Featuring a new platform, a new design, a comprehensive standard safety suite and yet, still the rugged and dependable 4×4 it’s known for, the 2021 Isuzu MU-X is on sale in Australia. Prices kick off at $47,900 plus on-road costs for the entry-level LS-M 4×2 auto, and hit $65,900 fro the top-spec LS-T 4×4. Deliveries for the 2021 Isuzu MU-X start on August 2nd, 2021.
Isuzu Ute Australia’s Managing Director, Hiroyasu Sato said that the Australian market is key for Isuzu globally, and with the importance of Australian customer feedback comes an exclusive high-level of specification.
“Australia is a very competitive new-vehicle market and I’m proud to say that the Australian-spec All-New MU-X was designed with the feedback from Australian motorists. After all, Australia is the world’s largest market for the MU-X outside of Thailand, and with the significant importance of Aussie customers we’ve been able to specify our MU-X to better suit their exact and unique requirements,” he says.
“By focusing on this feedback, we’ve fine-tuned the Australian specification; refined the areas that traditional Large-SUV drivers need, introduced new features that motorists want and improved the overall formula to broaden the appeal and capability with all buyer-types, particularly amongst modern working families and travellers.”
“After all, not only did the first-generation MU-X prove exceptionally popular with families, it was a favourite with motorists travelling vast distances, often with something in tow. And, we’re confident that the improvements in design and engineering instilled in the second-generation MU-X will meet—and exceed—the expectations of Australian motorists.”
Stylistically, the all-new 2021 Isuzu MU-X is much more modern than the car it replaces with a sleeker and more aggressive shape backed up by tech such as front and rear LED lighting across the range. Wheels up to 20-inches are available in size and the new MU-X is much more fashionable this time around.
Like all new D-Max models, the new MU-X’s interior is a big departure away from the previous car. It’s significantly more modern with tech such as a 9.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, as well as a digital driver’s display and on the top-spec LS-T, leather upholstery with stitching seemingly everywhere. The company has clearly gone for a more upscale look this time around and it’s a welcome change, especially against its rather agricultural rivals’ interiors.
Dimensionally, the 2021 Isuzu MU-X has changed. Its 4,850mm length is 25mm longer, while its 1,870mm width is 10mm wider. Thanks to its sportier new look, its height has decreased by 35mm to 1,825mm in total. Still offering seven seats as standard equipment, the new MU-X is roomier on the inside with up to 2,138-litres of available cargo space (which is actually 24L less than the old model, but with the third row in place, it has been increased to 311L and with the third row folded, 1,119L).
Standard on all 2021 Isuzu MU-X models is the same new ‘4JJ3-TCX’ 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that is used in the D-Max ute. It produces 140kW of power and 450Nm of toque, which is 10kW and 20Nm improvement on the old model. Standard on all models is an Aisin six-speed torque converter automatic transmission. Combined fuel consumption is listed at between 7.8-8.3L/100km, and with an 80-litre fuel tank (15L more than before), the MU-X promises a long range between filling up.
Towing ability has been upgraded to 3,500kg braked and the GVM is now 2,800kg, and the GCM is 5,900kg.
As with the previous MU-X and the D-Max range, the 2021 Isuzu MU-X 4×4 offers a lot of off-road tech, including 2WD High, 4WD High and 4WD Low range, a new ‘rough terrain mode’ that enhances the off-road ability of the car through the use of its traction control system and a rear diff-lock on all 4×4 models. Its ground clearance is now up to 235mm, while its 11.4m turning circle is 200mm less than before. The car’s approach angle is now between 28.6 and 29.2 degrees, its departure angle is between 26.4 and 27.6 degrees and its ramp over angle is between 22.6 and 23.1 degrees.
Like the D-Max ute on which it’s based, the 2021 Isuzu MU-X now offers significantly more standard safety features across the range. Standard on all MU-X models includes eight airbags (including front centre and driver’s knee units), auto emergency braking (AEB) with turn assist, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, traffic sign recognition, a speed limiter (in both automatic and manual forms), lane departure warning with prevention, lane keep assist, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, automatic LED headlights with auto high beam and automatic wipers.
In addition to the safety kit, the entry-level LS-M (4×2: $47,900, 4×4: $53,900) includes 17-inch alloy wheels, a 7.0-inch touchscreen with digital radio, Android Auto, wireless Apple CarPlay, manual air-conditioning with rear vents and fan speed control, a urethane steering wheel and gear selector, an electric parking brake with auto hold, carpet floors, cloth upholstery and a four-speaker sound system.
The mid-spec LS-U (4×2: $53,900, 4×4: $59,900) then adds larger 18-inch wheels, body-coloured mirrors and door handles, a leather steering wheel and gear selector, electric lumbar adjustment for the driver’s seat, LED lights in the front vanity mirrors, piano black and silver interior trimmings, dual-zone climate control, push button start with walk away door locking, a larger 9.0-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation, an eight-speaker sound system, LED front fog lights, flat front wiper blades with inbuilt washer jets, front parking sensors, an electric tailgate, roof rails and exterior chrome trim.
Finally, the top-spec LS-T (4×2: $59,900, 4×4: $65,900) adds leather upholstery with an eight-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, 20-inch wheels, LED ambient interior lighting (including the gear knob), remote engine start, an auto-dimming rear mirror and tyre pressure monitoring.
Colour choices for the 2021 Isuzu MU-X include ‘Mineral White’, ‘Basalt Black’, ‘Mercury Silver’, ‘Jasper Brown’ (LS-U and LS-T only), ‘Obsidian Grey’, ‘Moonstone White’ (LS-U and LS-T only), ‘Magnetic Red’ and ‘Cobalt Blue’.
According to Isuzu Ute Australia, the MU-X’s service costs are among the most cost effective in its class thanks to capped price servicing – five years/75,000km of service costs $2,215 ($443 per service) and unlike the Toyota Fortuner, servicing is only required once every 15,000km or yearly, whichever comes first. Like the D-Max ute, the MU-X has a six-year/150,000km warranty with up to seven years of roadside assistance when serviced through an Isuzu Ute dealership.
2021 Isuzu MU-X pricing (plus on-road costs):
- LS-M 4×2: $47,900
- LS-M 4×4: $53,900
- LS-U 4×2: $53,900
- LS-U 4×4: $59,900
- LS-T 4×2: $59,900
- LS-T 4×4: $65,900 ($63,990 introductory drive away price)
Metallic paint: $500
The 2021 Isuzu MU-X is on sale now ahead of an August 2nd start of deliveries date. Stay tuned to DiscoverAuto for the latest news and reviews.
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