The Isuzu MU-X was launched earlier today at Rs 23.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). While it follows all the statutes to a tee, the MU-X does miss out on the pedigree and lineage of a true blue-blooded American muscle truck. And this is where the Ford Endeavour shines. The Endeavour can be credited with kick starting the segment back in 2003 and is the closest you can get to buying yourself an American truck. While we wait to get our hands on both these SUVs to pit them against each other, here is an on paper comparison of the Isuzu MU-X and Ford Endeavour –
Exterior
Both the Isuzu MU-X and the Ford Endeavour pack tremendous road presence, mostly down to their humongous size and the brawny looks. There is hardly any difference in the dimensions apart from the length, where the Endeavour pips the MU-X by 67mm longer. Both make extensive use of chrome for the front grille to up the bling factor. However, there is also a slight touch of utilitarian looks in their body lines. While the MU-X rides on 17-inch wheels, the bigger 18-inch wheels on the Endeavour give it a slightly more imposing stance. The rear of both the SUVs though, isn’t as intimidating as the front. However, they do try to make up for the bland looks with skid plates and chrome strips running across the length of the tail gate and meeting the headlamp. The MU-X is available in four paint schemes – brown, black, silver and white. The Endeavour on the other hand can be opted for in black, bronze, red, silver, grey and white.
Interior
The Isuzu MU-X utilitarian looks extend to its interior as well. It gets beige seats and a black dashboard with a quite basic design. Step inside the Endeavour though, and it sheds the utilitarian character in a jiffy. The design is modern and the leather upholstery quality is quite up to the mark. There aren’t many differences in the features list. Both get climate control system with rear vents and touchscreen infotainment system. The Endeavour and MU-X are seven seaters with three rows of front facing seats. Both the second and third rows fold flat to make for a roomy boot good enough to move your house. Both the MU-X and Endeavour get driver and co-driver airbags, though the latter gets dual-stage airbags. ABS with electronic brake-force distribution, electronic stability program, traction control and brake assist are standard for both cars. They even get hill-descent control.
Powertrain
At the heart of the Isuzu MU-X is a 3.0-litre turbocharged Ddi engine, delivering 174bhp and 380Nm of torque. It is available in both rear-wheel-drive and a four-wheel-drive with shift-on-fly function. The power is transmitted to the wheels through a five-speed sequential automatic gearbox.
The Endeavour on the other hand, is available with two powertrain options. A 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine delivers 158bhp and 385Nm of torque, and is available in either rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive. The latter is available only with a six-speed manual gearbox, while the rear-wheel-drive version gets a six-speed automatic gearbox. The higher-spec versions get a 3.2-litre turbocharged diesel mill, which delivers 197bhp and 470Nm of torque. It is only available with a four-wheel-drive system and a six-speed automatic gearbox.
Conclusion
The Isuzu MU-X has been launched with a very lucrative price tag of Rs 23.99 lakh for the 4x2 variant and Rs 25.99 lakh for the 4x4 variant. The Ford Endeavour is more expensive with prices starting at Rs 26.6 lakh for the Trend 2.2 4x2 AT, going all the way up to Rs 31.5 lakh for the top-end Titanium 3.2 4x4 AT (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi). While the Ford Endeavour might be relatively pricier than the MU-X, it also has the advantage of a well-established brand name. The Isuzu MU-X on the other hand, has to start afresh. So while it does tick all the right boxes, when it comes to the looks, features and the price, the MU-X has its work cut out.
