PODCAST: No guarantee updated Isuzu MU-X will get more love

The Isuzu MU-X was the recipient of a nip and tuck this month. Whether the update is enough to take away market share from the segment’s top dogs, the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Everest, remains to be seen.

Isuzu MU-X makes a Pitstop

In this week’s episode of The Citizen Motoring’s Pitstop podcast, we discuss the updated Isuzu MU-X. We look at the enhancements and at the flagship Onyx XT’s price tag that breaches R1 million for the first time.

Isuzu is confident that MU-X sales will improve. Its sales have picked up slightly over the last few years, but it is still miles behind the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Everest. Even the Mahindra Scorpio-N has the better of it more often than not.

ALSO READ: R1-million Isuzu MU-X will struggle to catch Fortuner and Everest

The evolution of the Isuzu Trooper and Frontier led to the birth of the first Isuzu MU-X in 2018. The second generation was launched in 2021 with 3.0 litre turbodiesel engines, with a 1.9 litre derivative added two years later.

Isuzu has kept the updated range spanning across six derivatives unchanged. It kicks off with the R752 300 1.9 litre LS 4×2 which is offered alongside five 3.0 litres models. The top-of-the-range Onyx XT costs R1 026 800.

Two diesel engines

The base model’s 1.9 litre blown diesel mill produces 110kW of power and 350Nm of torque which is sent to the rear wheels via six-speed automatic transmission.

In 3.0 litre turbodiesel guise, the engine produces 140kW/450Nm, also mated to a six-speed auto transmission. All-wheel drive is standard on the Onyx XT, while the other 3.0 litre models offer a selection between rear-wheel or four-wheel drive.

In terms of styling, the Onyx XT has raised the Isuzu MU-X’s game quite a bit. It rides on gloss black 20 inch rims and features blacked-out grille with the XT badge, magnetite accents, gloss black wheel arch cladding and black side steps, mirrors caps and roof rails.