Isuzu mu-X 1.9 LS (2026) Review

The Isuzu mu-X 1.9 4×4 joins the local portfolio, giving customers go-anywhere capability for less money. We get behind the wheel and go on a road trip.

We like: Fuel efficiency; value for money; 4×4 capability.

We don’t like: Could be seen as too utilitarian; reduced 2.1-tonne tow rating.

FAST FACTS

• Model: Isuzu mu-X 1.9TD LS 4WD
• Price: R789 700
• Engine: 1.9-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel
• Transmission: 6-speed automatic transmission
• Power/Torque: 110 kW/350 Nm
• 0-100 kph: 11.94 seconds (tested)
• Fuel consumption: 7.5 L/100 km (claimed)
• Range: 1 067 km (claimed)
• Luggage capacity: 311–1 119 litres (claimed)

Serious about buying/selling?

Some dealerships regularly offer great deals. See our New Car Specials!

Looking to sell your car? Sell it on Cars.co.za for free

Where does the Isuzu mu-X fit in?

The facelifted version of the second-generation Isuzu mu-X landed on local shores back in May 2025 with a six-model line-up. There was just the single 1.9-litre derivative, sitting atop a 4×2 drivetrain. Now, Isuzu has expanded its mu-X range with a 1.9-litre 4×4 automatic in LS trim.

This segment is competitive, with the Ford Everest and Toyota Fortuner offering near-identical levels of performance, space, off-road capability and practicality. Earlier in 2026, the Everest received a mild update, while a new-generation Fortuner is due in 2027. We’d also suggest looking at the updated Tank 500, now sold with a 3.0-litre diesel engine.

See how they compare using our handy tool: Isuzu mu-X vs Ford Everest vs Toyota Fortuner

If a ladder-frame platform and off-road credentials are not as high on your priority list, but you still want a comfortable, big family SUV, we suggest looking at the likes of the Chery Tiggo 9, Volkswagen Tayron and Nissan X-Trail.

How the Isuzu mu-X 1.9TD LS 4WD fares in terms of…

Design & Packaging

This second-generation Isuzu mu-X is a good-looking vehicle. Purposeful with a touch of aggression, it runs the Ford Everest very close in terms of sheer parking lot presence.

The newcomer is available only in entry-level LS trim, but the basics are covered. The driver’s seat has eight-way power adjustability, while all seats are trimmed in part-leather. There’s a basic air-conditioning unit and the vehicle’s been plumbed to allow cool air to circulate throughout the cabin via vents at the rear.

There’s a nine-inch infotainment screen that supports Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and the vehicle features multiple USB-C ports both front and rear. It’s pretty simple to use and has limited functionality, but having driven a number of vehicles from newcomer brands which have massive screens dominating the dashboard, this Isuzu felt refreshingly uncomplicated.

The cabin isn’t going to win any tech or beauty awards, but like an episode of Survivor, it will probably outlast and outwit many of the newcomer brands with their overly fancy ambient lighting-obsessed setups. The materials and aesthetics are best described as utilitarian, but we feel that’s acceptable at this price point and considering the vehicle’s intended use. Rubberised floor mats are a practical addition.

When it comes to safety, the LS offers a reverse camera, front and rear parking sensors, stability control, and seven airbags. Remember, this is the entry-level model and if you’re wanting niceties like adaptive cruise control, you’ll have to dig a little deeper into that piggy bank. Demo flagship Onyx, anyone?

The strength of these vehicles is their practicality and the mu-X boasts the second-longest wheelbase in class, just behind the Everest. There are seven seats and while the third row may be a tight squeeze for adults, the little ones will feel right at home. We’re happy to stow that third row away and make use of the cavernous boot. For additional comfort, the second row of seats can recline.

Performance & Efficiency

The 1.9-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine continues to make 110 kW and 350 Nm, and reaches the wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. It is worth noting that both of its rivals have 50 Newton metres more, and have tow ratings of 3.3 tonnes or higher. The mu-X can tow only 2.1 tonnes.

This engine has been criticised for being sluggish, but as part of the updated D-Max and mu-X portfolios, the 1.9-litre has been upgraded with a new turbocharger, new fuel pump, new high-pressure common rail injecting system, redesigned combustion chamber and new software. Outputs haven’t changed, but Isuzu says more torque is available from lower in the rev range.

Did we feel a difference? Yes. Granted, with unchanged outputs, the changes aren’t going to be night and day, but there’s a touch more responsiveness. Vehicles in this segment don’t have standing acceleration figures as a metric for success, but for what it is worth, 0-100 kph was completed in just under 12 seconds. Comparatively, the updated single-turbo Ford Everest managed 12.08 seconds.

The pace is best described as stately. This is a vehicle which offers sufficient performance as opposed to feeling spritely. The automatic gearbox is of the old-school variety, blurring those shifts without interruption. As for engine noise, there’s no mistaking this powertrain for anything other than a diesel. That said, once up to cruising speeds, the noise level does settle down.

In terms of economy, we couldn’t find the setting to change from km/l to the more widely accepted L/100 km, but a quick conversion sees 12.2 km/L turn into a very respectable 8.196 L/100 km. It’s some way off Isuzu’s claims but, given its role as an adventuring family SUV, we think this is acceptable. Like its rivals, it has an 80-litre tank, giving it a theoretical range of about 1 000 km between fill-ups.

Ride, Handling & Comfort

This mu-X rides on 18-inch wheels wrapped in 265/60 Dunlop Grandtrek rubber, a tyre aimed specifically at vehicles of this nature where they have to contend with urban tar and rocky gravel. Durability and comfort are the goalposts.

Is the Isuzu a comfortable and pleasant place to be on longer trips? Mainly, yes, but there’s no amount of witchcraft or trickery that’s able to mask the vehicle’s humble underpinnings. The ride quality on bad patches is a tad bouncy; pitch the mu-X into a corner and it’ll lean considerably; and the steering lacks directness and feel. But, when you’re cruising on gravel at 80-100 kph, it feels composed and comfortable.

We’ve already had substantial off-road experience in the Isuzu mu-X and, as a reminder, it boasts 800 mm of wading depth and 235 mm of ground clearance. We didn’t feel the need to specifically test its capabilities, but an opportunity presented itself while on a weekend jaunt to the Breedekloof Valley.

The massive weather system which rocked the Western Cape in May 2026 caused considerable damage and many low-lying bridges are still awaiting repair. Due to the current low water levels, a crossing was possible via the riverbank. In a word? Effortless.

As is the case with every 4×4 entrant into the bakkie-based SUV market, there are two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive and a low-range transfer case. Isuzu has given this LS 1.9 a rear differential lock, hill-descent control and hill-start assist.

Price & After-sales support

The Isuzu mu-X is sold with a 5-year/120 000 km warranty, 5-year/unlimited km anti-corrosion warranty, and a 6-year/90 000 km service plan.

Verdict

Pricing comfortably under R800 000 positions the Isuzu mu-X 1.9TD LS as an impressive value proposition for those wanting to venture far off the beaten track. It significantly undercuts its competition from Ford and, despite its popularity, the Toyota Fortuner is really starting to show its age. There’s no sign of a reveal date for the latter’s replacement, either.

Given the current price trajectory of diesel heading to stratospheric levels, we suspect that some may consider this newer 1.9-litre over its larger-capacity siblings purely for lower running costs. Time will tell, and while it may seem basic to some testers, there’s no denying the new mu-X derivative offers excellent value for money and the ruggedness for which Isuzu’s vehicles are so well known.

Want to purchase a new or used Isuzu? Browse vehicles for sale

Read all the latest Isuzu news and reviews