By Paul Gover.
Grey nomads are a familiar sight in Isuzu showrooms.
As they shop for their outback escape machine, many are drawn to the Isuzu D-Max and its SUV sibling, the MU-X.
The big bait is 3.5-tonne towing.
That’s a considerable attraction for anyone who needs to hitch a big load to the back of their family SUV, and the big Isuzu has a rock-solid reputation for heavy work.
It’s one area where the MU-X shades the Ford Everest, based on owner reports and a number of troubles for the big Ford over the past five years.
There is lots of other good stuff in the MU-X package, from best-in-class ground clearance and an affordable starting price to the ability to wade through water up to 800 millimetres deep. It’s just what you need when you’re off the beaten bitumen track.
The MU-X has been a real hero for Isuzu in Australia, even outselling its equivalent Holden twin in the days when they were linked from the first design, and there are lots on – and off – the road.
It only takes a short drive to see the attraction.
The MU-X feels big and unbreakable, with an update in 2022 to make it more user-friendly and modern in the cabin. It even has both wired and wireless Apple CarPlay, with all the latest five-star ANCAP safety systems.
Is it as good as the latest Ford Everest, which has just claimed the the world’s original Car of the Year award – presented by Wheels magazine since the 1960s – in day-to-day suburban running? No.
But the Everest has re-set the rules for big seven-seaters and the MU-X is very close behind.
The difference is the driving feel and finish in the cabin. There is still some cheap hard plastic in the Isuzu and it feels less plush and less car-like than the Everest.
The performance is good, with smooth shifts from the six-speed automatic, but it’s better to rely on the torque for pulling than outright power.
It’s not bad, but you can feel the MU-X’s roots in the D-Max pick-up. It’s cumbersome around roundabouts, the ride is not as smooth on a country road, and it is a little noisier.
But …
There is plenty of good stuff in the MU-X, from a four-wheel drive system with ’terrain’ modes in a single switch to great rough-road grip in the chassis, and the all-round confidence that makes it feel more like a Toyota LandCruiser than a Kluger.
It’s not a Ranger in refinement, but for many people it’s the toughness that counts. And the proven towing ability that makes the MU-X a common sight in country Australia.
ISUZU MU-X
Position: family tow machine
Price: from $61,400
Engine: 3-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel
Power: 140kW/450Nm
Transmission: 6-speed auto, 4-wheel drive
Plus: 3-tonne towing, genuine off-road ability
Minus: not as refined as a Ford Ranger
THE TICK: lots of people will love it
Score: 8.5/10
