Let’s face it, when it comes to SUV’s that have a “bakkie base”, Isuzu seems to have been doing something right. The Isuzu MU-X was first launched in 2013 and it has seen some improvements along the way since then. The latest improvement that has made its way to our market is the vehicle being available in a smaller 1.9L engine that is also a 4×2 – question is, how does it fare to its bigger 3.0L sibling?
We fortunately had a run-in with the MU-X 3.0L last year and were impressed at the car, so much so that we did a back-to-back drive of both the 3.0 and 1.9 to make a much more clearer decision on which one would suit one best – considering that one is getting the exact same car(or rather close as possible) across the board – interior & exterior taken into consideration.
Bigger or Smaller Engine? 4×4 or 4×2?
Honestly? It comes down the preference. The smaller 1.9 engine is slightly lower on power, citing 110kW @ 350Nm of power driven to the front wheels as opposed to the 140kW @ 450Nm of power on the 3.0 4×4 variant. So it will come down to whether one needs to the 4×4 capability of not. One does certainly feel like the 4×4 takes a bit of time to put power to all-four wheels when you apply the throttle, but you would have the option of switching between 4×4 or 4×2 on this model, unlike the 1.9 4×2.
The 1.9 also serves a more economical drive(and by no means do we mean that the 3.0L is not equally economical) with the 1.9 having an acclaimed 7L/100km over the 7.6L/100km, which are both impressive in their own right. We managed a 7.8L/100KM on the 1.9L vs a 8.2L on the 3.0L – which were not far off. It is also worth noting that both models frustrated us as we had to clock in a lot more mileage to get the fuel needle to move, which is actually an impressive feat considering the economy we are currently facing.
I would see the 3.0 performing better with regards to heavier loads like caravans over longer distances than the 1.9 which would equally pull a lighter trailer without much issues.
Price point difference.
The base model MU-X 1.9 LS has a starting price of R708 000 over the MU-X 3.0 LS 4×2 which starts at R800 000 and the MU-X 3.0 LS 4×4 starting at R885 000. Ultimately, it will come down to price point, but if one is looking for a great SUV to take on the urban jungle, then the MU-X 1.9L 4×2 might be a perfect fit as it brings the charm of the MU-X but builds on to it in better economy and affordability.
