2025 Isuzu MU-X X-Terrain evaluation

The Isuzu MU-X vary has been up to date, and with the revamped and revised lineup, the Japanese model has added a brand new range-topping X-Terrain variant of its fashionable seven-seat off-road SUV.

Sure, it’s a reputation borrowed from Isuzu’s flagship D-Max dual-cab 4×4 ute, however this one doesn’t really feel like a truck to drive. In reality, there have been some vital upgrades and inclusions that make this probably the most interesting takes on the MU-X theme thus far.

So, learn on and also you’ll discover out what it prices, what it’s wish to drive, what it’s like inside and far, far more.

How does the Isuzu MU-X examine?

View an in depth breakdown of the Isuzu MU-X in opposition to equally sized autos.

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MU-X

How a lot does the Isuzu MU-X price?

The MU-X vary is greater than ever, following the addition of the top-shelf X-T variant as a part of the facelifted MY25 lineup.

Sure, the model does have an odd behavior of providing drive-away costs for some variants, that are decrease than the listing costs (earlier than on-road prices), but it surely’s a great way for customers to get an concept of what they’re taking a look at by way of the bookends of the vary.

The MU-X nonetheless compares favourably to the likes of the Ford Everest on pricing, to not point out the far more costly Toyota Prado, however there are a selection of different diesel seven-seater off-road SUVs that undercut it, together with the LDV D90, Mahindra Scorpio and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.

To see how the Isuzu MU-X strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparison tool

What’s the Isuzu MU-X like on the within?

Purchase the X-Terrain and you may let you know’re getting one thing a bit extra spesh as quickly as you slide into the motive force’s seat.

It has a bunch of model-specific modifications that assist it maintain its personal within the vary, together with pink stitching particulars and highlights by the cabin, to not point out pink LED ambient inside lighting. The 7.0-inch instrument cluster display additionally has pink fonts and particular graphics.

As well as, the X-Terrain has darkish gray and piano black appointments as an alternative of the chrome silver or black accents as seen throughout the remainder of the vary.

So, does it really feel like nearly $80K price of inside? Not particularly, however it’s actually the poshest MU-X ever seen on this market.

As a part of the 2025 replace, higher-spec grades scored a brand new 9.0-inch touchscreen media system (as seen within the D-Max), and it has each good and not-so-good factors. 

The display glare is just not nice – in case you’re within the driver’s seat, it may be troublesome to see what’s occurring on the display at instances. Nevertheless, what is sweet is the amount dial, tuning dial, and a row of dwelling buttons under the display, making it a lot simpler to work together with than the multimedia unit it replaces. 

It additionally has wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, if these are the belongings you like to make use of. There’s a drop-down display to shortly soar between menus and settings, and the automobile changes are literally fairly deep. 

You’ve entry to the ADAS (Superior Driver Help System) settings, so you’ll be able to flip issues off if you would like. It’s also possible to modify electrical parts, verify off-road angles, see the place your wheels are pointed, monitor tyre strain, and look at the switch case show to see what’s taking place together with your powertrain. 

The system is fairly good – simple to get your head round, and useable. It additionally contains built-in sat-nav, and you may soar between menus fairly shortly.

There’s additionally a brand new 7.0-inch driver data display with some good options, together with the aforementioned X-Terrain particular colouring. 

You’ll be able to navigate by menus utilizing the steering wheel controls, and it gives a superb at-a-glance view of gas consumption and different helpful info. 

On the steering wheel you even have controls for adaptive cruise management, quantity, voice management, and telephone pickup/hang-up buttons. There’s a view mode button on the steering wheel, permitting you to shortly verify the automobile and its environment – a neat function, particularly in a good parking storage.

The unchanged backside a part of the sprint contains fan and temperature management toggles, and straightforward changes for the path and air recirculation. 

There are USB-C ports, seat heating buttons, and a 12-volt port, however one factor nonetheless lacking from this MU-X is a wi-fi telephone charger – irritating, particularly contemplating it has Wi-fi CarPlay and Android Auto, and a phone-shaped storage field simply begging for it. You will get a wi-fi charger as an adjunct, but it surely ought to actually come as commonplace at this cash (and fewer!).

There’s a standard gear shifter, and also you’ve acquired traction management and Hill Descent Management buttons, however considerably surprisingly the top-spec mannequin has loads of blanks, which cheapens the vibe a bit.

It additionally contains a drive mode selector for four-wheel driving (2H, 4H, and 4L), a rear differential lock, tough terrain mode, and Auto Maintain to stop the automobile from creeping ahead in visitors. The parking brake is digital. 

Now, storage. The entrance is respectable, with cupholders, further free merchandise storage, and enormous door pockets with bottle holders, however the glove field is totally full with books, and there’s no prime glove field or additional storage on prime, which is a little bit of a draw back. Nevertheless, you do get a sun shades holder.

Inside, there are yellowy halogen lights which once more carry the vibe down a bit, as do the halogen lights for the self-importance mirrors. An auto-dimming rear-view mirror is a bonus, but it surely’s not accessible in all variants.

Second-row house with the motive force’s seat set for my place (I’m 6’0” or 182cm) is lots by way of legroom, footroom, and headroom. Nevertheless, the inside feels fairly darkish due to the black headliner and the shortage of a sunroof. 

There are seize handles, coat hooks, and overhead vents, that are nice, together with a fan management system that permits you to modify airflow. 

When it comes to facilities, you’ve acquired bottle holders within the doorways, seatback pockets, and USB-C ports. 

There’s not a lot intrusion from the transmission tunnel, however the seats don’t slide ahead, so that is the quantity of house you get, it doesn’t matter what. 

The second row has ISOFIX little one seat anchors and top-tethers for little one seats, they usually even include covers to stop the seat from being broken. There’s additionally a flip-down armrest with pop-out cupholders, which is a neat function, although I had some points with it being a bit finicky to place away.

The center-row seat folds down simply for entry to the third row, and you may push the seatbelt out of the best way to make it simpler to entry the again. 

As a grown grownup, I can match within the again with respectable headroom, but it surely feels fairly gloomy because of the darkish inside. One factor to notice is that entry-level variations have a lighter headliner, which is perhaps extra interesting for many who don’t just like the darkish really feel. 

The again row has overhead vents and small home windows, and cupholders too. 

Nevertheless, there aren’t any little one seat anchors within the very again row, so in case you’re planning to make use of this as a seven-seater for young children within the third row, it gained’t work. For those who’re in search of a extra family-friendly seven-seater, you might need to try different choices.

As for the boot house, there’s 311 litres of cargo capability with all three rows up, and that expands to a beneficiant 1119L with the third-row folded down. 

Beneath the physique of the automobile is a full-size spare wheel – as you’d count on.

To see how the Isuzu MU-X strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparison tool

What’s below the bonnet?

The MU-X X-Terrain has Isuzu’s heralded 3.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine (4JJ3-TC), which provides 140kW of energy (at 3600rpm) and 450Nm of torque (1600-2600rpm).

These are decrease outputs than some rivals with a litre much less engine capability, however it’s a tried and examined powertrain and doesn’t really feel a lot much less punchy. It’s matched as commonplace with an also-carryover six-speed automated transmission and, for 4×4 variants together with the X-Terrain, selectable four-wheel drive with 2H, 4H and 4L through a low-range switch case, plus a locking rear differential.

The towing capability for this mannequin is 750kg for an unbraked trailer, and 3500kg for a braked trailer. 

If you wish to save money, there’s a 1.9L turbo-diesel four-cylinder delivering decrease 110kW/350Nm outputs, additionally with a six-speed auto. Like the three.0L, you may get it with 4×2 or 4×4, however braked towing is capped at 3000kg for fashions with that powertrain. 

Gross automobile mass (GVM) for 4×2 fashions is 2700kg and 4×4 fashions is 2800kg, whereas gross mixture mass (GCM) throughout the 1.9L vary is 5500kg (5900kg for 3.0L fashions).

Gasoline tank capability is 80 litres, and the official mixed cycle determine is 8.3L/100km for this grade, and all others with the three.0L 4×4 powertrain.

Over my time with the X-Terrain, I noticed a real-world determine of 8.5L/100km, with freeway, city and back-road driving thrown into the combo. Very spectacular, I’d say – however my testing didn’t incorporate towing or off-roading.

To see how the Isuzu MU-X strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparison tool

How does the Isuzu MU-X drive?

There have been some modifications to the driving expertise, and because it had been a short time since I’d pushed an MU-X, I seen them right away. 

The journey consolation and compliance appear considerably higher than the earlier mannequin I drove some time in the past. 

It nonetheless feels agency, as is the case with most ladder-frame SUVs derived from utes, however this explicit model with 20-inch wheels and lowish-profile tires does have a barely harsher journey than different grades. 

However general, the journey consolation is completely acceptable for a automobile of this sort – higher than some rivals, and definitely higher than a Toyota Fortuner or Pajero Sport.

When it got here to the steering, I used to be additionally impressed. It’s gentle sufficient with out feeling too ethereal, so that you get some connection to the entrance wheels. The responsiveness of the steering is definitely not too unhealthy in any respect, and it handles itself effectively sufficient for a automobile of this sort. 

Whereas it’s designed for off-roading, I didn’t get an opportunity to check that facet on this evaluation – and actually, if I used to be selecting a model of the MU-X to hit the paths in, it wouldn’t be one with 20-inch black wheels…

Nevertheless, there are nonetheless some carryover complaints I’ve in regards to the drive expertise, primarily the engine noise.

It’s actually loud. If you’re below throttle, that diesel rattle is ever-present. It’s much less noticeable in stop-start visitors, for example, however if you ask the engine to do extra, it could get a bit tiresome. 

That’s most likely my greatest grievance in regards to the driving expertise, aside from the actual fact the three.0-litre turbo-diesel nonetheless continues in its least harassed type… as in, there’s extra torque available right here, but it surely hasn’t been let free by Isuzu’s engineers. 

I reckon they may simply eke out one other 100Nm from this engine, as individuals do with aftermarket chips and tunes. 

As it’s, the engine feels a bit bit lazy, and at excessive speeds on the freeway, if you could overtake, it takes a bit bit of labor to maintain it going.

The six-speed auto does a superb job although, managing the torque of the engine fairly effectively, and I do like the best way it behaves at most speeds. 

It’s centered and easy sufficient to maintain issues transferring with out an excessive amount of fuss. It even does a little bit of engine braking when going downhill, dropping again a gear to assist sluggish you down. 

Braking efficiency is fairly good, although the pedal does have a spongy really feel, and the physique of the automobile lurches ahead a bit if you hit the brakes. Nonetheless, it pulls up sturdy sufficient.

To see how the Isuzu MU-X strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparison tool

What do you get?

Beneath you’ll see a rundown of the whole MY25 MU-X vary, and the X-Terrain is the final one on the listing as a result of it builds upon all of the grades under.

2025 Isuzu MU-X LS-M tools highlights:

• 17-inch six-spoke silver alloy wheels with 255/65R17 Dunlop AT25 All-Terrain tyres
• Bi-LED headlights
• Computerized high-beam
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Digital park brake with auto maintain
• Polyurethane steering wheel and shifter
• Carpet flooring
• Fabric upholstery
• Twin self-importance mirrors
• Push-button begin
• 4.2-inch instrument cluster display
• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay
• Wi-fi Android Auto (NEW)
• 4-speaker sound system
• 3 x USB-C shops (2 entrance, 1 in second row) (NEW)
• USB-A outlet for aftermarket sprint digital camera (NEW)
• Air-conditioning with rear passenger air vents and controls
• Door mirrors and door handles completed in black
• Sidesteps completed in black
• Window trims completed in black

MU-X LS-U provides:

• 18-inch 12-spoke titanium metallic alloy wheels with 265/60R18 Bridgestone 684II HT tyres (NEW)
• Sensible Entry and Begin
• LED fog lights
• Rear privateness glass
• Fingers-free energy tailgate
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Energy-folding and heated body-colour door mirrors
• Physique-colour door handles
• 7.0-inch instrument cluster display (NEW)
• 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Satellite tv for pc navigation
• DAB+ digital radio
• 8-speaker sound system
• Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel and shifter
• 6-way adjustable driver’s seat, with electrical adjustable lumbar assist
• Twin-zone local weather management with rear passenger air vents and controls
• 4 x USB-C shops (2 entrance, 2 in second row) (NEW)
• Tyre strain monitoring

MU-X LS-T provides:

• 20-inch six-spoke two-tone machined face alloy wheels with 265/50R20 Bridgestone 684II HT tyres
• Door handles, window trims, entrance fender accents, roof rails, facet steps in gloss black (NEW)
• Rear privateness glass
• Distant engine begin
• Energy-folding and heated door mirrors w/ facet cameras completed in gloss black (NEW)
• White ambient inside lighting
• Black headliner
• Heated entrance seats
• 8-way energy driver’s seat with energy lumbar
• 4-way energy passenger seat
• Leather-based-accented upholstery with gray stitching and leatherette throughout door trims, centre console

MU-X X-Terrain provides:

• 20-inch gloss black alloys, coated with a smoked clear coat with 265/50R20 Bridgestone 684II HT tyres
• Up to date LED fog lights with black fog gentle bezels and gloss black surrounds
• Gloss black fender flares
• Decrease physique facet skirt
• Decrease rear underbody spoiler
• Piano black and silver metallic inside trim
• Purple stitching particulars
• Purple LED ambient inside lighting
• 7.0-inch instrument cluster display with pink fonts, graphics

To see how the Isuzu MU-X strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparison tool

Is the Isuzu MU-X protected?

The protection modifications are a giant story for the up to date MU-X. 

The Isuzu MU-X has a five-star security score from ANCAP that’s datestamped July 2022, and it was issued following a redesign to the motive force’s knee airbag and instrument panel.

In that testing the MU-X obtained an grownup occupant safety rating of 86 per cent, little one occupant safety rating of 85 per cent, weak highway consumer safety rating of 69 per cent, and security help rating of 84 per cent.

The up to date MY25 MU-X’s superior driver help techniques (ADAS) suite provides new {hardware} similar to a brand new ‘Gen4’ stereo digital camera that detects pedestrians, cyclists, bikes and different autos with higher pace and accuracy.

In keeping with the model this tremendously improves the peripheral and field-of-view imaginative and prescient, whereas a brand new Clever Adaptive Cruise Management (IACC) that may modify your pace primarily based on visitors signal recognition can be provided. Past that tech, there’s additionally Visitors Jam Help (TJA) that may keep automobile pace and distance at speeds under 60km/h.

Up to date lane-keep help has been added with higher lane-centring know-how, and there’s a brand new reversing digital camera that features a hitch information and a hydrophobic coating to stop muck obscuring the view. Select one of many increased grades and also you rating a surround-view digital camera as effectively.

Extra new stuff contains Rear Cross Visitors Brake (RCTB), which acts like a rear AEB system to react to approaching autos, cyclists, and pedestrians when reversing.

Customary security tools contains:

• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with Flip Help
• Adaptive cruise management
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Driver consideration monitoring
• Lane-keep help
• Emergency lane-keep help
• Mis-acceleration Mitigation
• Rear cross-traffic help (NEW)
• Clever pace limiter
• Reversing digital camera
• Rear parking sensors
• Visitors Jam Help
• Visitors signal recognition
• Trailer sway management
• Tyre strain monitoring

The LS-U provides entrance parking sensors, whereas the LS-T and X-Terrain additionally get a surround-view digital camera.

All MU-X autos include eight airbags – twin entrance, twin seat facet, twin full-length curtain, entrance knee and entrance centre.

To see how the Isuzu MU-X strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparison tool

How a lot does the Isuzu MU-X price to run?

Isuzu Ute Australia provides a six-year/150,000km guarantee plan, which is an extended period than that provided by Ford and Toyota (each five-year/unlimited-km), however not fairly as beneficiant because the SsangYong Rexton’s seven-year/unlimited-km guarantee. 

The model will again your automobile with as much as seven years of roadside help, as long as you service with its dealership community.

There’s a capped-price plan for 5 years/75,000km – shorter than the earlier seven-year providing from the model.

However the prices are, on common, comparatively low for the primary 5 visits, at $469 per service. There’s additionally a free three-month/3000km checkup as a part of the possession program.

To see how the Isuzu MU-X strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparison tool

CarExpert’s Tackle the Isuzu MU-X

The newly up to date Isuzu MU-X is improved in numerous methods, and the X-Terrain flagship actually provides a bit of glitz to this rugged household wagon.

Is it going to be the perfect model to construct an off-road weekend warrior from? Arguably not. However at the very least in case you select to go down that route, you’ll have a nicer MU-X than your different muddy mates.

Curious about shopping for an Isuzu MU-X? Get in contact with certainly one of CarExpert’s trusted sellers here

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