Likeable and in control

Internationally, when we talk about Isuzu brand, the first thing that comes to our mind is the brand’s reputation of SUVs and pick-ups trucks that are capable of taking any kind of beating and still keep going. Well in our country, the company has managed to attract a niche audience who are interested in serious off-roading and want something other than the Toyota Fortuner. With D-Max V-Cross, a lifestyle pick up truck, the company claimed their fame in Indian Auto-industry and a cult following of adventurers and thrill-seekers.

But before you complain about the practicality of this car because of its small-cabin, you should definitely check out its mu-X as it has the same platform as the D-Max V-Cross and it’s equally capable but with 5+2 seating practicality. Launched in 2017, the mu-X was a replacement to the mu-7. Although the single trim mu-X did undercut the Toyota Fortuner by a more than fair margin, its lack of utility and interiors were a bit of a setback. To improve this, the Isuzu introduced an upgraded version as mu-X. We recently got a chance to drive this mammoth in the city as well as off-road. So let’s see if it ticks all the right boxes.

DESIGN
In terms of visual updates, the front-end looks sharper and updated, thanks to the LED headlamps and the repositioned daytime running lights, which is now part of the headlamp assembly. The other big change has been made to the wheel design – the razor-cut style alloys are a size bigger, at 18-inches. At the back, you will find redesigned taillights, a two-tone spoiler and shark-fin antenna. All in all, the MU-X retains its XXL-size proportions and all the butch SUV traits like the high bonnet, large bumpers and those meaty-flared wheel arches. The cabin hasn’t changed much, although there are some good additions to be found. For instance, the MU-X now gets soft-touch padding across the dashboard and door pads for that premium feel. The all-black interior design with silver add-ons around the centre console is the same as before which is frankly slightly disappointing. Sure, the plastics are durable but at this price range, buyers expect multiple grades of materials that are visually appealing which the MU-X lacks.

ENGINE
Now, this is one area in which the company excels. Isuzu specialises in making diesel engines, and this shows in the MU-X’s powertrain – for its 3.0-litre oil burner is hooked up to a variable geometry turbocharger that gives it great off-boost throttle response. And once the turbo kicks in at 1,800rpm, the engine delivers power in a relentless manner, with 175bhp being produced at 3,600rpm. By this time, though, there’s a fair amount of engine noise inside the cabin, although the motor never sounds coarse. Still, you won’t have to push the engine to its limits most of the time, as that five-speed automatic gearbox, with well-spaced ratios and smooth shifts, does a great job of ensuring that the powertrain is always in its sweet spot.

Performance
On papers, the torque of this SUV is a little less as compared to the other rivals, but feels enough to push it through city traffic and is a stunner in the highway run. Like mentioned before, there’s a lot of noise while accelerating hard and the SUV can be enjoyed best at the cruising speed. That said, Isuzu has worked hard to keep the NVH levels at bay and only a few sounds penetrate into the cabin. On the highways, the Mu-X feels planted and in control. What surpasses the Mu-X over rivals is its supreme ride quality and the braking abilities. The ride quality is on a soft side and eats up most of the potholes and broken road patches.

The brakes, on the other hand, are as good as they can get and makes you feel in control of a car of this size and weight. The MU-X scores well on the off-road front too, Isuzu’s powertrain magic becomes apparent once again here, as any throttle pedal input results in very accurate wheel movements, giving you fantastic confidence while tackling off-road obstacles.

Verdict
The MU-X is a likeable edition in Isuzu’s portfolio, although, it has its drawbacks, it is definitely a massive step-up from the mu-7. Of course, the MU-X falls short on features, power, equipment when compared to its immediate rivals such as the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Endeavour, but with the 2WD priced at Rs  27,34,834 and the 4WD priced at Rs 29,31,534, it is almost Rs  5-6 lakh cheaper than the top-of-the-line models of its competition.