As impressive as MG Philippines’ performance has been in our market since its resurgence a few years back, there’s still one thing that’s missing from its stable: a pickup. It’ll have the midsize SUV segment covered once the RX8 arrives, but we’ve yet to hear about the carmaker’s plans to add a truck to its lineup.
The Covenant Car Company, Inc. (TCCCI) does have big plans for its booming brand this year, though, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed that it decides to bring in the MG Extender here as well, especially since the truck has just received a substantial facelift in Thailand.
Less than two years since its introduction, MG’s pickup has already been given a redesign. Gone are the honeycomb-like grille, the chunky headlamps, and the bulky bumper. The Extender now gets a lower albeit bigger grille featuring strips of chrome. This is now flanked by aggressive-looking headlamps and large vertical fog lamps. It’s also no surprise that the design looks similar to that of the Maxus D60’s, as this is a rebadged Maxus T70, after all.
Out back, MG has decided to give the pickup a sportier stance with a completely redesigned tailgate. A hefty black trim enveloped by those snazzy taillights now adorns the rear end.
Inside, the pickup gets a nice, dark cabin with a good amount of brown and gray accents all around, all of which are also available in both the single- and dual-cab variants. There are two-tone leather seats matched with additional black trim on the dash and side panels.
However, there still are no mechanical changes here, so the Extender retains its 2.0-liter turbodiesel from the pre-facelift model. This mill generates 161hp and 375Nm of torque and comes mated to either a six-speed manual or automatic. Both 4x2 and 4x4 drivetrains are available.
The Extender does have a few amenities, including the i-SMART intelligent operating system. This allows drivers to monitor the vehicle, among many other functions, through a dedicated smartphone app.
So, do you think MG Philippines should consider joining the local truck wars with the new Extender? Share your two cents in the comments.
The 2021 MG Extender's interior and exterior in photos:
