Isuzu MU-X: Five Things You Should Know

Japanese manufacturer Isuzu has been famous in India for their reliable diesel engines. In 2012, the company decided to enter the commercial vehicle segment with the D-Max range of pick-up trucks. For a long time, their only offering in the passenger vehicle segment was the MU-7 SUV which hardly found any buyers in the country. Last year, the company decided to roll out their adventure utility vehicle, the D-Max V-Cross, in the country and since then, the brand has become quite popular with adventure seekers and off-roaders. While the D-Max V-Cross has been bringing in steady numbers for Isuzu, the manufacturer has now decided to strengthen their position by launching their full-size SUV, the MU-X, on May 11. Let’s take a look at five things you should know about the SUV that will replace the ageing MU-7.

If MU-X looks familiar, fret not! 

You would be forgiven to think that the MU-X looks quite similar to the Chevrolet Trailblazer. Yes, both SUVs are basically built on the same platform and are rebadged products. Based on the D-Max V-Cross, the MU-X’s fascia looks similar to the international iteration of the pick-up truck. The MU-X’s side profile looks identical to the Trailblazer, barring the different alloy wheel pattern. The rear gets a set of redesigned wraparound taillights, a shark-fin antenna and a spoiler which help differentiate it from its Chevrolet cousin. 

The MU-X is a proper seven-seat SUV with a wheelbase of 2,845mm, which is just 5mm shorter than the Ford Endeavour and a whole 100mm longer than the Toyota Fortuner. So expect it to be quite spacious inside. 

Well-equipped offering

The MU-X will feature projector headlamps with LED daytime running lamps (DRLs). You also get 18-inch alloy wheels and tail lamps with LED elements. On the inside, the layout of the cabin and equipment list are similar to the that of the V-Cross. But in the MU-X, you get a dual-tone black and beige dashboard with soft touch materials and faux wood inserts. The  MU-X will also come with an 8-inch touchscreen unit with various connectivity options. On the safety front, Isuzu will offer dual airbags, ABS with EBD and Brake Assist as standard. 

Powerful diesel motor 

The MU-X will be powered by a 3.0-litre diesel motor which produces 177PS and 380Nm of torque. Isuzu is likely to offer both 5-speed manual and automatic transmission with the MU-X in India. The D-Max V-Cross, on the other hand, gets a 2.5-litre diesel engine that produces 136PS and 320Nm of torque. So not only with the MU-X be more powerful, it will also be a lot more capable in the dirt than the V-Cross.  

4X4 capabilities to take you places

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Speaking of dirt, adventure seekers can rejoice as Isuzu will offer the MU-X with shift-on-the-fly 4WD system with a low-ratio gearbox. We expect Isuzu to launch both 2WD and 4WD variants of the MU-X, helping Isuzu to price the SUV aggressively. 

Heavily localised and likely to be aggressively priced

Since Isuzu has heavily localised the production of MU-X and the fact that it shares most of its components with the D-Max V-Cross, we expect Isuzu to price it in the range of Rs 22-25 lakh thereby helping it undercut the Ford Endeavour, Toyota Fortuner, Pajero Sport and Hyundai Santa Fe by a significant margin. The MU-X will be manufactured at the Isuzu’s Sri City plant in Andhra Pradesh alongside the D-Max V-Cross pick-up truck.