Isuzu’s 2025 MU-X brings fresh style to a well-established and substantial mechanical package.
Story Bruce McMahon Photo Isuzu
The Japanese MU-X, based around the D-Max ute underpinnings, debuted in late 2013. The second iteration arrived in mid-2021, and a facelift in 2025 reworked the five-door’s body styling, adding new cabin features and re-tuning the SUV’s suspension. Joining the range this season is a 2.2L engine option and a range-topping X-Terrain model.
For the most part, the MU-X remains much the same as the original, with trusted 3L, four-cylinder diesel engine and six-speed automatic delivering torque to either 2WD or 4WD systems. A seven-seater body sits on a ladder frame chassis and coil springs, with independent front end and multilink rear.
This is a capable and honest off-roader straight off the showroom floor. Decent approach and departure angles, 235mm of ground clearance and good low-range gearing with 450Nm of torque on tap remain useful specifications off road. Isuzu’s rough terrain mode, complementing a lockable rear differential, helps find the best traction options in the rough.
The LS-T model, the second fanciest, looks smart and quite bold on 20-inch wheels and 265/50R20 tyres, although a smaller rim and higher profile, more off-road biased, tyres would be more useful for 4WDing. The latest exterior styling is sharper – a tad aggressive even – than some rivals, while not disguising the machine’s purpose as a multi-use family wagon.
Design re-work continues inside, with new trim and finishes, plus upgraded infotainment screens with tune and volume control knobs rather than the user having to swipe across a finger-greased screen. New fonts and graphics are easier to read and there is voice recognition, digital radio plus wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – those phone hook-ups among motoring’s best 21st century innovations. Air conditioning, too, is controlled by switches, and across the cabin the approach to controls and instrumentation is a sensible mix of old and new.
The Isuzu wagons run with a full suite of safety aids and systems, from autonomous emergency braking to adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, lane keeping assist, trailer sway control and more. This time around, the MU-X systems are a touch more polite in correcting the wagon’s progress and reminding drivers of dangers.
Moving up through the four model grades – LS-M, LS-U, LS-T and X-Terrain – brings extra features such as larger touch screens, tyre pressure monitoring, extra audio speakers, electric seats and a 360-degree camera, which works well in tight spots, whether in town or country. Trim levels also get a little fancier.
While extra comfort and convenience features may enhance the MU-X experience, the basic cabin and its three rows of seats offer comfortable and practical accommodation. Front seats hold driver and passenger well over long distances, and while back rows offer good leg room, head room becomes tighter toward the rear. The middle row has backrest tilt functions and tumble forward for easier access to the rear, where there’s room for the week’s groceries with the last row up, and better than 1,000L of space with those seats folded flat.
While Isuzu’s turbocharged diesel is an old-fashioned powerplant – there’s grumble and gruffness when under acceleration, plus some throttle lag at times – its strengths lie with reliability, durability and 450Nm of torque from 1,600rpm to 2,600rpm. These qualities are appreciated for slow and steady off-road work, or towing up to 3.5 tonnes. In all instances, the six-speed auto interacts well with the old workhorse. Highway runs should return under 8L/100km, while scrub toil will see that figure jump to 10L/100km and more.
This remains an old-school, body-on-frame, high-riding wagon and so, while that drivetrain can push the Isuzu along at a fair pace, there’s little disguising the understeer and the bulk of this 2.8 tonne machine on up and down mountain hairpins. This is a small price to pay for a wagon that is just as useful running the kids to town down a station track as it is climbing through rock-strewn creeks and paddocks.
The Isuzu MU-X is one of Australia’s favourite SUVs on the sales charts and this 2025 edition – with six-year/150,000km warranty – enhances a well-earnt reputation as a family all-rounder.
This story excerpt is from issue #165
Outback Magazine: Feb/Mar 2026
