• Tough as nails. • More capable than it really needs to be. • Great, great value.
• NVH levels a little poorly. • Cabin feels really utilitarian. • Third-row could be more accessible.
The tidy Isuzu MU-X emphasises the ‘ute’ in ‘sport-utility vehicle.’
Whilst town centres are being littered with compact, high-riding hatchbacks that pass themselves off as SUVs, it would be sage to take a moment to remember why SUVs exist in the first place. The ‘U’ in ‘SUV’ stands for ‘Utility,’ a term that Australians know and love. SUVs were born from utes, from a need for a car that could work through the week and haul the family on weekends. And while much time has passed since the conception of the SUV, some maintain the same recipe that was concocted ever so long ago: Ladder chassis, tough engine, and a wagon on top.
The Isuzu MU-X is precisely that kind of SUV. It’s very, very similar to the Isuzu D-Max underneath, which means it’s as tough as nails and will merrily go where others may fear to tread. It has handsome looks, a beloved 3.0-litre turbodiesel, and packs plenty of kit through the range. But can this utility wagon continue to defend itself against rivals like the Holden Trailblazer, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, Toyota Fortuner and Ford Everest?
Exterior
“It’s still one of the best looking seven-seat off-road SUVs out there.” - CarsGuide
The Isuzu MU-X takes the already-handsome styling of the D-Max ute and does… absolutely nothing to it. Why fix something that isn’t broken? As a result, the MU-X carries a strong, bold face, resting on a muscular body that could only really be accused of being a little conservative. The rear is tall and relatively uncomplicated, though it must be said that it’s neat how the rear bumper guards reflect the upward-flicks seen on the nose.
Big wheel arches, almost over-flared, accommodate even the chunkiest wheels, lending the MU-X some real off-road credibility. There’s no escaping its ute-roots style-wise, though in fairness, we don’t think the MU-X was ever really trying to.
Engine & Drivetrain
“The Isuzu’s 3.0-litre 130kW/380Nm truck engine is very much a strong point of the car. While it may not have the big numbers of some of its rivals, the engine feels relaxed and capable both in town and on tour.” - CarAdvice
One engine, and two transmissions make up the drivetrain offerings here, though power can go down through two- or four-wheels, depending on model. The 3.0-litre turbodiesel up front provides all 380Nm of pull from as little as 1800rpm (and keeps pulling through to 2800rpm), and the six-speed automatic does a good job at keeping the pull pulling. The 130kW power rating may seem diminutive, but you will never feel that the MU-X lacks grunt, be it in town, in dirt, or on the motorway. The six-speed automatic is actually available lower down in the range, for the two-wheel drive models for those who want practicality but don’t need off-road prowess. The six-speed manual is available only with the lower-grade all-wheelers, with the top-shelf LS-T variants getting the six-speed auto as standard.
8.3L/100km is the claimed consumption here, which is pretty good considering the utilitarian priorities of the engine, and the heft that comes with being a seven-seater off-roader.
Interior
“Isuzu has tried to mask the commercial underpinnings with the leather-appointed seats and convenience features. However, it doesn’t bring in the kind of separation Toyota has managed to achieve between the Hilux and the Fortuner.” - Wheels
The suggestions that the MU-X feels outwardly utilitarian are, we think, a little harsh. The MU-X’s interior ought to be considered once first considering the asking price; Yes, there are plusher high-riding wagons out there, but they will charge you for every square inch of plush, posh material.
What the MU-X does offer is the knowledge that it will likely never break, even in the cabin. Not every surface is pliant (aside from the seats, which are pretty comfy), but it leaves you with the knowledge that it’ll still work well in the next decade. Top-shelf cars get electrical adjustment in the drivers seat, while the leather trim that posh MU-X’s gain feel like they’ll last forever, too.
Practicality is one of the MU-X’s strong suits, too. With 878-litres on space on offer with the third-row of seats folded (flat into the floor), it’s a good 162-litres up from the Toyota Fortuner but short of the Everest by a similar margin. A total of 1830-litres of cargo room can be freed once the two rear rows are stowed, which will make you the best friend of anyone who’s moving house.
Behind the Wheel
“As expected of a vehicle with this ride height…” - TopGear PH
While the MU-X looks great on the outside and feels pretty alright inside, the driving experience really puts this wagon’s roots on display. It isn’t bad, by any means though. Body roll is pretty well controlled, and high-speed cruising is a task it’s particularly good at. However, turn the wheel in any direction, and there’s an almost-immediate sensation of weight shifting; We say sensation, because it likely feels worse than it is. The MU-X is a tidy handler, though it fails to inspire confidence.
Treat it like the big family wagon that it is, and everything settles down. The ride, though not particularly pliant, is perfectly alright, with only the very sharpest bumps sending harshness into the cabin. The steering, devoid of feel, is solid to use, and weights up nicely on turn in while remaining perfectly centred when it’s… uh, centred.
If off-road ability is what you want out of your seven-seater wagon, then the MU-X looks pretty good. It has surprising levels of ability over unsealed surfaces, with good approach and departure angles working together with that torquey diesel engine means the MU-X isn’t a vehicle that’s easily thwarted. It does, however, lack a rear differential lock that the Ford Everest has, meaning that if you venture too far off the beaten track, you’d better have a winch ready.
Safety & Technology
“No MU-X offers active driver-assist features…” - WhichCar
More evidence of its utilitarian roots are the advanced driver assistance systems, of which there are none. Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and lane departure warning are missing here, omissions that are tolerated only due to the value-driven packaging of the MU-X as a whole. Winning back points, the MU-X does have six airbags, a reversing camera, rear parking sensors and stability control across the range. The side-curtain airbags offer head protection from the front row all the way to the rearmost occupants, which is comforting.
The MU-X was rated a five-start performer in ANCAP crash testing in 2014.
Infotainment is strong though, with Bluetooth connectivity and eight speakers standard-fit on the MU-X. There’s cruise control too, which is great on a car that’s particularly good on long motorway jaunts. There’s hill-start and hill-descent assistance systems, and traction control rounds up the features.
Verdict
Looking at the current crop of ladder-frame SUVs out there, the MU-X is probably the most utilitarian prospect there is. It’s as tough as nails, packs an engine that’ll go like a train, and has enough space in it to haul everything and the kitchen sink. If you’re a no-frills kind of person, then the MU-X is your kind of car, as it packs just enough niceties to be bearable but not so much as to make you wonder about its intentions.
The MU-X is designed to keep you and your family mobile, no matter what. With a five-year/130,000km warranty, capped-price servicing, and rock-solid Isuzu reliability, we have little doubt that this big brute will just keep on going.
It’s difficult for CarShowroom to recommend any one variant, as it depends highly on your needs. But with even the top-spec model offering excellent value, we’re confident that you won’t go wrong with your MU-X.
CarsGuide - 8.0/10 - “The MU-X may look and feel a bit more basic than the Everest or Fortuner, but its tough Isuzu truck underpinnings is this SUV’s secret weapon. Isuzu also builds big commercial engines, designed to be reliable and robust, and that DNA is this engine.”
CarAdvice - 7.0/10 - “The Isuzu MU-X makes a solid but basic value-packed argument for family buyers, and those who need towing and touring ability without the fuss. Just be mindful of those service intervals and you too can leave the paved 20 per cent behind.”
Drive - 5.0/10 - “It may not be from a big name brand, but this off-roader is popular for a reason.”
Motoring - 72/100 - “You have to admire any brand that dives head-first into a crowded, established market. That’s what Isuzu UTE did here with its MU-X in 2013. In the years since, it’s steadily built a growing army of loyal customers - people devoted to a vehicle that’s quickly built a reputation for performance, dependability, and value.”
4x4 Australia - 4.0/5.0 - “The Isuzu MU-X has been a quiet achiever in the Australian 4x4 market, and it’s been very successful for the Japanese company thanks to their toughness, reliability, and great bang-for-buck factor.”
WhichCar - 3.0/5.0 - “The Isuzu MU-X is a robust SUV that is based on the D-Max ute, sharing a strong diesel engine that arrived in February 2017 with excellent new six-speed gearboxes. It is available as a high-clearance rear-wheel drive wagon, and as a four-wheel drive wagon that is good off-road. Every MU-X has seven seats, and dimensions that make it easier to manoeuvre than some 4WD wagons.”
TopGear Philippines - 7.0/10 - “The Isuzu MU-X may be down on power against its competitors, but everything else about it justifies the demand. It’s a handsome SUV that looks a lot better than most of its ageing competitors. And it’s also well-equipped. And since it’s an Isuzu, aftermarket support shouldn’t be a problem.”
Prod Wheels - 6.5/10 - “The Isuzu MU-X is quite a unique proposition in the market. It’s a diesel, and it’s a utilitarian, off-road vehicle. It will make sense for someone whose work involved transporting people to places far away from civilisation. It may not be the best example of a refined family SUV, but it’s a true workhorse in every sense.”
