Isuzu finally puts sticker price on sharpened-up MU-X

Isuzu’s bakkie-based Toyota Fortuner, Ford Everest, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and Mahindra Scorpio-N rival has undergone a series of changes inside and externally.

Approved for South Africa back in February, Isuzu has finally divulged price and spec details of the heavily updated MU-X.

Debuting on local soil after premiering in its home market of Thailand just over a year ago, the still second generation MU-X introduces a reworked exterior and interior but omits the new 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine as well as any form of hybrid assistance.

New outside

Still spanning six derivatives powered a choice of two turbodiesel engines, the MU-X’s exterior restyling comprises a model specific grille, new headlights and a redesigned bumper not shared with its bakkie sibling, the D-Max, new fog light bezels and the Isuzu badge below the bonnet line as opposed to on the grille.

At the rear, the now Audi Q8-inspired facia sees the inclusion of a new bumper and revised LED light clusters connected by a full-width LED light strip.

ALSO READ: It is coming: Facelift Isuzu MU-X gets the nod for South Africa

Rounding the exterior off, Isuzu has revised the colour chart to include a total of seven: Splash White, Mercury Silver, Onyx Black, Obsidian Grey, Red Spinel and two new options, Eiger Grey and Biarritz Blue.

Debuting as the new flagship, but still with the Onyx prefix, the XT effectively becomes the South African version of the Thai-spec RS as an entirely new moniker for any Isuzu product.

_{Rear facia now resembles that of the Audi Q8. Image: Isuzu}

Mainly about aesthetics, the XT gains five-spoke gloss black 20-inch alloy wheels, a magnetite finish on the front bumper, gloss black mirror caps and roof rails, XT badges and an expanded mix of gloss black and magnetite accents.

Distinguishing itself further, the Onyx XT comes with four colours of its own: Onyx Black Mica, Eiger Grey Metallic, Mercury Silver Metallic and Dolomite White Pearl.

Updated inside

Inside, and virtually identical to the facelift D-Max, Isuzu has revised the cabin to include not only upgraded materials and levels of fit-and-finish, but also a seven-inch TFT display within the instrument cluster across all models.

_{Biggest interior change is the revised instrument cluster and infotainment system. Image: Isuzu}

The same applies to the nine-inch touchscreen infotainment that receives wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but swaps the physical shortcut buttons on the display’s outer surround for touch-sensitive switches.

In a complete reverse as well, the touch-sensitive buttons for the audio system make way for physical knobs. As before, all models again provide seating for seven.

Spec

On the specification front, the MU-X range once again kicks-off with the LS, whose list of features includes a multi-function steering wheel, six-speaker sound system, auto on/off LED headlights with auto-levelling, rain-sense wipers, side-steps plus the following:

push-button start;
partial leather upholstery;
electric mirrors;
electric front seats;
two USB ports;
front and rear parking sensors;
reverse camera;
cruise control;
trailer sway control;
Multi-Collision Braking;
Brake Override Control;
Hill Start Assist;
Hill Descent Control

Stepping up from the LS, the LSE swaps the rear-view camera for Isuzu’s new 360-degree setup, while also adding auto folding and heating functions to the side mirrors.

Additional standard items include:

remote engine start;
paddle shifters;
tyre pressure monitor;
dual-zone climate control;
auto-dimming rear-view mirror;
eight-speaker sound system;
Rear Cross Traffic Alert;
Blind Spot Monitoring

_{Interior of the Onyx XT differs incrementally from the LSE. Image: Isuzu}

Completing the range, the Onyx XT builds on the LSE by adding ambient lighting, Adaptive Cruise Control, red stitch work on the seats and heated front chairs to its list of features.

Expanding on the array of safety and driver assistance systems are:

Multi-Stage Collision Braking;
Reverse Automatic Braking;
Driver Attention Alert;
Automatic Emergency Braking;
Lane Keep Assist;
Forward Collision Warning;
Pedal Misapplication Mitigation;
Lane Departure Warning

Besides the Onyx XT, all MU-X’s ride on 18-inch alloy wheels, with an electrically opening tailgate being standard on all but the entry-level LS.

No changes up front

Up front, the mentioned engine options once consists of the 1.9-litre RZ4E-TC that produces 110kW/350Nm, and the 4JJ3-TCX 3.0-litre DDI that makes 140kW/450Nm.

Omitting the mild-hybrid system offered in Thailand, the former is again mated solely to a six-speed automatic gearbox, which sends the amount of twist to the rear axle.

_{Known as the RS in Thailand, the previous Onyx now becomes the Onyx XT. Image: Isuzu}

For the rest of the range, the 3.0-litre unit also retains the auto ‘box as its only option but with a choice of rear-wheel-drive or part-time four-wheel-drive – the latter being standard on the Onyx XT.

Besides the standard fitting of an under protection guard underneath the transfer case of all four-wheel-drive models, the MU-X has a claimed wading depth of 800 mm, ground clearance of 235 mm, approach angle of 30-degrees, departure angle of 26-degress breakover angle of 24-degrees.

Also unchanged is the claimed tow rating of 2 100 kg on the 1.9 LS and 3 500 kg on all 3.0-litre models.

Price

Now available, all models are once covered by a five-year/120 000 km warranty plus a five-year/90 000 km service plan.

MU-X 1.9 DDI LS AT – R752 300
MU-X 3.0 DDI LS AT – R852 600
MU-X 3.0 DDI LS 4×4 AT – R939 500
MU-X 3.0 DDI LSE AT – R886 700
MU-X 3.0 DDI LSE 4×4 AT – R973 700
MU-X 3.0 DDI Onyx XT 4×4 AT – R1 026 800

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