2025 Isuzu MU-X family review:Is this the perfect blend of 4x4 capability and family-focused SUV?

If you’re looking for a large seven-seat family SUV that’s just as comfortable on school runs as it is towing a caravan or heading off-road, the Isuzu MU-X X-Terrain 4x4 is worth a look.

This diesel-powered SUV offers a practical setup for families who have no more than 3 children requiring car seats (only three top tether points). In saying that however it does include plenty of interior space which is almost a shame the third row is unusable for children still requiring a top tethered seat.

For everyday use, the MU-X feels solid and capable, its worth mentioning has a towing capacity of up to 3.5 tonnes. We tested the previous model and while the updated model now gets revised suspension and a few other modifications we expect it can tow the same if not better than before.

The ride height gives you great visibility around town, parking is also made easy thanks to the new 360-degree camera and front-view camera as standard on the X-Terrain model, as well as side steps, making getting in and out a lot easier for kids.

Inside, you’ll find three top tether points in the second row, which fix three rear-facing seats across, while the third row is better suited for older kids or occasional use by adults.

The 2025 update brings some new features, but the infotainment system still feels a little behind what you’ll see in rivals like the Hyundai Santa Fe or Ford Everest. That said, the MU-X focuses on function rather than flash, and it delivers where it counts: comfort for long drives, a spacious boot with and without the third row up, and enough power to tow heavy loads without extra modifications.

We tested the top-spec X-Terrain in everyday family conditions to see how it performs when car seats, prams, and all the “stuff” that comes with kids are added into the mix.

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Isuzu MU-X pros & cons: What you should know before buying

Pros:

• Fits three across with ease: Three rear-facing car seats can fit across the second row—rare in some 7-seat SUVs.

• Boot space still works with all 7 seats up: Managed to fit a full-size Maxi-Cosi Mali pram with space for a couple of shopping bags; a travel pram would allow even more room.

• 360-degree camera standard on X-Terrain: Includes a front-view camera that helps with both tight parking and off-road conditions.

• Off-road capability straight from the showroom: Comes with Rough Terrain Mode, 4x4 with low range, and rear differential lock, so no major mods needed.

• 3.5-tonne towing capacity: Makes it suitable for large caravans or boats—ideal for family trips and holidays.

• Heated seats and steering wheel: Additional comfort for winter mornings in the X-Terrain trim.

Cons:

• Second-row seatbelt placement limits third-row access: If you have a child seat using a seat belt install in the second row you won’t be able to pull the seat forward to back without having the seat belt in the way

• No top tether points in third row: Limits car seat flexibility for larger families with young kids.

• No wireless phone charging: Even though wireless Apple CarPlay is available.

• No hybrid option: Sticks with diesel, which may not suit families looking for lower emissions or quieter performance. Though the Diesel is quite fuel efficient 8.9L/100km.

• No panoramic sunroof option: Some competitors offer this feature for a more open cabin feel.

• Tech features cost more: New model brings more features, but the price jump is noticeable.

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Isuzu MUX price guide – How much does the 2025 Isuzu MUX cost?

The Isuzu MU-X is available in four trim levels, and two engine and two drivetrain options: 2WD and AWD, all together offering 10 variants. Pricing as follows:

• 2025 Isuzu MU-X LS-M Auto RWD 1.9L: $48,400 before on-road costs

• 2025 Isuzu MU-X LS-M Auto RWD 3.0L: $50,400 before on-road costs

• 2025 Isuzu MU-X LS-M Auto 4WD 1.9L: $54,400 before on-road costs

• 2025 Isuzu MU-X LS-M Auto 4WD 3.0L: $56,400 before on-road costs

• 2025 Isuzu MU-X LS-U Auto RWD 3.0L: $57,400 before on-road costs

• 2025 Isuzu MU-X LS-U Auto 4WD 1.9L: $61,400 before on-road costs

• 2025 Isuzu MU-X LS-U Auto 4WD 3.0L: $63,400 before on-road costs

• 2025 Isuzu MU-X LS-T Auto RWD 3.0L: $65,400 before on-road costs

• 2025 Isuzu MU-X LS-T Auto 4WD 3.0L: $71,400 before on-road costs

• 2025 Isuzu MU-X X-Terrain Auto 4WD 3.0L: $75,100 before on-road costs (as tested)

(Exact driveway pricing will vary depending on location and registration type; check with Isuzu Ute Australia or your local dealership for up-to-date costs.)

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Isuzu MU-X engine options: Diesel

The 2025 Isuzu MU-X comes with two engine and two drivetrain options:

• 1.9L Turbo Diesel: 4-cylinder engine – 110kW of power & 350Nm of torque

• 3.0L Turbo Diesel: 4-cylinder engine – 140kW of power & 450Nm of torque

The 2025 Isuzu MU-X is available with two diesel engine options, giving Australian families the choice between power and efficiency depending on how they plan to use their 7-seater SUV.

The 3.0L turbo-diesel engine is available across all four MU-X trims — including the LS-M, LS-U, LS-T, and X-Terrain — and can be paired with either 4x2 or 4x4 drivetrains (except X-Terrain, which is 4WD only). The smaller 1.9L diesel engine is only available in the LS-M and LS-U trims and is available in both 4x4 and 4x2 drivetrains.

We tested the Isuzu MU-X X-Terrain 3.0L 4WD, the top-spec model in the range. Around town, the MU-X 7-seater SUV felt easy to manage for its size. The high driving position gives excellent visibility in school zones and traffic, and the automatic stop-start system restarts smoothly in stop-start conditions. On freeway on-ramps, there’s a brief moment of turbo lag, which is common in large diesel SUVs, but nothing unusual or distracting.

The MU-X was at its best fuel economy on long drives. We packed it with car seats, a full-size pram, and gear for the weekend, and the 3.0L engine handled it all with no issues. Fuel economy landed between 8.3L/100km during real-world family testing, which is a solid result for a 7-seat diesel SUV of this size. As with any large SUV, fuel consumption will increase with towing or off-road driving.

While we didn’t tow during this review, we’ve previously tested the 3.0L MU-X towing a 2.5-tonne caravan, and it felt stable and confident. With a braked towing capacity of 3,500kg, trailer sway control, and support for an electric brake controller, the MU-X is well suited for families towing boats, caravans, or camper trailers. If towing or weekend off-roading is part of your lifestyle, we’d recommend opting for the 3.0L engine. For those mostly driving around the city but still wanting the extra room and capability the MU-X offers, the 1.9L MU-X could still be a good fit — though it’s not available in the LS-T or X-Terrain grades.

Ride comfort is where the MU-X diesel SUV impresses. Whether you're in rear-wheel drive for everyday use or have 4WD engaged for off-road terrain, it stays composed and stable. The suspension setup handles bumps without fuss, and the tyres offer minimal road noise while in the city. Engine noise is what you'd expect from a diesel — louder than a petrol or hybrid — but never overly harsh. In traffic, the stop-start system keeps idle noise low, and the interior insulation does a good job of softening the sound at speed.

When comparing to other 7-seater diesel SUVs in Australia, the MU-X sits among strong competitors like the Ford Everest (3.0L diesel), Toyota Prado (2.4L diesel hybrid), and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (2.4L diesel). If petrol power is on your radar, there’s also the Nissan Patrol V8 — though it’s not as fuel-efficient.

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Is the Isuzu MU-X fuel-efficient?

The 2025 Isuzu MU-X offers two diesel engine options, and with them, three different official fuel consumption figures:

1.9L Turbo Diesel

• LS-M 4x2: 7.4L/100km

• LS-M 4x4: 7.4L/100km

• LS-U 4x2: 7.4L/100km

• LS-U 4x4: 7.4L/100km

3.0L Turbo Diesel

• LS-M 4x2: 7.8L/100km

• LS-M 4x4: 8.3L/100km

• LS-U 4x2: 7.8L/100km

• LS-U 4x4: 8.3L/100km

• LS-T 4x2: 7.8L/100km

• LS-T 4x4: 8.3L/100km

• X-Terrain 4x4: 8.3L/100km

During our real-world test of the Isuzu MU-X X-Terrain 3.0L diesel 4x4, we averaged 8.5L/100km over a mix of city and highway driving. This figure is very competitive for families looking for a fuel-efficient seven-seat SUV. For comparison, here are the official fuel consumption figures for some of its closest rivals:

• Isuzu MU-X (3.0L diesel X-Terrain 4x4): 8.3L/100km combined

• Ford Everest Sport V6 4WD: 8.5L/100km combined but we averaged 11.3L/100km

• Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (2.4L diesel): 8.0L/100km combined

• Toyota Prado (Diesel Hybrid): 7.6L/100km combined

• Nissan Patrol V8 (Petrol): 14.4L/100km combined

The Isuzu MU-X offers a great balance between grunt and fuel economy, making it strong choice for families who need a reliable 7-seater SUV without breaking the fuel budget. It’s notably more fuel-efficient than the Ford Everest Sport V6, which recorded higher consumption in our real-world testing, and it’s close to rivals like the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and Toyota Prado diesel hybrid.

One big advantage for busy families considering the Isuzu MU-X diesel SUV is that it does not require AdBlue, unlike some competitors such as the Ford Everest and Toyota Prado. This means fewer ongoing maintenance costs and less hassle with extra fluids, making it simpler to own and maintain. If you’re searching for a diesel family SUV without AdBlue, the MU-X is one of the few in its class that fits the bill.

Isuzu MU-X towing capacity: Can it handle a caravan?

• 1.9L LS-M 4x2: 3000kg

• 1.9L LS-M 4x4: 3000kg

• 1.9L LS-U 4x2: 3000kg

The remaining variants:

• 3500kgs

Isuzu MU-X interior & space: How practical is it for families?

Inside the 2025 Isuzu MU-X X-Terrain, the cabin feels practical, and well thought out for day-to-day family SUV life. With leather-accented seats in both the X-Terrain and LS-T variants, the MU-X offers a nice feel without pushing into luxury pricing. The seats are also easy to wipe down — perfect for families with young kids.

At the centre of the dash in the X-Terrain, LS-U and LS-T variants is a 9.0-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, keeping tech-savvy families connected on the go. There’s no wireless phone charging across the range, but most parents will appreciate the simple layout and intuitive controls while juggling kids, bags, and the chaos of daily life.

For storage, the MU-X delivers an adequate amount of options. There’s a decent-sized centre console, glove box, seat-back pockets, and door bins that easily fit bottles and other essentials like wipes, snacks, or toys. In the third row, you’ll even find cup holders and small storage compartments, which is a nice touch for older kids riding in the back.

When it comes to child seat installation, the MU-X can fit three rear-facing car seats across the second row — though this works best when using seatbelt-installed child seats. There are two ISOFIX points and three top tether points across the second row, but the seatbelt for the outter seats is attached to the body of the car rather than the seat itself. This means if you’re using seatbelt-installed car seats, it can block third-row access unless you load from the boot. If you don’t require child seats you can make use of the tumble-style second-row seats, which make third-row access much easier.

The second-row seats also slide and recline, giving you more flexibility to balance child seats, passengers, and third-row legroom. And speaking of the third row, it’s surprisingly roomy. We tested it with an adult passenger, and it’s genuinely comfortable — which is rare in the 7-seat SUV segment.

Rear passengers benefit from roof-mounted air vents, which provide more direct airflow for all rows — a big win in Australia’s hot climate. There are USB ports at the back of the centre console, although for memory none are located in the third row (something to keep in mind if you’ve got tech-hungry teens back there).

The interior materials throughout the MU-X are designed with families in mind. The leather upholstery in the X-Terrain and LS-T is easy to clean, and the dashboard plastics are durable and low-maintenance. The privacy glass in the rear helps keep things cool and offers extra protection from the sun, but built-in rear window sunshades aren’t included.

Visibility from the driver’s seat is mostly good, but like many 7-seater family SUVs, it can be obstructed with the third row in use and the boot fully packed (especially with a pram standing upright). We’d love to see a digital rear-view mirror in future updates — as it would make visibility clearer when the boot is full — but Isuzu doesn't currently offer this feature across the MU-X range.

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Isuzu MU-X boot space & storage: How much can it fit?

• With 5 seats up: 1119L

• With 7 seats up: 331L

The 2025 Isuzu MU-X X-Terrain 4x4 offers one of the largest and most practical boots in the 7-seat 4x4 SUV segment. With five seats in use, you get 1,119 litres of boot space — more than enough room for a full-size pram like the Maxi-Cosi Mali, plus 8–10 shopping bags, sports gear, and school backpacks with plenty of room to spare.

Even with all seven seats up, the MU-X still provides 331 litres of cargo space, which is better than some rivals like the Toyota LandCruiser Prado and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. With the third row upright, we could stand up the Maxi-Cosi Mali stroller and still fit 2–3 shopping bags — a rare win for a 7-seater SUV. Families relying on a bulky travel system prams might need to choose between groceries and the stroller, but a compact stroller or smaller pram fits comfortably with all rows in use.

The power tailgate with kick-foot activation is a standout family feature. While the key needs to be on you and there’s a small trick to getting the foot sensor to work, once you get the hang of it, it’s a lifesaver when juggling kids and gear. There’s also a handy underfloor storage area, perfect for emergency items like wipes, nappies, snacks, or a change of clothes, keeping the main cargo area organised.

The boot opening is 88cm from the ground, which is slightly higher than the Ford Everest (85cm) but lower than the Toyota Prado (96cm), still however making it fairly achievable to load heavy items or prams just after birth depending on your height. The third-row seats fold completely flat (via manual adjustment), creating a wide, level loading space — though you may need to climb into the boot to pull them up them due to the large cargo area.

There are several family-friendly touches in the boot area, including hooks for shopping bags, tie-down points, and a 12V socket for powering accessories like chargers and small baby appliances.

Car seat installation is straightforward with the three top tether points located on the second row, but families should note there are no top tethers in the third row — which is a little disappointing from a 7-seater SUV considering the Ford Everest does offer this feature. The layout also means that if you’re installing multiple child seats, you’ll need to plan carefully, as the second-row seatbelt is mounted to the car body rather than the seat, making boot access the easier route to the third row.

Overall, the Isuzu MU-X boot space is one of the best in its class, offering more cargo room than many competitors, along with clever storage features and a wide, flat load floor.

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Isuzu MU-X safety features: Is it a safe family car?

The 2025 Isuzu MU-X has almost all the safety suite as standard which is rare for a 7-seater 4x4 family SUV in Australia, offering a comprehensive suite of active safety features and advanced driver assistance technologies across the range.

Even the entry-level LS-M comes with key features like autonomous emergency braking (AEB), intelligent adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring, making the MU-X a standout choice for families prioritising safety.

Standard across the whole range is the following safety features:

• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with turn assist

• Forward collision warning (FCW)

• Post-collision braking (PCB)

• Blind spot monitoring (BSM)

• Rear cross traffic alert (RCTA)

• Rear cross traffic braking (RCTB)

• Intelligent adaptive cruise control (IACC) with stop & go

• Traffic jam drive assist

• Lane departure warning (LDW)

• Lane departure prevention (LDP)

• Lane keep assist (LKA)

• Emergency lane keeping (ELK)

• Traffic sign recognition (TSR)

• Intelligent speed limiter

• Driver attention assist

• Hill start assist (HSA)

• Hill descent control (HDC)

• Roll-over mitigation (ROM)

• Emergency brake assist (EBA)

• Reversing camera with dynamic guidelines

• Rear parking sensors

• Three top tether points and two ISOFIX anchors in the second row

• Electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD)

LS-U and above

• Front parking sensors.

LS-T and X-Terrain:

• 360° Surround View Monitor

ANCAP rating: The Isuzu MU-X has a five-star ANCAP safety rating from 2022. Read the full report here.

The 2025 Isuzu MU-X features a full suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and active safety features as standard across all trims.

For enhanced safety, front parking sensors are added on LS-U and higher trims, while the premium LS-T and X-Terrain trims include a 360-degree surround view camera system. This feature is invaluable in tight parking spaces, school zones, and off-road environments, helping parents safely navigate busy suburban streets or challenging trails.

Real-world testing confirmed the 360-degree camera’s effectiveness in preventing little dings and improving our confidence, particularly when juggling prams and kids in crowded car parks. The adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist delivered smooth highway driving experiences as expected.

Installing child seats in the MU-X is straightforward, with accessible top tether points on the seat backs, though the lack of tether points in the third row may require growing families to consider larger vehicles or alternate seating arrangements. The top tether points are almost if not directly in-line with the third row which make it a little tricky to clip on if you have large hands or the headrest on the third row is up etc.

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Toyota LandCrusier Prado vs Ford Everest vs Isuzu MU-X: which one is best for families?

• Best for Fuel Efficiency: Ford Everest bi-turbo (7.2L/100km)

• Best for Cargo Space: Isuzu MU-X (311L with the third row up)

• Best for Luxury & Comfort: Ford Everest Platinum

• Best for Towing: All 3.5 tonne

• Most affordable to service: Toyota LandCruiser Prado ($390 per service for 10 years)

• Longest warranty: Isuzu Ute Australia (6 years unlimited km)

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Should you buy the Isuzu MU-X in 2025? Final verdict

The 2025 Isuzu MU-X X-Terrain is a practical, well-rounded 7-seater SUV that appeals to Australian families who need space, reliability, and strong towing capacity without paying for unnecessary luxury features. It’s not the most high-tech or premium-feeling SUV in its class, but the MU-X delivers where it matters — with good fuel efficiency, space, and a reputation for reliability.

With three top tether points and two ISOFIX anchors, the MU-X suits families with up to three young children, though the lack of top tether points in the third row is a drawback for larger or growing families.

On the road, the 3.0L turbo diesel engine delivers plenty of pulling power for everyday driving, as well as 3,500kg of braked towing capacity, making it suitable for caravans, trailers, or boats. We averaged 8.5L/100km during mixed city and freeway driving, which is excellent for car this size. It’s worth noting that towing or off-road driving will naturally push this figure higher, we didn’t do any of this during our week-long test.

Boot space is a standout feature. With 1,119 litres in five-seat mode, the MU-X offers enough room for a full-size pram, sports gear, and more than a week’s worth of groceries. Even with all seven seats in use, the 331 litres of space is still usable for a compact stroller and several shopping bags — a clear advantage over some rivals.

The power tailgate with kick function adds convenience for families juggling kids and everyday “stuff” we seem to always lug around, and the wide, rather low boot opening (88cm from the ground) makes lifting heavy prams or bags an easier task.

Inside, the MU-X prioritises practicality over flashy tech. The 9-inch infotainment system on the LS-U and above trims has wireless Apple CarPlay, while thoughtful storage solutions — like deep centre console bins, rear-seat cup holders, and door pockets — make day-to-day family life simpler. While its interface and software feel less high-tech focused compared to the Ford Everest or Toyota Prado, it performs its job well.

The MU-X stands strong on ownership value, with a 6-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and 5 years of capped-price servicing. Combined with its reputation for reliability, this makes the MU-X a sensible choice for families planning long-term ownership.

It’s not the most luxurious SUV in its class, and the cabin won’t wow you with tech or premium finishes. But at around $80,000 drive-away for the X-Terrain, the MU-X delivers a balance of space, durability, and towing confidence that suits families who value practicality and reliability over showy features.

Want to save money? Baby and Car uses a trusted network of dealerships Australia-wide to find you the best price for your next brand new car. With tailored Australian-based support, it’s free to get a quote. Find out more here.

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