A diesel engine is the antithesis of today’s hybrid trend. It developed a bad reputation thanks to poorly maintained jeeps, buses, and private vehicles that their thick black smoke left a semi-permanent layer on the underpasses of Metro Manila. People have almost forgotten that a good diesel engine is a keeper. Pajeros and Land Cruisers from the early 2000s are still on the roads today because their power is worth the upkeep in the long run.
This is why in the plethora of electrified options ranging from sedans, hatchbacks, crossovers, and SUVs, the Isuzu mu-X stands-out. I’ve driven the LS-E 4×4 AT and it’s one of those that’s hard to return to the brand after the lend-out period.
They say you know it’s a good car when you look back at it after parking. That’s not my case with the mu-X because no matter how stellar it is, I’m just not a fan of its front end. I like the grille design and its frame, but I really wish they kept it flat with the headlights instead of this ‘out there’ design.
Functionally though, the front section of the mu-X is great. Isuzu isn’t known for being the most techy brand out there but they did a good job with this SUV. The radars and cameras are really smart and responsive. Automatic High Beam immediately activates when there’s no oncoming vehicle, the Autonomous Braking isn’t as paranoid as others I’ve tried, and the Adaptive Cruise Control easily reads oncoming vehicles or motorcycles into your lane, avoiding unnecessary sudden braking from the Autonomous system. Those, together with its other Advanced Driver Assist features make hectic city and night driving very easy with this mu-X.
There will be a bit of doubt with the Power Assist steering because once you try it, you’ll immediately feel that it’s weighted. Isuzu found the balance of weight, responsiveness, and assistance, that your arms won’t be fatigued even after a long drive.
Then there are the other modern features like the 10.1-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 8-way Power Adjustable Driver’s Seat, Electronic Parking Brake with Auto Hold, and a Wireless Charger that are useable and great to have in every drive. Having Waze alone in the huge touchscreen and the Auto Hold are a huge help especially when lost in BGC and their stop lights during rush hour.
Ride comfort is another subtle advantage of the mu-X over its rivals. The suspension is firm but has a good amount of give every time there’s a pothole that the cabin remains stable, rather than rocked with every stone on the road. Rumble strips won’t shake your brain, and humps can be overcome smoothly. Like the steering, the suspension of the mu-X might take a while to be appreciated.
But what I really love about the mu-X is the old school engine it has. It’s a 3.0L diesel with 190 PS and 450 Nm of torque, paired to a 6-speed automatic. Nothing fancy. But this 4JJ3-TCX engine is a great partner on the mountain roads. It has the typical behaviour of a diesel engine but what sets it apart is when you’re becoming too demanding of it, it literally doesn’t back down.
With other SUVs, if you’re on a climb and want more power, the rev goes back down a bit before it ramps up again and surpasses your previous rpm. So if you’re on a hill climb and you want to overtake someone while at 2,000rpm, it will go back down to 1,000rpm first when you floor the throttle pedal before it ramps up to, let’s say 3,500rpm so you can have more speed to overtake that slow truck.
There’s none of that with the 4JJ3-TCX of the mu-X. If you’re on 2,000rpm and you floor the throttle, it would immediately go up to 3,000. That is especially useful when going up mountain roads and even on the highways if you’re overtaking at higher speeds. It prevents you from doubting the move you want to make.
That’s what I love about this Isuzu mu-X LS-E. You can forget its past personality of one-trick pony who didn’t have anything aside from a reliable engine. This mu-X is not only reliable and powerful, it also comes with creature comforts that surpass its rivals. Titos in my neighborhood jokingly ask me if it can go up to Baguio and the answer is a lengthy one – Sure! Kahit Kennon, Marcos, or Asin road pa yan! It has the tech to keep you safe and charged up in the city and highway, while having the capability to make light work of the hill climbs in the country.
The best part about it is the price point. You don’t have to go for the top of the line 4×4 trim just to get this engine and features. This Isuzu mu-X LS-E 4×2 AT retails for PHP 2,230,000, PHP 350,000 less and 100kg lighter than the 4×4 trim. Their only difference is the Terrain Command System and the Transfer Case Protector. The rest – from the active safety features, creature comforts, and engine – the two are identical. If there’s anything that can surpass this very enticing package, I’ll assume it can only be an electrified Isuzu.
