Isuzu MU-X Review, For Sale, Models, Specs & Colours in Australia

Isuzu MU-X Q&As

Check out real-world situations relating to the Isuzu MU-X here, particularly what our experts have to say about them.

• What car should I get to tow a 22-foot caravan around Australia?

  I wouldn’t be concerned about the cylinder configuration of a particular engine. What’s more important is how much power and torque that engine makes, and how towing-friendly that power delivery is. By which we mean how smooth and flexible is the delivery. What you don’t want is a peaky engine that needs to be revved before it delivers the good as that puts a strain on everything and make the vehicle tricky and unpleasant to drive.

  The good news is that all the vehicles you’ve nominated have good, solid powerplants that are well suited to towing a caravan. Modern turbo-diesels – especially with an automatic transmission – are ideal for this task.

  What you should go for, however, is the vehicle with the highest towing rating. In this case, that’s any of the Grand Cherokee, MU-X or older Discovery, all of which have variants that can handle a towed load of 3.5 tonnes. The Everest is almost as good with 3.1 tonne, but only almost. The problem is that the van you’ve nominated can easily weigh between 2.2 and 2.8 tonnes which, with a 3.1-tonne limit, leaves you very little headroom for water tanks and camping gear. You’d be amazed at how much a fully loaded caravan weighs, so don’t rely on the brochure, load the van and take it to a weighbridge to make sure the vehicle you have can legally tow it.

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• Is it worth waiting for the new Isuzu MU-X?

  When the new D-Max arrived in 2020, the big improvements included a step up in standard equipment and a big leap forward in refinement and ride quality. The engine and driveline, however, was carried over from the previous model, so performance and driveability were similar.

  With that in mind, you can probably expect the all-new MU-X to offer a similar hike in standard equipment terms. But unlike the D-Max with its rear leaf springs, the MU-X already features coil springs all around, so there may not be quite the same boost to refinement or ride quality. That said, it’s unlikely Isuzu would go backwards in this department. If you can live without the creature comforts, then a run-out deal on the old model seems like a pretty good idea. It really all depends on how much importance you place on having the latest and greatest.

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• Why is my 2017 Isuzu MU-X struggling to make power?

  If the new clutch helped the vehicle climb hills, then I dare say that was money well spent. As for noises from the engine under load, I’m afraid that’s a job for somebody on the spot who can listen to the vehicle and make an assessment. The noise could be major internal problems or it could be something as simple as a loose heat shield under the car. Even a loose or worn engine mount can create all sorts of mysterious and expensive-sounding noises and rattles.

  Don’t forget, your vehicle came with a five-year factory warranty, so a major failure that is not the result of mis-use or general wear and tear (provided the vehicle has travelled less than 130,000km) is still covered by Isuzu.

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• What does the "check system" error code mean in the Isuzu M-UX?

  Any time you have a fuse blowing consistently, you have an electrical problem. Either the circuit involved in lighting the indicator letters and shifting the vehicle into Park (modern transmissions use electronic actuators extensively) is shorting out or being overloaded, and that’s causing the fuse to blow as an alternative to the wiring melting and setting fire to something.

  If it’s a new vehicle, though, it’s covered under the factory warranty, so a trip to the dealership should put it right at no cost to you. It could be a pinched wire, a poor earth, or a fault in the electronic control system. Either way, it’s Isuzu’s problem.

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