical versatility. Its turbo-petrol engine, 9‑speed automatic gearbox, and five drive modes adapt from slick city streets to less-than-ideal surfaces exposed to desert elements quickly. The MG RX9 is priced well and backed by an impressive warranty package. Its lengthy feature set, Level 2 ADAS, and excellent on-road comfort are all goodies that will be appreciated by UAE buyers.