In the business of building and selling cars, there are many ways to go about it. You can focus on a few models that you’re very good at, or you can try to cover as much ground across multiple segments as you can.
In the case of Chinese carmaker MG, it’s the latter. It already has plenty of electrified and budget-friendly cars and crossovers in its lineup, and it recently expanded to unchartered territory: pickups.
It has just launched the all-new MG TRQ L in the Philippines, and we were able to try it out prior to the launch. At its core, it’s just the same as the Maxus T60, which I was able to review several years back. That one disappointed me, but has MG made the right tweaks to make its version of this pickup better?
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Styling
It’s not easy to stand out in terms of style when it comes to pickups. They’re rugged, utilitarian vehicles, after all, so there aren’t exactly too many directions you can go when designing one. At the very least, though, the TRQ L doesn’t just blend in.
It’s got an imposing look to it, with the massive grille enclosing the equally large MG badge up front. That and the large headlamps make the pickup look bigger than it actually is. Talk about road presence.
The added claddings on the fenders also match nicely with the stepboard, the roof rails, and the sport bar out back. I think it was a good call to not add too many black plastics to the exterior, especially that front end. Out back, there’s a macho-looking bumper to add to the beefy aesthetic.
What I didn’t appreciate, however, is the fitment. The wheels need more offset, and the tires have to be a bit chunkier, and the gaps on those wheel wells are just too darn big. As it is, this truck looks like someone who’s been going to the gym and skipping leg day for years. Great upper body, terrible lower half. It ruins the entire look for me. MG actually displayed a unit with aftermarket wheels and tires during the launch, and frankly, it looks way, way better than it does stock.
Interior
The interior is what you’d expect from an entry-level truck. Not a lot of soft-touch materials can be found inside this cabin. It’s one panel of hard plastic after another, mostly black with a few hints of silver and red here and there. I wouldn’t really complain about anything here as I already knew what to expect before I even stepped inside the first time, but I also don’t have anything to praise here. Except the seats—they’re not premium, but they’re surprisingly comfy.
Engine performance
Under the hood of this pickup is a 2.0-liter turbodiesel that puts out 158hp and 400Nm of torque. It can be mated to either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic—the one I drove had the auto. Power is sent to the rear wheels, and no 4x4 variants have been made available at launch. While this is a Maxus like I said, this is a totally different powertrain from the one I drove back then.
For a diesel engine, again, it’s as what you’d expect. It has pulling power, alright, but there’s significant turbo lag. Mash the pedal and you’ll have to wait a bit for that oomph. Fuel economy is okay, as I did about 13-14km/L in mixed conditions. It also cruises easily on the highway with the revs kept low.
What I didn’t appreciate was the sheer sound of the engine which you can’t tune out of whenever you’re inside the truck. The powertrain produces this somewhat high-pitched clicking sound, and the revs sound like that of a lawnmower. It doesn’t affect performance whatsoever, but it makes it very irritating to drive. I can imagine it being unbearable to drive off-road, where the gears are set low and the revs are often high.
Ride and handling
Comfort is greatly affected by the aforementioned engine noise that I just couldn’t stand. It’s baffling, actually, how so much sound seeps through from the engine bay but not a lot passes through the windows. But honestly, I would’ve liked it more if it were the other way around.
The ride is also very stiff. It does let the truck corner better with less body roll compared to other pickups in the segment, but twisties aren’t exactly what you’d be driving often through with something like this. In the city, it’s almost similar to the pre-facelift GWM Cannon. It’ll feel slightly bumpy even on properly paved roads, and on uneven terrain, it’ll be borderline unbearable. If you have back problems like most of us do at Top Gear Philippines, I would advise against riding this truck on EDSA.
Extra features
There’s really not much to say here. There’s an analog instrument cluster with a small dated-looking digital panel in the middle, and this is paired with a head unit that has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. It would’ve been nice and all, if the wired connection weren’t so clunky. The first few times I drove the TRQ L, I resorted to listening to my music via Bluetooth, as CarPlay just wouldn’t start up.
Thankfully, it eventually worked, but I still had to deal with the fact that the screen isn’t angled even just the slightest bit to the driver, so it’s not the easiest display to look at. The sound produced through the speaker setup is mediocre at best, and you’d have to crank up the volume if you want to listen to some tunes anyway, because there’s a lot of noise pollution coming from up front. There are rear A/C vents and a small pocket for second-row passengers, and that’s as far as creature comforts go.
There’s nothing spectacular about the bed, but nothing bad about it either. It’s typical. No tailgate assist here, either, but you could spec yours with one along with a tailgate step if you wanted to. For the added premium, of course.
Verdict
I was recently able to try out Ma Mon Luk for the first time. What struck me with the old restaurant was how small the menu was, and it was astonishing how it survived and thrived throughout the decades with just those offerings. But that’s the thing—they stuck with what they knew best, and it worked out for them.
In the case of MG, pickups aren’t really the brand’s thing. This is its first foray into this segment of the market, and I’d be lying if I said it looks ready to take on its competitors. With a P1.338 million price tag (with an introductory discount) that isn’t significantly lower than that of its most established rivals, it’ll be hard for the TRQ L to gain its footing here.
In my opinion, MG should’ve just used a page from the Ma Mon Luk playbook. Stick to the stuff you know, and stay good at it. Like how the famed restaurant continues to serve the same siopao, siomai, and bowls of mami to its loyal customer base, MG can keep dishing out its crossovers and sedans, and it’ll be just fine.
SPECS: 2026 MG TRQ L 2.0 Comfort 4x2 AT
Price: P1,338,000
Engine: 2.0-liter turbodiesel I4
Power: 159hp @ 4,000rpm
Torque: 400Nm @ 1,500-2,400rpm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Drive layout: 4x2
Seating: 5
Score: 7/10
More photos of the 2026 MG TRQ L:
