The ute and 7-seat SUV segments are about to get even fizzier with the Australia arrival of the 2019 Isuzu D-Max and MU-X. These make their official debut this week.
So, what’s new? Well, the 2019 D-Max comes in for a new front bumper bar with redesigned grille areas. New side steps are also installed on most crew cab (dual-cab) variants, and there’s fresh alloy wheels for most as well. In the case of the top LS-T variant, the wheels are wrapped in a new 255/60R18 Toyo highway terrain tyre for better on-road dynamics.
No major changes are made to the interior. All continue with the 7.0-inch touch-screen media interface which comes with some in-built apps, including Bluetooth phone connectivity, and some models come with sat-nav and a rear-view camera. There is, however, no Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. Push-button start with a proximity key has been added to the top LS-T variant.
As for the 2019 MU-X, it does come with a revised steering system. The hydraulic rack and pinion setup has been recalibrated to offer a lighter feel in slow-speed conditions, while offering tactile feedback at medium to higher speed scenarios. Isuzu UTE Australia managing director, Hiroyasu Sato, said:
“Recalibrating the MU-X steering to require lighter inputs while manoeuvring at low speeds, whilst retaining the sturdy firm feedback at medium to high speeds has given the MU-X the best of both worlds.”
The MU-X also comes with some piano black interior trim updates for the door trims, and new ambient lighting for the top LS-T. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert is also now available as an option. However, autonomous emergency braking is still missing, along with adaptive cruise control.
Like the D-Max, the new MU-X also gets an updated front bumper bar, as well as new-look 18-inch alloy wheels for the LS-U and LS-T variants. The machined-face wheels feature a matt black centre cap and dark inner-spokes.
No hardware changes are made under the bonnet of either model. The trusty 3.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder kicks on as is, producing 130kW and 430Nm, matched to either a six-speed manual or six-speed auto, depending on the model.
Perhaps the biggest news for the MY2019 update is the introduction of Isuzu’s new 6-year/150,000km warranty package, which also includes 6 years roadside assistance and 7 years capped-price servicing. The servicing package is particularly impressive for the D-Max ute, which means scheduled servicing is capped in price up to 105,000km. The total price for servicing ends up being $3600 over the course of seven years.
The 2019 Isuzu D-Max and 2019 Isuzu MU-X are on sale as of today, with prices starting from the following (excluding on-road costs). You can head over to our first Australian drive review from the media launch event here for more info.
