Isuzu MUX Review
I know when you think big seven-seat off-road focus four-wheel drives, you’re probably thinking big engines, too.
But not this time, today we are talking about Isuzu MUX, which for the first time is available with a 1.9-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel.
Isuzu MUX Pricing and features
It’s always been a bit of a value-packed proposition, this MUX, and really not much has changed for 2024, especially if you’re shopping for the smaller engine option.
Be warned, though, there are price jumps for the carry-over 3 liter turbo diesel on most grades.
As usual, in the Ute based four-wheel drive space, the complexity of trim and powertrains can be a little we’re using, but the short version is this.
The 2024 MUX can still be had in three trim levels with the 1.9 liter engine offered on two of them, the LSM and the LSU.
Standard features across the range remain unchanged, with the LSM coming with 17-inch Alloy wheels, LED headlights, black sidesteps, keyless entry, cloth upholstery, a 7-inch media screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and air conditioning.
Stepping up to the LSU adds 18-inch alloys, roof rails, a leather steering wheel, a 9-inch media screen, dual zone climate control and a powered tailgate.
The flagship LST gets 20-inch two-tone Alley wheels, leather upholstery, heated front seats, and remote engine start.
All 4×4 models are plenty capable too, with 4×4 terrain command, 2 high, 4 high, and 4 low, a rear diff lock, and a rough terrain mode, which helps with grip and traction on slippery surfaces arriving as standard.
Design
Now, it’s what’s under the bonnet that’s changed rather than the design itself. When you look at the MUX, what you see is, well, the MUX, and it’s the design that I would definitely describe as dependable rather than daring.
But that’s not to say it doesn’t cut quite a handsome figure in that boxy seven-seat style. Now, it won’t stay like this forever.
The iSuzu DMAX has just been updated, and you can expect those changes, both the design and the technology, to filter this car eventually, but they’re not here yet.
Practicality
There’s not too much new to talk about in the cabin, not from the front seat, the middle seat, or the third row, but I got to say this still feels like no frills family motoring at its finest.
I mean, honestly, some of these materials feel like they could survive a nuclear blast.
And while there’s not a huge level of creature comforts, there’s a lot of utility and practicality in in the MUX cabin, not least of which the ability to recline your seat for more comfort in the middle row, something I always like.
Isuzu MUX Engine Specs
This has a much smaller engine now, 1.9 liter, four-cylinder turbo diesel, makes 110 kilowatts and 350 Newton meters, feeds that through a six-speed box to two or all four wheels, depending on the trim level.
Now, it’s also around 80 kilograms lighter than the bigger three-litre turbo diesel, which ups your payload, and it’ll still tow 3,000 kilograms break.
Now, smaller engine also means smaller fuel use. We’ll do a like-for-like comparison where the 3 liter turbo diesel 4.4 is using 8.3 liters per 100 kilometers on the combined cycle This is using more like 7.4.
Same with emissions, that 3 liter 4.4 is around 220 grams a kilometer of CO₂ on the combined cycle.
This one is more like 196. We know 1.9 liter turbo diesel can tow in fact, it can tow almost three ton as we did a little bit earlier.
Efficiency
But the question is, what is it like to live with? But before we get to that, I want to tell you a little bit about the philosophy behind it.
We know that it’s going to reduce your fuel use. We know that it’s going to reduce your emissions.
That’s important, says Isuzu, largely for fleet customers who have broader targets they need to hit, and they want their fleet vehicles to be under that number.
A car like this is perfect for them without sacrificing anything in the way of capability or But what about for you or I? Don’t we want to lower our fuel use a little bit, too? I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but fuel is horrifyingly expensive per liter.
At the moment, it doesn’t matter if it’s diesel or premium unleted. They’re big numbers.
The more you can knock off that, the better provided, of course, it doesn’t impact the drive experience. let’s talk a little bit about fuel use for just a second.
Isuzu MUX Road Experience
The average in this car right now is 9.2 liters per 100 kilometers. But you got to remember, we have done some heavy towing today as well.
Now, with a You’ve got a circa three ton weight on the back or just under it, obviously, you’re probably looking at around 16 liters per 100, which really isn’t bad when you’re towing something that big behind you without any weight, you’re going to expect to see your freeway use drop to more like high sixes, low sevens, which is pretty palatable as well.
What do you sacrifice for that? Now, obviously, there is a bit of rich power delivery in that three liter engine that simply isn’t in this one.
But in terms of the power delivery itself, actually, it’s pretty quick it’s pretty instantaneous.
It’s not a rocket ship by any stretch of your imagination, but it also definitely doesn’t feel underpowered even in a car this big.
It feels like an MUX from behind the wheel. But whether you want more power or a lower fuel bill is the big question.
I can tell you from my perspective, I’d probably go for the latter. As I said, I’m horrified at fuel prices at the moment, even more horrified when I have to pay for them.
Anything I can do to lower that number, in my opinion, is a pretty good thing, right? And especially in a car like this, when you don’t have to pay much of a penalty in terms of capability, it feels a bit win-win.
Now, that said, if you are towing long distances with a heavy load, you know the bigger engine is going to be more up your alley.
It just makes that job a lot easier and feels like there’s a lot less tension on the engine.
But if you’re not towing super heavy loads or you’re not towing that often or that far, then I can tell you that this can do it for you. Maybe not quite as easily, but it can definitely do it.
Safety iN Isuzu MUX
Full credit to Isuzu here for fitting every MUX model, including the cheapest option with its full safety kit, starts with eight airbags in the cabin.
From there, the active safety stuff kicks in with the MUX featuring AEB forward collision warning, adaptive crews with stop and go, traffic sign recognition, lane departure warning and prevention, emergency lane keeping, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and trailer sway control.
Ownership
Every Isuzu MUX model gets a six year, 150,000 km warranty, as well as five years of cap-priced servicing, and up to seven years of roadside assist.
The service intervals are 12 months or 15,000 km, and each service costs 449 bucks per year or a total of $2,245 over the full five years.
For now, the only new thing here really is this smaller engine, but that’s not going to be that way forever.
FInal Word
The Isuzu DMAX, the car in which this one is based, has just undergone a fairly There’s a major overhaul.
There’s a new design, new trim levels, new technology, new safety, and you can expect all of that stuff to make its way into an MUX update in the future.
For now, though, the choice is simple, 3 liters or 1.9 liters. Again, it all comes down to your priorities.