We recently spotted a camouflaged Isuzu MU-X in town, but the cover up on that mule isn’t necessary, because the seven-seater SUV is now being previewed without stickers at the centre concourse of Alamanda Putrajaya shopping mall.
The Isuzu MU-X, a D-Max-based SUV that has long been available in Thailand, will take on the Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and upcoming Ford Everest; based on the Hilux, Triton and Ranger pick-up trucks respectively. In Thailand, there’s also the Chevrolet Trailblazer.
Flyers handed out here reveals that the MU-X will be powered by a 2.5 litre VGS turbodiesel, which in the D-Max makes 136 PS and 320 Nm of torque from 1,800 to 2,800 rpm. Both 4X2 and 4X4 variants will be available, equipped with a five-speed automatic with manual mode. Isuzu is keen to highlight that the MU-X’s rear suspension is a five-link unit, unlike the D-Max’s truck-standard leaf springs.
The white unit you see here is the 4X4, and one can tell by its 17-inch alloys (the 4X2 gets 16-inch rims), 4WD badge above the right tail lamp and reverse camera peeking out at the back. The latter is linked to a touchscreen infotainment system with DVD player and navigation. There’s also a knob behind the gear lever area for one to switch drive modes.
From our out-of-car observation (yours truly was shooed away from the locked car after snapping the few interior pics you see here), the 4X4 will also come with leather seats, leather door cards, leather wrapped steering wheel, steering audio buttons, cruise control and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) on top of ABS and EBD. The latter is useful for a tall, torquey SUV.
Word is that the Isuzu MU-X will be priced around RM160k when it is launched in June. What do you think?
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Rm160k seriously? Expect to be under 150k ! Overpriced
Fortuner can smoke this car easily. No RV like the hailat Kimchis.
Thailand SUV Total Sales Jan-Dec 2014:
1. Toyota Fortuner = 20,156 units
2. Isuzu MU-X = 19,040 units
3. Mitsubishi PajeroSport = 6,394 units
4. Chevrolet Trailblazer (Isuzu MU-X twin model) = 2,855 units
5. Ford Everest = 201 units
Thailand Pick-Up Total Sales Jan-Dec 2014:
1. Toyota Hilux Vigo = 144,693 units
2. Isuzu D-Max = 128,496 units
3. Mitsubishi Triton = 33,105 units
4. Ford Ranger = 23,977 units
5. Nissan NP300 Navara = 15,778 units
6. Mazda BT50 = 12,931 units
7. Chevrolet Colorado = 12,860 units
8. Tata Xenon = 962 units
so the hilux isnt exactly smoking its nearest competitors be it the highest selling make!
Ugly
At 160k, suddenly the Santa Fe looks better, especially for hauling people.
I agreed and Santa Fe CRDi engine is far more powerful than this one..
Try drive your Santa Fe offroad and compare with this.
who want to unnecessarily drive offroad nowadays..
Why buy a SUV when it cannot go off road?
we buy so we can hog the flooded street, run on unpaved road and manly images to scare road bully, that’s what most SUV are for nowadays…
A lot of xtrail in putrajaya need to be replace soon…
New X trail is better balance,
City or rough look, man or woman.
Middle line between cx5,kuga, fortuner crv, korean suv. with good history
As long as it’s not the Auntie’s CR-V.
Fortuner rival arrived.. Let see how they compete
Brand is reliable.price must b Rm 150 k below to fight with competitors. I’m waiting to c Ford Everest in local market it’s much worth to wait n c specs of Everest.but price would b Rm 170k plus.sky hi prices
Sounds like another shootout is needed
Again, we are paying more than our northern neighbor.
What to do???!!!
Najib masih takut Mahathir.
Hmmm but then it offers a better suspension setup…this big guy should handle much better than its leaf setup rivals and the RM160k price has to be for the 4×4 version to undercut the Pajero Sport.
Y not to bring the 3.0L? This car needs power!
Another dent for Santa Fe
Santa Fe?
lousy SUV.. lack of offroad capibility.
try to bring Santa Fe to country crossing, engine will terbakar, Unibody Chasis will broken.
Nissan bungkus the lower prices, Honda tapau the spec, Proton takes the safety aspect, Mazda the looks, and now Isuzu the people mover segment. Is there still room for Toyota?
Time for PR to make another round of fleet buys to support Toyota
Proton? Seriously? Did you knock you head today?
6 airbags + ESP please. For all vehicles above rm100k in Malaysia, and eventually every single vehicles.
RM160K price tag must be reserved for the 4×4 full specs with 6 airbags + ESP. Otherwise, I see no chance of getting good sale number, mainly because of ‘Isuzu’ which is perceived to be inferior to even Mitsubishi. CRV 2.5L while being in different segment, is perceived to be a better choice at RM165K; smaller lighter Honda moves more swiftly and easier to maintain because of Honda and petrol, with 6 airbags + ESP + aesthetics, and with the RM20K better RV, is actually priced at ‘RM145’.
Is it a rebadged Chevrolet Trailblazer sold in Thailand? Or Chevrolet is the one that rebadged Isuzu? The exterior and interior are similar with only some minor differences.
From my understanding, Chevrolet pick-up sold here is based on Isuzu D-Max.
Quick search on Wikipedia; the Isuzu D-Max on which the MU-X is based is a collaboration between General Motors and Isuzu and is related with the Chevrolet Trailblazer/Holden Colorado7.
So both of them are collaborating to build the platform but both use different engine and “face”.
They are same designer in us
Better go for Santa Fe diesel over this one ..it has higher torque than this one and its only 2.2L VGT engine and higher spec too
I’m not Hyundai salesman
Personally I would go for this as this engine is more durable. Real commercial vehicles engine build to last. This 4JK1 engine can hold up to 300hp 700nm without even replace rocker arm or valve spring.
This 2.2R engine, some people complain engine stall due camshaft position sensor. The sound also getting rough after a year city drive. & the actual performance also not as face as the paper claim.
Want tougher car than compact sun like cx5 with really hard core off road capabilities this is the one
Want high riding but cheaper than Santa fe this is the one
Want smoother and more refined interior than a truck with reclining rear seats, 7 seater this is the truck
Want to upgrade your old pajero or Prado but not looking for am empty truck bed this is the one
Now waiting for nissan to bring in the pathfinder..
Aiyo this car has been around in Thailand for a while and its so much cheaper. Paul Tan what happened to AFTA?
AFTA only remove import tax (external) among ASEAN members, the excise duty (internal tax) is the country’s own decision and policy.
It means that AFTA rule is useless and the country can still hantam own rakyat whatever car excise duty. No real gain in car price at all.
This is the result and tragedy we have to face as We failed to UBAH !
I agrre with u ben, what happened to AFTA
They should let you snap more photos, Danny. From what I can see, unfortunately this is no curtain airbag. I think curtain bags are a must in vehicles with high CG that prone to roll over. Especially on Malaysian roads. If not because of airbag issue I would have bought a X-trail. Now I am going to give this a miss too.
this MU-X looks boring and dull..
lack of the energy and durability Toyota Fortuner 4WD can offer.
Prejudice already in tour head against umax
I wonder why most new cars today hardly come to Malaysia market with the manual transmission? Auto is good for city driving but for us in Borneo, stickshifter is the best option so we can travel anywhere, jungle or city without worrying breaking the gearbox.