Isuzu MU-X Competition Check

Isuzu has finally introduced the long-awaited MU-X SUV in India at Rs 23.99 lakh (ex-Delhi). The MU-X becomes the flagship SUV for the Japanese carmaker in the country and would be assembled at the manufacturer’s local facility in Andhra Pradesh. Showcased at the stage of 2016 Auto Expo, the new and updated MU-X is already on sale in international markets of Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and Philippines. This full-size SUV enters into a segment which is already dominated by the likes of Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour, and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. Here is a competition check to see how it fares against its adversaries.

Toyota Fortuner

The biggest threat to the existence of MU-X in India comes from the segment leader, Toyota Fortuner. The Fortuner has been in Indian market for ages now and has made a significant impact in the minds of Indian SUV adherents. With this latest generation, the Fortuner is more modern, efficient and more of a looker than before. Pitted against the Toyota, the MU-X is more discreet rather than flamboyant Fortuner. The 3.0-litre in the MU-X produces equal firepower to the 2.8-litre of the Fortuner but offers five-speed AT instead of six-speed in the latter. The MU-X scores brownie points for the attractive pricing which undercuts the Fortuner by a huge margin. However, the biggest challenge the Isuzu faces is the Fortuner’s well-established brand name.

Ford Endeavour

Ford introduced the all-new Endeavour last year. Retaining its brawny first generation image, the new Endeavour has been made to look more upmarket and stylish to keep up with the fray. It’s based on a new ladder frame chassis in order to beef up its off-road capabilities. The Endeavour gets two diesel engine options - a 2.2-litre four-cylinder and 3.2-litre five-cylinder mill with six-speed AT. The MU-X does offer similar performance to the 2.2-litre variant but is no match to the full-blown 197bhp variant of the Endeavour. The new Endeavour has a lot of road presence and in-your-face styling while the Isuzu might be too understated for some people.

Chevrolet Trailblazer

The new Trailblazer has been in the market for a year now but wasn’t able to garner as much success as the competition. The Chevy is a CBU and hence comes with a steep pricing in India. To top it all, it is only offered in a single variant. The Trailblazer gets a 197bhp 2.8-litre unit mated to six-speed AT and all-wheel drive as standard. The American triumphs over the MU-X in terms of power output but the styling for the Trailblazer is subjective. Interestingly, the MU-X is based on the same underpinnings as that of the Trailblazer.

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

Another Japanese SUV on the block is the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. Offered with a 2.5-litre power plant, the Pajero matches the MU-X in terms of power. But in this case, the AWD is powered by a five-speed manual transmission, while the automatic variant is available only in the rear-wheel-drive system. In comparison, the Mitsubishi seems like the most aged vehicle in this segment and given the shoddy after sales service, the Pajero Sport isn’t the first preference in this segment. Especially with an exorbitant price tag that is almost Rs 5 lakh more than the new MU-X.

Hyundai Santa Fe

The Korean offering in the segment comes in the form of a new Hyundai Santa Fe. Offered with a 2.2-litre oil burner belting out 194bhp and 420Nm, this car sends power to front wheels via a six-speed manual in the base 2WD variant while there is also a six-speed AT gearbox that is available in 2WD or 4WD variants. The Santa Fe is the only SUV in this segment to become a style statement in its own, with an exorbitant pricing of Rs 29-33 lakh. Naturally, the Santa Fe is more stylish than the plain Jane MU-X, but the latter is more affordable yet feature-loaded.