First Drive: Isuzu MU-X X-Terrain MY25
This rugged off-roader has what it takes to get Aussie adventurers where they need to go but will the price turn people off?
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These days it’s not enough for a giant SUV to tow 3500kg, scrabble up mountain trails, haul seven people and be the daily school run bus.
Hence why the new Isuzu MU-X X-Terrain model’s been born. Thing is, many 4x4 buyers also want a streetwise style statement with sporty vibes, adding lots of fancy kit and in turn pushing up prices.
MORE: Why Isuzu’s MU-X delivers
But it’s obvious buyers of such cars don’t much care. This MU-X X-Terrain – launched as part of the model’s 2025 mid-life facelift – is a chunky $73,990 drive-away. But consider its rivals. A range-topping Ford Everest Platinum’s $81,200 plus on-roads, and the new Toyota Prado Kakadu’s ten bucks under $100,000 before charges.
MORE: Isuzu’s stripped-back MU-X
Nobody said go-anywhere lifestyles would be cheap.
This X-Terrain certainly has presence, not least with revised, angrier-looking LED headlights and chunky new bonnet. It ditches the MU-X’s chrome grille for a giant gloss black number, then adds shiny blackness to fog light surrounds, mirrors, fender flares and the 20-inch alloys.
I take a good look at these wheels sitting under the Isuzu’s raised and beefy body, because they have very skinny highway tyres wrapping them.
Considering we’re about to climb a steep hard-baked mud crevasse with meteorite-strike giant holes beneath, I’m concerned this sporty MU-X will prove to be all talk.
And I’ll be stuck forever.
Fortunately, it does a solid impression of a four-wheeled mountain goat, finding mad off-road angles and wheel articulations, comically pointing up to the sky with a wheel cocked so high you could walk underneath it (not advised).
MORE: Why the Ford Everest is a winner
The X-Terrain may be dressed in a Slate Grey colour more suited to hot hatches, and lacks beefy all-terrain tyres, but has seemingly lost none of its tough guy chops.
Its Rough Terrain Mode smartly brakes my airborne wheel to stop it spinning wildly, and instead transfers power to the opposite wheel. Throw in a locking rear differential, 235mm ground clearance, 800mm wading depth and clever all-seeing off-road cameras (including for underneath the car) and this Isuzu proves quite the talent over gnarly trails.
Helping justify its price are the X-Terrain’s cabin inclusions. There are power and heated perforated leather-accented seats (but sadly not ventilated), with lots of red stitching and red ambient lighting. Because sporty.
It’s a robust feeling cabin, but using piano black trim – which quickly attracts fingerprints and scratch marks – isn’t wise, nor is no wireless charging as the car features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
But a new 9-inch screen, USB-C connectivity and semi-digital driver display boost modernity, and the MU-X remains a seriously roomy rig.
Middle seats recline, and even the back two chairs can handle adults, although you feel slightly cocooned in plastic.
Back on the sealed stuff, there’s been marginal gains to this Isuzu’s road manners. Larger suspension dampers offer solid body control through fast corners, so despite its heft, our X-Terrain well resists the wobbliness common in ute-based 4x4 SUVs.
It’s no match for car-like SUVs like a Hyundai Santa Fe, and the Isuzu still doesn’t feel quite as competent an on-road tool as the sales champion Ford Everest.
That’s partly due to the engine.
It’s a chunky 3.0L four-cylinder turbo-diesel unit, but its 140kW/450Nm is adequate rather than truly muscly, like the Ford’s V6.
But it’s smooth unless really pushed, works sweetly with the six-speed auto gearbox, and has a long reputation for reliability for town, off-road and towing use. Fuel economy’s 8.3L/1000km, and our road test returned just a smidge over this.
Isuzu sells 4x2 and 1.9-litre versions of its MU-X, across four grades and ten variants, starting at a palatable $46,990 drive-away.
Positively, safety equipment’s lengthy on all. And, to Isuzu’s credit, it’s brought much-needed calibration improvements to its lane keep assist; the steering wheel massaging you back in line rather than annoyingly tugging.
For now, Isuzu still offers no hybrid, plug-in or full EV, but ever-stricter emissions rules may force its hand. It can’t dine out on its competent but comparatively dirty diesels forever.
VERDICT
Despite this welcome facelift, the MU-X is refreshingly old-school with its big diesel and off-road talents. Range-topping X-Terrain has the striking looks to maintain enduringly strong sales.
4 stars
2025 ISUZU D-MAX X-TERRAIN 4X4
PRICE $73,990 drive-away
ENGINE 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, 140kW/450Nm
THIRST 8.3L/100km
WARRANTY/SERVICE 6 years/150,000km, $2345 for five services/75,000km
SAFETY 8 airbags, advanced AEB, lane keep assist, turn assist, blind spot monitor, adaptive cruise control, rear cross traffic alert, traffic sign recognition
TOWING 3500kg
SPARE Full-size
Originally published as First Drive: Isuzu MU-X X-Terrain MY25
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