Isuzu MU-X LS-U vs Holden Trailblazer LTZ towing comparison review

The safety equipment on offer in these two models is not terrific for the segment, with rivals such as the Ford Everest and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport bettering these two by a decent margin.

But, when it comes to which is better equipped on the safety front, it’s the Holden that again comes out on top. 

Both have the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating - but there’s a caveat. The Isuzu's original crash test was conducted in 2013 (though the score applies to “April 2017-onwards” models), while the Holden’s score was awarded in 2016.

Both have ISOFIX child seat anchor points in the outboard seats of the second row, and three top tether points, too. There are no child-seat anchors for the third-row seats in either model.

You might be wondering what the fuel use differences were on test. Of course, we measured it - but we didn’t just compare the two while towing; we also tested them over an identical loop without the caravan, so we had a control figure. 

The towing loop saw surprisingly high fuel use figures for both. Take a second to read through the differences in the table below - but keep in mind, your mileage may vary! 

We drove these vehicles to keep up with the speed limit, but you might take it a bit easier, which could greatly impact your real world fuel use. 

We were expecting high-teens figured for both, but the consumption we saw was well above that. Just consider this - if you plan to tow something this large, you could well see similar consumption. We tested with just two occupants and no luggage or additions aboard the vehicle or ‘van.

And also, let’s just do the maths a little bit. If the Isuzu consistently used about that much more per 100 kilometres, at a fuel cost of $1.51 per litre, you will spend $6.09 more than if you did it in the Holden. 

Think about that for a sec. If you drove the 1604km direct from Adelaide to Uluru - which is a common drive for caravanners - you’d spend $64.64 extra on fuel. That’ll add up if you end up doing a lot of towing. 

Look, real-world longer-term conditions could change the outcome (our Isuzu was also quite new without many kilometres on the clock). But if you’re looking to buy a budget tow vehicle, maybe consider a smaller, lighter ‘van, too. The details on our tow tester are below.

For this comparison, our mates at Jayco Nowra allowed us to borrow a 2019 Jayco Journey Outback caravan (model designation 21.66-3). It has a travel length of 8315mm, a tare (empty) weight of 2600kg, and imposes 190kg on the towball.

The price for one of these leisure-friendly caravans is generally $67,490 - but you can personalise it with extras and add-ons, if you so choose.

It proved a commendable companion for this test, and pushed our vehicles almost to the limit of their towing capacity.

But the way each of these two vehicles dealt with the load was remarkably different, given the fact that they’re essentially twins under the skin, and roll down the same production line in Thailand. 

Both have a ladder frame chassis with independent front suspension and multi-link coil rear suspension, unlike the utes they’re based upon which both run leaf-spring rears (and both have even higher towing capacity as a result).

The Isuzu was a relaxed, enjoyable drive. I was surprised just how at ease it felt, given the weight on the back, and the relative lack of torque compared to its rival here.

The Isuzu was a relaxed, enjoyable drive.

Its suspension was softer and more compliant generally, with a more relaxed feeling for the driver and occupants as a result. There was some pitching nose-to-tail over bigger bumps, but it dealt really well with smaller inconsistencies in the road surface, including minor potholes.  

And its steering - while dull and heavy in normal driving - is really nicely considered and easy to use when towing, with good weighting and consistency, and good feel on-centre. 

The engine was perhaps the biggest letdown overall - not just because of the high fuel use, but also because it is annoyingly loud. That has a bit to do with the transmission, because it will hang on to gears for a bit longer than the Holden will. It doesn’t offer the same smarts in terms of gradient braking that you’ll find in the Holden, either, but the brakes 

The engine noise is the biggest concern, though, and the levels of noise insulation from the road surface and wind are impressive for a vehicle of this shape and size.

The Holden was less enjoyable overall - in fact, it was pretty fatiguing to drive with this much in tow. 

The Holden was pretty fatiguing to drive with this much in tow.

That’s mainly down to the chassis, which offered up a ride that was surprisingly unsettled on surfaces that were as close to perfect for country roads in NSW as you can get. The suspension is firm and constantly busy, never allowing the driver or occupants to relax - which is a problem if you plan to hit the open road for months on end. And over our short off road course the Holden's brittle suspension made for slower going, too. 

The steering, too, was harder to judge overall. There’s a deadness on-centre, which makes it a bit difficult to position the car in its lane. It is decent to drive overall, and the response you get through corners is good, but it simply isn’t as trustworthy to steer - at low speeds or highway pace - as the Isuzu. 

The engine and transmission was definitely more effortless - the pulling power was eager in its delivery, though the gearbox was easier to catch out. It was more keen to shift up a gear on our long hill climb section, which in turn meant that it would need to shift back as things got steeper. That busy nature to the transmission can be wearing over time.

The engine wasn’t as loud as the Isuzu, but there was more road noise and wind noise noticeable in the Holden. 

On paper, the Holden Trailblazer LTZ makes a lot of sense if you’re after a value-laden tow truck with decent safety levels and a strong engine, this could be a great option for you.

Sadly, though, those elements aren’t enough to overcome the tiresome towing experience that we experienced. Yes it was better on fuel, but it wasn’t as good a tow vehicle - all things considered - with this much weight behind it, and we simply couldn’t award it the win as a result. Perhaps a lighter van would help reconcile some of those issues, but that’s not what this test was about.

The Isuzu MU-X LS-U was the more competent and comfortable tow vehicle of these two.

The Isuzu MU-X LS-U was the more competent and comfortable tow vehicle of these two. It was well sorted in terms of its suspension and steering, and while the engine could do with a little more push and a little less fuel use.

If I was asked to drive one of these two across the country today, with this caravan in tow, it would be an easy choice - the Isuzu - even though it misses out on a fair bit of the gear that you get in the Holden. 

But we set out to find which of these two was the best tow vehicle, and the answer to that question is the Isuzu MU-X LS-U.