The Isuzu Thread

Isuzu MU-X Onyx (2024) Living with it

Summary

The Isuzu MU-X proved an excellent road-trip vehicle and did exactly what we asked of it. It’s a spacious family car that can comfortably transport its occupants over long distances and it’s surefooted on gravel.

Critically, KDF 956 EC was showing minimal signs of wear and tear, and we didn’t pick up any rattles and squeaks in the cabin. Granted, some of the touchpoints, such as the USB ports had some marks, where users hadn’t successfully plugged in the first time, but it was impressive how well the cabin held up.

While it may not feel as state-of-the-art as its rivals – the Everest, in particular – we get the impression that Isuzu has focused on longevity and reliability with the MU-X. We’d happily take it adventuring again!

 
Isuzu MU-X facelift teased: sharp new look and RS trim for Fortuner, Everest rival

The Isuzu MU-X is a lesser known rival to the Toyota Fortuner, Ford Everest and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.

First introduced to South Africans in 2018, and now in its second generation, the bakkie-based SUV is now set to get a facelift as this teaser image from Thailand reveals.

This follows the reveal of its facelifted D-Max bakkie sibling in late 2023, which has yet to reach South African shores in updated form.

Isuzu isn’t saying much about the revised MU-X, but the darkened teaser image points to a bolder looking face, complete with slim headlights and a wide grille.

 
Facelifted Isuzu MU-X revealed in flagship RS form

The facelifted Isuzu MU-X has been revealed overseas, with the refreshed version of the 7-seater adventure SUV even gaining a new RS flagship derivative…

Say hello to the facelifted Isuzu MU-X, which debuts as an updated alternative to the likes of the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Everest. The Japanese firm says it has “significantly upgraded” its 7-seater adventure SUV in response to “market demand”, while also unveiling a bold new RS flagship derivative.

Though the refreshed MU-X is already on sale in Thailand (where SA-spec MU-X models are produced), it’s not yet clear when Isuzu Motors South Africa plans to launch the updated SUV in the local market. As an aside, the revised D-Max bakkie – on which the MU-X is based – was unwrapped overseas in October 2023, but the Struandale facility in the Eastern Cape is still building the pre-facelift version for Mzansi.

But back to updated MU-X. Exterior styling changes are led by an aggressive new front-end design, complete with revised headlamps, a sporty front bumper and an updated grille. The taillamps, meanwhile, gain a new lighting signature and are now connected by a full-width trim piece, while fresh alloy-wheel designs have been rolled out, too.

What about the top-spec RS grade, which thus far appears exclusive to Thailand? Well, the flagship derivative gains a model-specific grille design as well as black finishes for items such as the wheel-arch extensions, side-mirror caps, roof and 20-inch alloys. Of course, there’s also the requisite smattering of “RS” badges (on the grille, front fenders and tailgate).

 
Paywall:

REVIEW | The Isuzu mu-X SUV is an ideal off-road family car

www.news24.com

REVIEW | The Isuzu mu-X SUV is an ideal off-road family car | Life

The Isuzu mu-X might not offer the latest in-car technology, but it provides all the features you will require to head on nearly any adventure and allows you to carry all the people and equipment in the process.
www.news24.com www.news24.com
 
Another one? This is the D-Max ‘Mudmaster’, Isuzu’s latest special edition

Upgrades include: more steel, more height and… a snorkel

Has the current-generation D-Max spawned the greatest number of special editions of any current production car? Probably. And about 12 minutes since the last one, Isuzu has now added another, dubbed the ‘Mudmaster’, and it's a V-Cross that’s kitted out with almost every off-road modification you can think of.

Primary updates include a new lift kit that, er, lifts the car by 1.75 inches, a reinforced steel chassis and a repositioned air intake that’ll act as a snorkel when wading. There’s also a thick winch concealed behind the front bumper, additional towing straps and tyre recovery pads. Isuzu will even throw extra jerry cans in for those truly remote trips into the wilderness and a… shovel. Because why not?

The Mudmaster also gains a bit more character aesthetically, thanks to extra grille lamps, a light bar, a load bed canopy and bigger 20in ‘Hurricane’ alloys. There’s also a fair bit of extra cladding, in case you hadn’t noticed, and a custom exterior livery just so people know which of the million D-Max special editions it is you’ve got.

No powertrain changes are listed, so it’s still a 2.0-litre inline-four diesel producing 161bhp and 266lb ft. As exciting as the Mudmaster may look, the engine does mean it’ll take around 13 seconds to get to 62mph. Plenty of time to wonder what the shovel could be used for, then.

 
Isuzu D-Max 45 Limited Edition (2024) Price & Specs

The Isuzu D-Max 45 Limited Edition double-cab has been revealed to celebrate 45 years of the brand’s bakkie production in South Africa. Here’s how much is costs…

Isuzu has been building bakkies in South Africa for 45 years and has just unwrapped a special new double cab to celebrate this milestone. Just 105 examples of the Isuzu D-Max 45 Limited Edition – each built at the Japanese firm’s Struandale plant in the Eastern Cape – will be available on the local market.

Listed as the D-Max 3.0TD LSE 45 4×4 6AT, this new derivative is priced from R906 100 and thus commands a R36 600 premium over the D-Max 3.0TD LSE 4×4 (R869 500) on which it’s based. As such, the limited-run variant is positioned below the V-Cross 4×4 (R916 400) and AT35 4×4 (R1 170 339).

So, what makes a D-Max 45 Limited Edition? Well, this special model scores a Rhinoman Xpedition canopy, spray-on bedliner, tailgate assist, a black X-Rider-style grille and 18-inch black alloy wheels (plus, of course, special “45” badging on the rear), along with a wireless smartphone charger in the cabin and a remote engine-start function. The limited-production derivative is available in Splash White, Mercury Silver, Islay Grey, Desert Orange and Biarritz Blue.

Since it’s based on the LSE grade, standard features include items such as a leather-wrapped steering wheel, partial-leather seats, an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen, rear parking sensors, a reverse-view camera and various driver assistance features (think blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert and the like).

How much does the Isuzu D-Max 45 Limited Edition cost?

Isuzu D-Max 3.0TD LSE 45 4×4 6AT double cab – R906 100

The price above includes a 5-year/120 000 km warranty and a 5-year/90 000 km service plan (with intervals of 15 000 km).

 
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