Isuzu, the Japanese car maker, has had its presence in the Indian car market for years now, supplying engines to the yesteryear Ambassador and the Contessa. Isuzu started its full-fledged operations in India three years ago beginning with Andhra Pradesh and slowly expanding across the length and breadth of the country. With its network spread out, Isuzu will be launching its most premium SUV yet, the MU-X.
Isuzu launched the MU7 SUV for private car buyers along with the D-Max commercial vehicle to start with and also launched the huge V-Cross lifestyle pickup truck. The MU-X is built on the same platform as the other two SUVs and gets three front-facing seating rows with the ability to ferry eight people.
It is a full-size SUV that is all set to compete against the likes of the Toyota Fortuner and the Ford Endeavour along with SUVs like the Hyundai Santa Fe, the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and the Chevrolet Trailblazer. It does have the firepower to take on the SUVs with its powerful 174bhp 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine and four wheel drive. It might be launched in one trim only and will get a five-speed automatic gearbox standard.
It also gets the required bells and whistles with automatic climate control and separate blowers for the rear passengers, six-way adjustable power seats, cruise control, power mirrors etc. While it might lack a sunroof, it gets a dual entertainment system – a seven-inch screen in the front for infotainment and a 10-inch DVD player screen for the rear passengers to enjoy.
In the Isuzu scheme of things it will sit above the MU-7 and we expect a price tag ranging between Rs 22 lakhs to Rs 25 lakhs for the MU-X.
