Isuzu MU-X vs Cupra Formentor

What's the difference?

The MU-X has always had plenty of appeal as a daily driver – dependable, not dynamic – and it’s a proven 4WD wagon.

Some people don't like the noisy, sluggish engine, but I don't mind it because it delivers off-road.

There was already a lot to like about the seven-seater wagon in terms of its off-road capability, driver-assist tech, standard features, and simple all-round driveability, and the X-Terrain – which encompasses all of that AND adds some polish to the mix – is an impressive top-shelf addition to the MU-X line-up. Even if it's so pricey...

The Cupra Formentor VZe Tribe Edition offers some great luxury features and is coupled with a plug-in hybrid powertrain that should entice those wanting something more efficient than the standard petrol grade. It's peak efficiency is only available with a fair amount of charging commitment, though, and the driving comfort isn’t always the best but its fun and looks hot. The price point also makes it appealing compared to its rivals.

As I’ve said before, the MU-X has never been particularly exciting or boring in terms of design, just comfortably adopting a low-key, middle-of-the-road type design – sales gold, in other words.

But the X-Terrain has distinctive ‘X’ branding here and there – inside and out – and that adds a subtle class to this variant.

The X-Terrain is 4860mm long (with a 2855mm wheelbase), 1870mm wide (excluding mirrors), 1825mm high and has a listed kerb weight of 2195kg.

It has a wheel track of 1570mm and an 11.6m turning circle. 

Our test vehicle has the exclusive X-Terrain paint – slate grey metallic – which matches well with the X badging, bigger grille design, new headlights, three-tier LED tail-lights, and redesigned wheels.

The interior strikes a stylish note as well with red stitching on the dash, centre console and leather-accented seat trim.

The Cupra Formentor sounds like a Transformers name and if it were one, it’d be a Decepticon, for sure. It’s way too sharply styled and sexy to be a good guy. 

The special-edition model sees it paired with black and copper 19-inch alloy wheels and every design aspect doubles down on its sports-car presence from the crisp pleating across the body, to the twin exhausts and shapely grille. And this sporty presence is what its rivals lack.

Head inside and you'll notice the biggest change from the standard VZe model are the sport bucket seats in the front and the blue leather upholstery that has been liberally applied across the cabin.

The dashboard features gorgeous copper accents and contrasting stitching while being headlined with large tech screens that immediately catch your eye.

The interior has a killer design but it's not one you'd call plush as the edges and surfaces are as sharp as they look.

The interior has a pleasant, familiar and practical feel about it and this is an easy space in which to swiftly become comfortable. 

Controls are easy to locate and operate and charging options are numerous – a mix of USB-A, USB-C and 12V up front, and USB-A for the second row.

Storage places include recesses for your everyday carry gear, a suitably deep centre console, as well as dual cupholders up front, cupholders in the rear fold-down centre armrest and bottle holders in the doors.

There are cupholders either side of the third row in the MU-X for passengers riding back there.

The MU-X has physical-button options to activate some functions (including to switch on the audio system, to adjust volume, access sat nav etc).

Seats are adequately comfortable and supportive through all three rows – yes, even the third row is roomy enough to prevent whining from whoever is stuck back there.

The cargo area is 311 litres with all three rows in use, 1119L with the third row flat and 2138L with the second and third rows folded.

The rear cargo area has a cargo cover, tie-down points, a 12V power outlet, a storage space under the rear cargo area floor and a space for tools inside the driver’s side rear cargo wall.

For something that leans more towards a sports car than SUV in its styling, the cabin is still fairly practical when it comes to space and access.

Front occupants enjoy the best of each, though, and it's easy enough for a taller driver to get into a comfortable position.

The rear row offers excellent headroom but the legroom may be cramped for a tall passenger. It's best to think of the car as a four-seater as the middle armrest won't go down when there is a car seat installed.

In terms of seat comfort, fatigue will set in early on a long trip for front rowers as they are decidedly hard under the butt but the padding is a lot better in the rear row.

Overall, storage options and amenities are great throughout the car with the tri-zone climate control, heated front seats and steering wheel functions giving a premium cabin experience.

The glove box is extra large and can easily fit a small handbag and a manual while the middle console is on the small side. There are four cupholders and drink bottle holders (4/4) but the front cupholders need to be spaced out more to accommodate two cups properly. A few loose coffee lids were had!

In the rear you also get two map pockets and the boot has 345L of capacity available which is on the tiny side for a medium SUV! However, the wide boot aperture tricks you into thinking it’s bigger and the powered tailgate is always a handy feature.

Technology looks great but the multimedia system is finicky to use and one that takes a while to get used to. At first it's difficult to recognise what you have to touch to access the different menus available but the screen is responsive and the graphics are clear.

The built-in satellite navigation is easy to use, and the Tribe Edition also has wired/wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, four USB-C ports, a wireless charging pad and a 12-volt socket.

There are usually three variants available for the Formentor; the base V petrol model, the mid-spec VZe plug-in hybrid and the range-topping VZx petrol.

The Tribe Edition pairs the plug-in hybrid powertrain with some of the features you get in the VZx, making it technically sit right below the top model, despite being $2200 more expensive at $67,990 MSRP.

Yet still it offers great value compared to its luxury rivals, the Lexus NX350h Luxury Hybrid which sits at $71,600 MSRP and the Peugeot 3008 GT Sport Plug-in hybrid which starts at $82,915 MSRP, without feeling like the poor cousin.

For a $3K price hike over the standard VZe model, you enjoy heated front seats, sport bucket front seats, 'Petrol Blue' leather upholstery throughout the cabin, black and copper 19-inch alloy wheels, a black headliner, a 360-degree view camera and a powered drivers seat with memory and lumbar function.

Other standard equipment includes keyless entry and start, powered tailgate, heated steering wheel, dusk-sensing LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, auto-start/stop function and a tyre repair kit and inflator.

Technology looks top-tier with the 12-inch touchscreen multimedia system with built-in satellite navigation, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, tri-zone climate control, wired and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, four USB-C ports, Bluetooth, AM/FM radio, digital radio and a nine-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.

The MU-X has a 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, producing 140kW and 450Nm and it’s matched to a six-speed auto.

These form part of a proven powertrain and while the MU-X may not be the most dynamic vehicle to drive – it’s acceleration is sluggish rather than punchy – it has a real tractability that nullifies any other niggles.

It has part-time 4WD, with high- and low-range as well as various drive modes, rough terrain mode, and a rear diff lock.

The VZe Tribe Edition is a plug-in hybrid that has an electric motor that produces up to 85kW/330Nm. This is paired with a 1.4L four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine. Together, they produce outputs of up to 180kW and 400Nm.

However, once the lithium-ion battery is depleted, those figures drop to 110kW/250Nm and you notice the difference on the open road. 

The Tribe has a smooth six-speed automatic transmission and can do a 0-100km/h sprint in 7.0-seconds. Not crazy fast but still fun.

Official fuel consumption for this MU-X is 8.3L/100km and that's on a combined cycle. 

On this test I recorded 10.2L/100km. I did a lot of high and low-range four-wheel driving, so that fuel consumption is not too shabby.

The MU-X has an 80-litre fuel tank, so going by my on-test fuel consumption figures you could reasonably expect a driving range of about 784km from a full tank. 

Like all plug-in hybrids, you get the best efficiency if you recharge the Tribe often. If you want to get close to the official combined (urban/extra-urban) fuel cycle figure of 1.9L/100km you need to charge it every single time you use it.

Following this procedure over 347km of a mix of open and city driving, saw the real-world usage pop out at 2.3L/100km, which is outstanding.

However, the second half of the week saw 336km travelled and no recharge and the real-world usage stepped up considerably to 6.0L.

With its 40L fuel tank, you have a theoretical driving range of up to 2105km but expect less in real-world conditions. Worth noting Cupra recommends a minimum 95 RON unleaded petrol for this model.

The Tribe has a lithium-ion battery with a usable 10.9kWh capacity and the claimed pure EV range is up to 58km, as well as, a claimed 14.1kWh energy consumption figure.

Over my week with it, the consumption hovered around 22.8kWh/100km when cruising on the highway going 100km/h.

In previous tests, the MU-X has been fine on road and more than adequate on gravel, dirt tracks, and during low-range 4WDing. But it’s been a jarring, skippy ride on irregular surfaces rather than as composed as it could – and should – have been. The culprit? Firm suspension, over-inflated tyres, too-tight trousers, who knows?

The good news is it seems like Isuzu has ironed out any issues in the suspension, minor or otherwise, because the MU-X is now is a lot better in terms of ride and handling than ever before. 

Off-road, the MU-X has always been a proven combination of its 3.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, clever six-speed automatic transmission, and an off-road traction control system that's been increasingly well recalibrated through a number of generations. 

The engine is tractable and gruff, it has plenty of grunt and, as long as you're not driving like a complete hoon, you can usually get through most obstacles without a lot of fuss.

It's this mix of mechanicals and driver-assist tech that make the MU-X such an effective 4WD package. And there are a number of reasons for that. 

For one, that engine delivers plenty of torque down low and in the mid-range torque and that's crucial for four-wheel driving. 

And another thing, Rough Terrain Mode – like a beefed-up and fine-tuned off-road traction control – proves very effective because it punches torque to the wheel with the most traction – while wheel spin on tyres that aren't touching dirt is minimised – and that way it keeps the vehicle moving through obstacles with safe and controlled momentum. 

As I’ve noted before though, Rough Terrain Mode is not a magic all-conquering solution, but it is another handy addition to the MU-X’s off-road toolbox.

And the MU-X also has a rear diff lock to back you up – and that's another valuable component. 

The MU-X has approach, departure and ramp-over angles of 29.2, 26.4 and 23.1 respectively.

A listed 235mm of ground clearance is about standard for this kind of wagon but, as I’ve said before, it seems vulnerable in the underbody, side steps and its plastic mud guards. So the underbody may touch dirt, depending on how challenging the terrain is. 

Wading depth is listed as 800mm.

But, as always, with focused driving, you’ll have lots of fun and you'll minimise any superficial damage or scuff marks to the MU-X.

The MU-X has plenty of potential as a touring platform, but, if you’re planning to do any off-roading beyond well-maintained tracks, then get rid of its road-biased tyres and replace them with all-terrain tyres.

The showroom-standard tyres on this MU-X – 265/50R20 Bridgestone Dueler HTs – are okay, but not really up to scratch if tough 4WDing is what you’re keen to do. I’d prefer an 18-inch wheel and tyre package with decent all-terrains.

The MU-X has a full-sized underslung spare and in terms of packability, the MU-X X-Terrain has a listed payload of 605kg, GVM is 2800kg and GCM is 5900kg.

If you are considering using your MUX as a tow vehicle, it's handy to know that it can legally tow 750kg (unbraked) and 3500kg (braked), which is the standard for large four-wheel-drive wagons. 

Be aware though that, as with any other vehicles, once you're towing anywhere near the maximum weight, your payload is greatly reduced.

The VZe Tribe Edition is happiest in the city and when you have a full battery. This is when it feels the most responsive with its power delivery. In the city, it’s quick and sure-footed. 

However, once that battery hits empty and you’re on the open road, the power is there but it stops feeling as fun.

The firm steering keeps it nimble and the driver's cockpit makes you feel well connected with what the car is doing but the ride comfort is like the design, not what you'd call plush.

The suspension is firm and you feel every bump in the road. Road and wind noise are also pretty high and in general, you feel a bit weary at the end of longer trips.

The visibility is good despite having narrow windows but a car seat or passenger in the back seat compromises the rear view vision. 

The Formentor shines in a tight car park with its 10.7m turning circle and compact proportions. The 360-degree view camera system is also most welcome but the quality of the feed is reflective of the grade level.

The Formentor has a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating from testing done in 2021 and now features 10 airbags including side chest bags for the rear row and a front centre airbag as standard.

Other standard equipment includes blind-spot monitoring, driver monitoring, tyre-pressure monitoring, LED DRLs, front and rear fog lights, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure alert, lane keeping aid, side exit assist, adaptive cruise control, park assist, front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree view camera system.

The Formentor has AEB with car, pedestrian and cyclist detection and is operational from 5.0-250km/h. The Formentor also has two ISOFIX child seat mounts and three top tethers but the rear seat is only wide enough for two child seats.

The MU-X has a six-year/150,000km warranty and seven years of roadside assistance. That warranty is okay in terms of years, but unlimited kilometres would be welcome.

Service intervals are scheduled for every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever occurs soonest. 

Capped-price servicing covers the first five scheduled services for 24MY and later vehicle models (up to five years/75,000km, whichever occurs first) – at a cost of $469 for each service.

The Formentor has a five-year/unlimited km warranty but it’s becoming more common to see longer warranty periods being offered now.

You can pre-purchase a three- or five-year servicing program. The three-year program costs a flat $990, averaging $330 per service. The five-year option averages costs $1990, averaging $398 per service which is reasonable for the class.

Servicing intervals are good at every 12-months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first.