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We have seen the photos of the patent. We have seen the teaser campaign. After weeks of waiting, it finally came out.
Say hello to the 2021 Isuzu mu-X and you’ll be ready to battle with the Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi Montero Sport, Nissan Terra and Ford Everest.
Unlike its competitors, the mu-X 2021 is neither a facelift nor a very refreshed model. Instead, it’s brand new from bumper to bumper, right down to the chassis and engines. The second-generation mu-X rides on the same platform as the third-generation D-Max pickup.
For the new mu-X, Isuzu decided to give it a different look than its pick-up counterpart. Instead of applying the same front end as the D-Max, the mu-X has its distinctive design. There are some elements of the D-Max present, but overall, the look is unique to this SUV. For example, the grille is noticeably smaller and the panel around it is more prominent. Also, the bumper is less angular than that found on the D-Max.
Isuzu even made the fenders and doors unique to this model. While the D-Max features relatively flat panels, the mu-X has more character lines on the sides. There is a sharp line running through the doors and the rear quarter panels, which is a significant departure from the current model. Then there is the third window, connected to the side windows instead of the tailgate.
The most dramatic change is in the rear. The 2021 mu-X looks little like the outgoing version that will soon be. In addition, the taillights are thinner and the license plate holder is lower. Last but not least, there are the bumpers, which counter the tendency for angular corners for a more rounded look.
Now for the interior, and it is very similar to the D-Max. It seems that Isuzu has luxury aspirations for the next generation mu-X with its cabin design. The dash features a more dynamic theme, and the air conditioning controls are now switches instead of dials. Even the gear selector gets a bit fancier, with a gloss black finish on top and a leather shift boot. On top of that, the new multi-information display in the instrument cluster is larger than before and features high-definition graphics.
The new mu-X also includes a number of safety and semi-autonomous driving technologies. The 2021 mu-X is available with lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, mitigation of pedal misapplication, and even multiple collision braking. Six airbags are also included, along with stability control, hill start assist, traction control and hill descent control.
There are two turbodiesel options available for the 2021 mu-X. The base engine is the familiar 1.9-liter mill used in the soon to be released model. Nicknamed the RZ4E, it is good for 150 PS & 350 Nm of torque and uses a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic.
On the other hand, the high-spec versions of the mu-X use an updated version of the 3.0-liter engine. It generates more power than before, with 190 hp and 450 Nm of torque. That’s an increase of 13 PS and 70 Nm of torque over the previous generation. The 3.0-liter turbodiesel switches to a six-speed automatic. Four wheel drive is available with the larger engine option. Speaking of four-wheel drive, it can wade deeper floods with its wading capacity increasing from 600mm to 800mm.
Now that it came out, there is only one question left: When will it land in the Philippines? Since the new D-Max isn’t here yet, we may have to wait a bit longer. We could be considering a mid-2021 or early 2022 release for the next-gen mu-X.
