Along with our mates at Unsealed 4X4 magazine, Isuzu has been generous enough to lend us an MU-X for a long-term test.
For images, videos and the full RV Daily experience, read this in our online magazine.
The MU-X follows the current trend of basing family wagons on ute chassis and then appointing them to suit a less workaday application – although a family can throw just as much at the interior of a vehicle as a bunch of tradies. The Isuzu we have is the LS-M spec level, which is the entry-level so we don’t get the leather upholstery and stop-start engine tech or side-steps but the MU-X is perfectly specced for our needs.
The 3.0-litre turbo-diesel has been proven in the D-Max ute for quite a while now and with figures of 130kW and 380Nm it’s not at the top of the performance tree but it’s strong, capable and fuel efficient. A vital figure for the RV Daily test regime is the towing capacity of 3000kg. Again, it’s a step down from the class leaders but there is a heap of great caravans to choose from in the appropriate weight range not to mention myriad camper-trailers that you can hook-up and head off with.
For its dual role at both mags the guys at Isuzu HQ decided that the MU-X should have some accessories fitted to make sure its testing time was a little easier to cope with. As you can see from the pics above the MU-X has already been to the Flinders Ranges, and benefited from a snorkel and a bullbar and being the LS-M spec the MU-X already rolls on 245/70 R16 Dunlop Grandtrek All-Terrain tyres.
So over the next few months we aim to combine a few tests and make sure the Isuzu MU-X is hitched up and put through its paces as a tow vehicle and an off-road tourer.
Like the TJM outback bull bar .Can it come without the side rails
It can come with Side Bars (Scrub Bars) and Side Steps, I have the set on my MU-X, however my sidestep mounting came loose causing the long range tank to push into the tail shaft, I checked the mounting and it’s terrible. There is now a chunk missing from my tank. Hopefully TJM or the ISUZU dealer who installed them will make it right soon.
The elephant in the room with the MUX are tyres and towing. You can’t get all terrain tyres on the 17×7 or 18×7 rims ( 2016, 2017 models ) so you are out of pocket $2K plus to replace rims and tyres and as Isuzu will void warranty if you use a wdh you are up for another $2K in suspension upgrades.
Why don’t journalists do s real life test so that buyers are informed of pitfalls of these vehicles.
By the way, 65 litre fuel tank is pretty poor compared to the 75-80 norm.
Like the TJM outback bull bar .Can it come without the side rails
It can come with Side Bars (Scrub Bars) and Side Steps, I have the set on my MU-X, however my sidestep mounting came loose causing the long range tank to push into the tail shaft, I checked the mounting and it’s terrible. There is now a chunk missing from my tank. Hopefully TJM or the ISUZU dealer who installed them will make it right soon.
Cant wait to see what the final results are. Hoping to purchase one in the near future.
The elephant in the room with the MUX are tyres and towing. You can’t get all terrain tyres on the 17×7 or 18×7 rims ( 2016, 2017 models ) so you are out of pocket $2K plus to replace rims and tyres and as Isuzu will void warranty if you use a wdh you are up for another $2K in suspension upgrades.
Why don’t journalists do s real life test so that buyers are informed of pitfalls of these vehicles.
By the way, 65 litre fuel tank is pretty poor compared to the 75-80 norm.