- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru Fr He
Isuzu MU-X SUV. D-Max pickup brother
Every vehicle is important for a limited model range. Isuzu has a pickup and an SUV, which is based on that same pickup. Thus, the popular second-generation D-Max pickup served as the basis for the Isuzu MU-X SUV. The model has an interesting name, which according to the manufacturer is an abbreviation for ‘Makes U Xciting’. The ‘exciting’ Isuzu MU-X is a mid-size SUV with three rows of seats.
The 2020/2021 third generation Isuzu D-Max is available in Israel. The pickup can have a single and double cab. It can have both rear and four-wheel drive. The engine is a 1.9-liter turbocharged diesel unit producing 163 hp, coupled with a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission.
If you dig deeper, you will find out that the Isuzu MU-X has a twin brother Chevrolet Trailblazer, unveiled a little earlier. Everything was agreed with General Motors, with which Isuzu shared their practices. In order not to disrupt the sales of Chevy cars, the Isuzu is not sold in the United States, although Americans like such SUVs. The Japanese model is only available in Thailand, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and India. The SUV is not sold in Japan, as it relates to the category of vehicles that are highly taxed.
The first generation
The Isuzu MU-X ad its world premiere in Thailand on October 31, 2013. The SUV was sold in Australia, Paraguay, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, China and India (a total of 50 countries). The vehicle was 4,825 mm long, 1,860 mm wide and 1,840 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,845 mm. The SUV had quite a peculiar exterior, which clearly made it very recognizable: slanted large headlights with rising corners, a large chrome grille and smoothly rounded shapes. There were three engine options to choose from. The diesel engines with a volume of 1.9, 2.5 and 3 liters were coupled with one of manual). The entry-level version was rear-wheel drive, but there was an option to connect the front axle.
On February 14, 2017, the world saw the updated MU-X, featuring LED optics, redesigned radiator grille and bumpers, better finishing materials and a new Isuzu Connect multimedia system with an 8-inch touch screen. In Thailand, in honor of 60 years of the brand, they released an anniversary special SUV version.
The second generation
It was released in Thailand on October 28, 2020, following the new generation of the original sibling, the Isuzu D-Max. The new Isuzu MU-X uses the same platform as the new D-Max and their new ‘sibling’ Mazda BT-50, which has joined Isuzu without any associations with Ford. The platform is a new, more rigid frame, which has become lightener due to new grades of steel. The SUV has grown a little. It is currently 4,850 mm long, 1,870 mm wide and 1,875 mm high, and has a wheelbase of 2,855 mm. The 3-row 7-seater layout has been preserved, but the fifth door is now made of plastic! The vehicle offers longer second row seat adjustments and more space for the third row passengers. The expensive versions of the 2020/2021 Isuzu MU-X offer the following options: an automatic braking system, blind spot monitoring system and lane keeping assist.
The vehicle features the same 3-liter engine that has been boosted to 190 hp from 177 hp. This engine can only be coupled with an automatic transmission, whereas the smaller 1.9-liter engine can be used both with an automatic or manual transmission. The SUV is four-wheel drive with a rigidly connected front axle. The full-fledged locks have been replaced by their electronic imitation. But the ground clearance is 235 mm. Just like its predecessor, the model features an independent suspension: a double wishbone suspension and a rigid axle suspension with springs at the rear.
