UPDATE: Isuzu has updated the MU-X for 2024, now offering its smaller 1.9-litre diesel engine with a lower starting price of $47,400.
Isuzu Ute Australia (IUA) gave its popular seven-seat MU-X an upgrade for 2023 offering more tech and the same compelling price-tag for fleet and private buyers wanting a sub-$70,000 4×4 wagon.
The MU-X range starts at $48,900 for the LS-M in 4×2 configuration, climbing all the way to $65,990 for the top-of-the-line LS-T 4×4 model that goes head-to-head with more expensive offerings from Ford and Toyota.
However, it is the middle-of-the-line MU-X LS-M 4×4 we think offers the best fleet value, as a capable off-road performer with the same trusted powertrain shared across the range, and all of Isuzu’s active safety technology included as standard.
The MU-X LS-M 4×4 is priced from $54,900, more than $10,000 cheaper than the top-spec LS-T, but if you can handle cloth seats and a smaller infotainment screen it might be the ideal choice.
Based on its popular D-Max sibling, the ladder-frame MU-X is a capable 4×4 wagon that offers more comfort than a ute but not quite as much refinement as a dedicated SUV.
What you do get, though, is Isuzu’s longstanding 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine which has been powering work-ready models (in some form) all the way back to the Holden Rodeos of the early 2000s.
Across two decades the ‘4J’, as it is colloquially known, has been constantly refined and improved and is today revered for being one of the most reliable diesel engines in use.
The version in the MU-X LS-M produces 140kW/450Nm and is mated to a six-speed Aisin automatic gearbox, with a part-time 4×4 system that can be activated via a centre dial.
A full 3500kg braked towing capacity makes the MU-X a capable work vehicle, and models now have an auto-off safety system function that prevents the rear-cross traffic alert system from interfering.
Cargo space is also significant, with as much as 2138 litres on offer with the rear two rows folded down, besting popular fleet options like the Toyota Prado by a few hundred litres.
IUA made the decision back in 2019 to include its full suite of active and passive safety technology across the entire D-Max and MU-X range, a move that other manufacturers have since made.
The safety system includes blind-spot monitoring, autonomous emergency braking, rear-cross traffic alert, forward collision warning, traffic sign recognition, emergency lane keeping and more.
The LS-M receives a 7.0-inch infotainment screen, small by today’s standard and down on the 9.0-inch unit fitted to higher-spec LS-U and LS-T models. However, in a fleet application it is not likely to be a deal breaker.
Despite being down on screen size, the infotainment offering still includes wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and digital radio with an adequate four-speaker sound system.
All IUA models receive a full six year/150,000km warranty and capped-price servicing and roadside assist for seven years.
As of last year, the MU-X had been the best-selling ute-based wagon since 2013 and Isuzu set an all time sales record shifting 45,341 vehicles across the year – 14,139 of those being MU-X models.
With the latest-generation Ford Everest providing stiff competition, offering more technology and refinement than any other ute-based wagon on the market, is the MU-X still good value for money? We spent a couple of weeks driving the MU-X LS-M off- and on-road to answer that question.
What’s it like to drive?
On the road, the MU-X feels very similar to a D-Max but offers improved ride quality thanks to its independent coil-sprung rear end.
In other words, it does drive like a ute-based wagon but offers impressive comfort despite its rugged underpinnings.
We spent a day on the beach, heading from Noosa North Shore to Double Island Point and the MU-X performed flawlessly in soft sand, proving its simple yet effective 4×4 system is more than capable.
Highway miles heading to and from the beach getaway were comfortable for long three-hour stints and it was also efficient with fuel economy hovering around 8.5l/100km.
The safety system did its job well when using the adaptive cruise and having spent thousands of kilometres in Isuzu vehicles, we can confidently report the safety tech is top tier.
The smaller 17-inch alloy wheels on the LS-M model, compared with larger 18- and 20-inch wheels on higher-grade variants, actually offer improved comfort with taller 255/65 all-terrain tyres. This goes for both on- and off-road driving, too.
Isuzu nailed the electric steering in the MU-X, which firms up appropriately at higher speeds but with a good feel across all speeds and terrain. It is light and effortless in car parks, but feels planted and assured at highway speeds.
The only thing we would change is the undersized infotainment screen and small cup holders but, as we alluded to earlier, they’re unlikely to be deal breakers for fleet buyers.
This is a vehicle that is easy to live with, simple to operate and capable enough to tackle just about anything.
Our verdict
While the Ford Everest is undoubtedly more refined, the MU-X LS-M is hard to beat for value – especially for fleet buyers wanting a simple yet reliable 4×4 wagon for under $55,000.
While it isn’t the most advanced or luxurious seven-seat 4×4 wagon on the market, the MU-X LS-M is a strong all-rounder and won’t break the bank.
It ticks the boxes for safety, performance, reliability and, for the price, that makes it a winner.
