MU-X driven!

[Wave]

Ok, after a bit of chit chat on one of the 4x4 AG WhatsApp groups I decided that maybe I should take a look at the new Isuzu MU-X

My local dealer has more than happy to bring the MU-X past work for me to take a drive.

Exterior:
Here there is nothing that makes me look twice, it has 4 doors and a bumper up front and one attached the rear too, it's not going to win any beauty competitions, but its not ugly. the silver makes the MU-X bland and unexciting, there are chrome accents everywhere and a massive chrome grill, which is not to my liking, but I have never liked chrome. The low side steps would have to quickly be removed or replaced with rock sliders if you want to venture off the tar as they really hinder ground clearance, the 18" mags are also a negative for me, shod with 255/60/18 HT Bridgestones they will be great for long Cape Town trips but I would rather have a set of 17" wheels with some A/T's attached, the dealer has offered to swap out a set of mags off a Double Cab to keep me happy. The vehicle has a very high roof line, so it does feel big when you stand next to it.

Interior
Here I was impressed, the driving position is decent and all round visibility is good to excellent, on that note the side mirrors do a very good job and I seldom found myself looking over my shoulder to check blind spots. The fit and finish is good, the ride is quiet and smooth, the reverse camera does a good job and was displayed on a optional (about) 10" screen, the standard head unit is apparently a 6.5" unit also with reverse camera. The boot access is good, although the floor is about 10 - 15 mm higher than the bumper, so loading heavy items will be even more difficult as the floor level is much higher than my current and what you would expect to find. The 3rd row of seats fold flat, which rob plenty of boot space, resulting in the high boot floor. The black leather is a really nice finish, and the multi-function steering wheel seems to have all the many necessary buttons including the cruise control and bluetooth. Rear (2nd row) leg room is very good, but I think the MU-X should have copied Toyota and allowed the middle row of seats to adjust fore and aft for more leg room for the 3rd row of seats when in use, but saying that the 3rd row has adequate leg room for the average adult, I would not want to sit there for long distances, but a short 10 min commute would not be terrible. The climate control and 4wd control are easy to use. I did not like the digital fuel gauge and temperature gauge, I prefer a needle, the on-board computer had all the info a driver could want, outside temp, range etc

Drive
The 3.0 diesel turbo engine is a good match for the big body, there is enough power and mated with the 6 speed auto box made traffic a breeze, on the highway, again, the engine does a good job of delivering the power and it effortlessly accelerated up to the national speed limit, but the auto box is a bit of a let down, it often hesitated, mainly if you come off the power and then get back on the throttle, and twice on my short drive it had to gear down more than one cog to actually get into the correct gear when I mashed the accelerator pedal into the floor board, I would be nervous as to how the auto box will tow my heavy off road trailer. There is no rear diff lock, but it is apparently an option. The engine is smooth and quiet, probably due to good cabin insulation, but cabin noise was low from the engine and gearbox. Overall the gearbox prefers small throttle openings and is at home in the streets of suburbia, I could easily drive a MU-X everyday.

Overall? Would i buy it? I'm not sold, if I was really looking I would test the Mitsu Paj Sport an the Tuna and go from there, I have sat in the Mitsu's drivers seat, and I can tell you its a nicer place to sit than the MU-X, but I have not driven it.

[ThysleRoux]

Nice report Geoff. I saw one in the flesh for the first time earlier in the week and agree with your comments regarding the exterior. That said, it's better looking than the 'Tuna, IMHO, and very closely matched to the Mitsu Sport and the Frod, looks wise.

A comment on your experience with the auto box - modern autos adapt to the prevailing driving style and on a demo vehicle this is not a constant, so after some time, it will probably meet with your requirements better.

[Mad Manny]

If I had to buy a 4x4 bakkie based SUV, I would choose them in this order:

MU-X - Great vehicle, but it has minor flaws
Everest - the 2.2 is a tad pap & the 3.2 is expensive. Great on road, OK off it.
Fortuner - I'd go 2.4 which is cheaper than the MU-X 3.0. Awkward looks though.
Pajero Sport - as ugly as a fat ginger kid & suffers from Mitsubishi SA's crap back up. But otherwise the best vehicle here.
Nissan - Oh! they clean forgot to launch theirs.

No one else makes a bakkie-based SUV in SA...

[Mad Manny]

A comment on your experience with the auto box - modern autos adapt to the prevailing driving style and on a demo vehicle this is not a constant, so after some time, it will probably meet with your requirements better.

Good point...

[NEW]

A friend is getting the "gat jeukings" and wants a 2.4 Tuna. But he is being influenced by his Gnu brother who believes that you should ostracize your own son if he is not born without a toyota badge. (I mock the brother but he is also a dear friend)

While I think the Tuna is great, I think he should broaden his search. I tried to help, (whole new world for me as all these vehicles are outa my price league), and there sure are some bargains in the 2.2 Everest department.

The MUX is R 568 000, base rate. A 2.4 Tuna 4x4 now goes for R 480 000. Quite a bit cheaper than a Mux....

[Mad Manny]

The MUX is R 568 000, base rate. A 2.4 Tuna 4x4 now goes for R 480 000. Quite a bit cheaper than a Mux....

Must I explain the concept of 'Comparing Apples with Apples" ?

The Auto Fortuner 4x4 2.4 is R530k - it is only R36k cheaper than the MUX...

[NEW]

The MUX is R 568 000, base rate. A 2.4 Tuna 4x4 now goes for R 480 000. Quite a bit cheaper than a Mux....

Must I explain the concept of 'Comparing Apples with Apples" ?

The Auto Fortuner 4x4 2.4 is R530k - it is only R36k cheaper than the MUX...

Erm.... No. Go and speak to your dealer. Friend got a qoute for R 482 000 for the 2.4 auto 4x4.

[Mad Manny]

Erm.... No. Go and speak to your dealer. Friend got a qoute for R 482 000 for the 2.4 auto 4x4.

You are now using Reenen logic.

A 2.4 Fortuner at a dealership that doesn't offer a discount is more expensive than a 2.4 Fortuner at a dealership running a special.
To compare you need to compare either: List price to list price, or best discounted price to best discounted price.

So you can't compare a best special discounted 2.4 Fortuner to an MU-X list price.

Must I explain comparing apples to apples to you?

[ThysleRoux]

Yebut, MalMan, there are apples and then there are apples - red ones, green ones, yellowish ones, tarty (not THAT type of tarty , pervert - I meant SOUR), sweet ones, and, and, and .........................

[Michael]

Exterior wise and drive wise, I still prefer the Fortuner. I do like the interior of the MU-X, it's very nicely laid out and not a horrible colour like Toyota insist on putting in the Fortuners*. However, I would still buy the Fortuner. The top of the Range 4x4 Automatic's list price is R30,000 more than the MU-X, but for that you get rear diff-lock (optional extra on the MU-X) and a 5 year service plan (instead of 2). I don't have anything against Isuzu, but my preference is for a Toyota, so the small price difference still makes it a buy for me.

* I really don't understand why Toyota insist on putting such terrible interiors in the Fortuner. 1st the Cream and brown, then a step down to add a woodgrain finish which I think is simply revolting. Then they improved slightly by making it chocolate brown... better than the beige, but still pretty damn ugly and now it's pitch black inside which is a bit dark. All you have to do is go sit in the new hilux D/C and immediately you can't help saying "Why the F@#$ didn't they put this interior in the Fortuner? It looks 10x better!"

[Mike Nel]

AxEgo

I don’t understand why people buy Fortuners

[Michael]

I don’t understand why people buy Fortuners

For me personally, the choice to buy a Fortuner is simple. I get a car that does everything it needs to. It's comfortable onroad, it's capable offroad. Yes, there are more comfortable onroad SUVs and there are more capable offroad SUVs but I believe that Toyota have found the right balance at the right price.

Also, while I'm quite capable of fixing my own vehicle, it is no pleasure for me to spend my weekend under my car, so the Toyota reliability is a huge factor for me, directly coupled to that is the piece of mind that when I drive to Cape Town, I'm pretty much guaranteed to get there without a single hassle and not waiting for roadside assist or having to fix something with 4 kids whining in my ears. On top of that, on the rare occasion that something does go wrong, parts are not stupidly expensive and they are readily available.

[Mad Manny]

The top of the Range 4x4 Automatic's list price is R30,000 more than the MU-X, but for that you get rear diff-lock (optional extra on the MU-X) and a 5 year service plan (instead of 2).

The MU-X - like all Isuzu's, has a 5 year 90 000km service plan...

The ONLY areas where the Fortuner trumps the MU-X are:
* Rear Diff Lock.
* Torque
* Tank size

[Michael]

... and warrantee

[Mad Manny]

... and warrantee

No, the MU - X has a longer warrantee...

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