Last Updated on 02/11/2025 by Raj

The 2026 MG TRQ L: The British Renegade That Rode Into Southeast Asia With Diesel, Grit, and Swagger

The 2026 MG TRQ L is not another pickup—it’s MG’s daring foray into Southeast Asia’s pickup market. From design and performance to comfort, technology, and safety, here’s the complete inside scoop behind MG’s most ambitious truck ever.

A New Dawn for MG — From Classic Roadsters to Diesel Muscle

Once upon a time, MG was about red convertibles and chrome grilles glinting under the London sun. It was the car you’d see outside an English café, top down, engine humming like a jazz tune. Fast-forward nearly a century, and MG has gone through a metamorphosis so wild it could make any automotive historian do a double take.

Now, in 2026, MG isn’t merely bringing back nostalgia — it’s redefining itself. With the MG TRQ L, the company famous for its lightweight sports cars is now donning work boots and entering the pickup truck wars of Southeast Asia — a region where toughness and reliability are religion, and torque is poetry.

MG’s entry here is not another launch; it’s a statement of intent. This is the brand’s loudest message so far:

"We can do muscle just as well as finesse."

The Design Story – Power Meets Poise

Before you even get to turn the engine over, the TRQ L demands your attention. MG didn’t rush this truck’s design. It appears as if a machine has been chiseled with the same bravado with which an athlete is in prime shape.

Forward, a brash hexagonal grille sports the MG badge like body armor, bookended by aggressive LED headlights that slice through the night with authority. The angular lines are muscular but restrained, balancing practicality and refinement in a manner that feels globally distinct. The raised hood, squared-off fenders, and extended bed form an athletic stance — a visual guarantee that this pickup is not messing around.

MG dubs the styling language “urban industrial.” It’s half workhorse, half street-savvy adventurer. You could leave it parked outside a building site or a luxury hotel, and it would be perfectly at home.

Under the Cabin – Rough Outside, Kind Inside

Hop into the TRQ L‘s cabin, and you get the impression that MG has taken a few of its premium SUV styling cues and incorporated them — which is a positive.

The dashboard is nicely laid out, with a 10.25-inch touchscreen taking center stage and feeling both crisp and new, not like an add-on. The interface is responsive, the menus are tidy, and yes, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard.

The interior materials aren’t only rugged; they’re carefully selected. Soft-touch panels greet textured plastics, and even the door handles feel constructed to withstand a load of service. In an environment where most trucks still maintain interior ambiance reminiscent of a tool shed, the TRQ L feels more like a cross-country SUV wearing work gloves.

You have rear A/C vents, plenty of legroom, and thoughtful storage crevices for the things that tend to get misplaced — from walkie-talkies to wallets. The automatic model comes with understated niceties like partial leather trim and a push-start button, adding cabin refinement without going overboard.

It’s practical but refined — a pickup that won’t make you feel you’re compromising on comfort in favor of functionality.

The Heart of the Beast – Diesel Done Right

Let’s discuss power, because that’s where the 2026 MG TRQ L shows its true colors. Beneath that wide bonnet lies a 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel motor, all set for endurance and all-day usability. It makes 161 PS of power and 400 Nm of torque — figures that read tame on paper but feel brawny on the road.

Throttle response is crisp, the torque curve lush and rewarding. Be passing on a freeway or hauling gear up a rugged mountain pass, the TRQ L is planted, assured, and unflappable.

The 6-speed manual transmission provides crisp, predictable shifting, while the 8-speed automatic model is smooth and refined — ideal for extended freeway cruising or city driving.

MG engineers did not pursue high-rev drama; they set this truck up for what counts — tractable torque, low-end push, and real-world towing capability.

Performance in Motion – Road Manners and Ride Comfort

For a pickup truck that looks this tough, the TRQ L is impressive in how refined it is to drive. The suspension design is sufficiently firm to cope with loads, but not so hard that it cannot ride over bad road and cracked tarmac.

The steering is light and easy to handle in urban traffic. On the highway, it picks up weight, providing stability at higher speeds. MG appears to have gotten the difficult formula right that makes drivers comfortable without canceling out feedback.

Noise insulation is another success — that diesel rumble is well damped, allowing you to listen to your music or your thoughts rather than engine drone.

If you’ve ever driven a truck that felt like it was made of bolts and bounce, the TRQ L will feel like a revelation.

Safety That Feels Reassuring, Not Robotic

MG has given the TRQ L a suite of sensible safety features that enhance confidence without overwhelming the driver.

There are dual airbags, ABS with Electronic Braking Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Hill Descent Control, and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System. The rear camera and sensors operate in synergy, particularly useful when parking in cramped urban parking lots where pickups can feel like ships in little harbors.

MG’s strategy here is sensible — not gimmicky. It’s not about high-tech baby-sitting; it’s about providing you with mechanical and electronic peace of mind when life turns unpredictable.

Capability and Practical Strength

Overspecs notwithstanding, a pickup’s value is determined by what it can do. The TRQ L merits good marks on that account.

Its carrying capacity exceeds 1,000 kilograms, and the cargo tray (at approximately 1.5 meters in length) is more than capable of handling commercial payloads, camping supplies, or even two dirt bikes. It navigates through muddy ground, rain-drenched roads, and gravel roads with ease, thanks to its 215 mm ground clearance.

You can almost sense MG’s engineers putting this thing through its paces in real-life Southeast Asian environments — wet climates, rough roads, and the occasional off-road excursions.

The chassis is firm, suspension is well-composed, and the truck remains poised even with a full load.

Pricing, Markets, and What Comes Next

In the Philippines, the 2026 MG TRQ L begins at approximately ₱1.24 million for the manual model, while the automatic goes close to ₱1.33 million.

That trumps several of its Japanese competitors by a healthy margin, offering more truck for fewer dollars. MG is looking to roll out the TRQ L across Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, with India targeted for a future launch — perhaps with locally assembled vehicles to make it affordable.

If MG gets its cards right, this could be the formula that entrenches its presence in the ASEAN market — a true competitor to the Toyota Hilux, Isuzu D-Max, and Ford Ranger.

Pros and Cons – The Honest Take

Pros:

Smooth and comfortable cabin layout

Sturdy torque and dependable diesel drive

Exceptional ride comfort for a pickup truck

Competitively priced and stylish

Intelligent safety package

Cons:

Presently only 4×2; needs a 4×4 variant for serious off-roaders

Limited ADAS technology versus more expensive competitors

After-sales service still growing in some markets

The Verdict – MG’s Bravest Move To Date

The 2026 MG TRQ L isn’t a truck, it’s an MG statement that it’s willing to hold its own along with the legends. It doesn’t merely deliver torque — it delivers personality.

It’s a workingman’s truck by heart, a contemporary SUV’s brain, and a brand’s swagger that knows where it’s going. MG has certainly constructed it for Southeast Asia, but its attitude is anything but regional — down-to-earth, chic, and humble.

This is the type of pickup you might drive to your job, bring to the beach, and still be proud to park it in front of your home.

For MG, the TRQ L is not just another truck — it’s an emblem of rebirth. For motorists, it’s evidence that you don’t need to break the bank to have a truck that’s strong, comfortable, and charming.