Isuzu MU-X

Front

The current Isuzu mu-X retains the front-end look of its forebears but features a grille with a single “mouth” and “nose,” resembling the previous Ford Everest’s upper “maw.” Isuzu calls this a “World Cross Flow” grille, emphasizing texture and color contrasts via the pronounced dual chrome slats and chrome surrounding most of the front end.

That and "squintier" headlights versus those on the previous mu-X made it seem more aggressive now while paying homage to the headlights of the old Alterra.

Headlights

The headlights mentioned earlier occupy less real estate than its predecessor, with the Japanese automaker labeling these front exterior lighting pieces as “Arrow Signature headlamps.” The function wasn’t sacrificed instead of form, as the utility vehicle’s “eyes” totes dual light emitting diodes (LED) and daytime running lights. 

The fun part about the headlights is that there are “follow me home” and headlight battery-saving features. The former keeps the headlights on for 30 seconds after the doors are locked. On the other hand, the latter automatically switches off the headlights after a considerable amount of time should the driver leave the unit even with the headlight switch past the “off” setting.

Side and rear

As with the front grille, the flanks and derriere also had a lot of previous-model Ford Everest influence. For starters, the Isuzu mu-X's A-pillars and the front windshield now have sharply raked angles like that Ford SUV.  It also has a similar swollen tomato side profile to the Ford Everest. The sculpted lines on the doors are much deeper than the previous mu-X and are highlighted further by standard side step boards. Depending on the variant, customers have a choice of 17-, 18- and 20-inch rims.

Roof rails are standard on all Isuzu mu-Xs, save for the PHP 1.595 million, 1.9-liter RZ4E straight four turbodiesel, 4x2, LS automatic transmission (AT) base model.

The rearmost area has two-piece, triangular-like taillights and rear bumper corner lamps, similar to its 2014 precursor. A brushed aluminum rear bumper guard is added to the off-road capable look of the unit, primarily available for the 3.0-liter picks:

• LS-A 4x2 AT  - PHP 1.9 million
• LS-E 4x2 AT  - PHP 2.11 million
• LS-E 4x4 AT  - PHP 2.46 million

Dimension

The Isuzu mu-X dimensions are 4,850 mm Length, 1,870 mm Width, and 1,825 mm Height, with 2,855 mm wheelbase and 235 mm ground clearance.

The design of the mu-X is such that an 800 mm wading depth is standard on all versions. This means that one can have confidence braving a sudden Espana downpour or a Daraitan river tributary without water entering the cabin or crucial engine internals.

Isuzu does much refinement to make its sole sport-ute more upscale.   

One example is the infotainment, which has a 10.1-inch touchscreen head unit, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth capability as standard, along with six or eight speakers (depending on variant), audio controls on the steering wheel, and satellite navigation. The head unit occupies a lot of center dashboard space, which makes it easy for those in the second row to view what’s going on with the settings.

Another is the liberal use of many piano black plastics around the cabin. They’re usually seen on the dashboard, doors, and around the AT stick, highlighting the cabin pieces further. However, they can quickly get scratches and scuff marks. Hence a future owner-driver might want to invest in some aftermarket detailing kits.

A third example is the air conditioning (A/C) controls. Right below the head unit, the A/C controls have many levers, the A/C readouts have small digital screens, and the layout is reminiscent of the late 2000s Mercedes Benz S-Class (minus the faux wood trim). Frankly, you are likely to fumble much more with the A/C controls than with the infotainment menu. The good news is that familiarization with the mu-X’s cabin cooling levers and indicators should increase with some stationary seat time.

With the 3.0-liter LS-E flavors, certain items come standard, such as driver’s seat eight-way power assist, leatherette for the steering wheel, and leather for the seats.

There are two choices for the common rail direct injection, single turbo, diesel-fed straight fours in front of the cabin of the Isuzu mu-X. One is a 1.9-Liter and the other is a 3.0-Liter. Only the 1.9-Liter mill has a six-speed manual box option, while the rest get six-speed automatics. Also, only the 3.0-Liter engine has the four-wheel-drive option, specifically on the top-end LS-E variant.

Regarding the response under the rightmost pedal, it’s recommended to test drive mu-Xs shod with both engines. This is because some reviews claimed that the 1.9-liter had better forward motion and fuel economy, while others felt that the 3.0-liter model was the better choice.

Speaking of the four-wheel-drive option, engaging all four wheels is done via a knob at the AT transmission stick. There is a “shift on the fly” mode, usually seen on rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive trucks. However, it’s best to make the SUV stationary first before going from RWD to 4WD, or vice-versa to prolong the drivetrain's longevity.

Suspension and steering

With an all-new platform, the Isuzu mu-X significantly changes the suspension and chassis. The ladder frame has bigger side rails, which improves chassis flex reduction when combined with ultra-high tensile steel for the body. On the other hand, the suspension has double wishbones, high-mounted control arms (front), and a five-link setup with higher axle-body connection points (rear) for that trademark Isuzu road damping. However, road noise from the rubber can still be felt. This means that the future Isuzu mu-X owner should look for tires known for making less rolling noise once the tires originally shod on the auto from the showroom are worn down to stumps.

Steering-wise, the trademark noticeable resistance on every steering wheel motion (or heavy steering feel) is still part of every mu-X. Yeah, it’s a wrist-and-hands workout, and not helping matters is a seeming disconnect from where the front rollers are pointed.

Safety Features

There are many occupant aids with the Isuzu mu-X. This should be a given with its size and 2,800 kg gross vehicle weight. That said, most notable with Isuzu’s sole sport-ute are the following safety systems

• Lane departure warning
• Forward collision and turn notification (with appropriate deceleration applied)
• Blind spot monitoring and rear object alert during parking
• Trail braking after an initial collision (to prevent the unit from becoming a missile and impacting other vehicles)
• Adaptive cruise control
• Reverse gear-activated camera (with viewing via the touchscreen head unit)

A nifty feature called pedal misapplication mitigation cuts off the engine when the throttle pedal is mistakenly engaged. Handy while parking or maneuvering into tight spaces.

Seven airbags and an added cross member for the rear chassis come standard and help reduce the potential of critical or serious injury for occupants – especially behind the front seats.

Isuzu’s sole 7-seater SUV representative may have some detractors due to its throttle response, road noise from the tires, steering feel and feedback, and build quality on some of the cabin plastics. On the other hand, the fact that the Isuzu mu-X a seven-seater turbodiesel SUV with an eye-catching front end, many safety features, infotainment to keep occupants entertained on any trip, improved road damping in general, and a manual gearbox option make this behemoth worth a look beyond the competition most seen on the road.