2023 Isuzu FTS Reviews

Australian families are flocking to rugged, seven-seat SUVs like the Ford Everest and Toyota Prado. The underdog in this contest is the Isuzu MU-X, which has become one of the most popular, has been refreshed for 2025.But this is more than just a 'nip and tuck' facelift, with some major changes underneath. We drive the new MU-X on- and off-road to put it to the test.

Isuzu is studying hard in the hope it can pass its toughest test — the federal government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES).

Isuzu knows it took advantage of the Toyota Prado changeover in 2024 to claim second spot in the large SUV sales race, but is still hopeful that its refreshed MU-X can remain a favourite with local buyers.Following the mid-life updates to the D-Max ute in 2024, the MU-X SUV has been given a similar facelift. However, Isuzu Ute Australia boss Junta Matsui is adamant that this is no minor “nip and tuck” as the company has made some major changes. In addition to the refreshed styling, the 2025 MU-X features revised suspension and a new hero model atop the range.Isuzu has dropped the MU-X Tour Mate, a special edition that was the out-going flagship and has replaced it with the all-new X-Terrain trim level. X-Terrain sits at the top of the line-up that graduates from LS-M to LS-U and LS-T. Each of these models has been given some minor equipment adjustments and, subsequently, a price increase.The range now begins at $48,400 (plus on-road costs) for the LS-M 1.9L 4x2, which is a $1000 increase over the old model. But the LS-M does get some new equipment including updated cloth upholstery, a 4.2-inch digital display on the instrument panel, an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as USB-C ports and bi-LED headlights.The LS-M is also available with the 3.0-litre 4x2 powertrain (from $50,400 +ORC) and 3.0L 4x4 (from $56,400 +ORC).Next up is the LS-U, which is available as a 1.9L 4x4 (from $61,400 +ORC), 3.0L 4x2 (from $57,400 +ORC) and 3.0L 4x4 (from $63,400 +ORC). Upgrades for 2025 include new 12-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels, a new leather-wrapped steering wheel, piano black interior trims, a 7.0-inch digital instrument display panel, 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, USB-C ports, LED fog lights and tyre pressure monitoring.The LS-T is only available with the 3.0L motor but can be 4x2 (from $64,400 +ORC) or 4x4 (from $71,400 +ORC). Key equipment extras for this include a new 360-degree surround view camera system, 20-inch alloy wheels, leather-accented upholstery, black headlining, white ambient lighting and black elements on the front bumper, grille and rear bumper.Finally, the all-new X-Terrain (from $74,400 +ORC) comes with a range of unique black elements to help it visually stand out, including its 20-inch gloss black alloy wheels, the horizontal bars on the grille, fog light surrounds and fender flares. It also gets a 7.0-inch digital instrument display, red ambient lighting and leather-accented trim with red and grey contrasting stitching. The X-Terrain is also exclusively available in Slate Grey metallic paint.To offset these price rise, and help make sense of this expansive model range, Isuzu is offering drive-away deals on three models, starting with the LS-M 1.9L 4x2 for $46,990, plus the $69,990 LS-T and the new X-Terrain for $73,990.There’s also some significant safety enhancements across the range, starting with a new ‘Gen4’ stereo camera as part of the active safety suite, which now includes Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control (IACC), traffic jam assist and rear cross-traffic brake. The Lane Keep Assist and tyre pressure monitoring systems have also been updated. There’s also a new digital reversing camera across all models and a 360-degree surround view on the LS-T and X-Terrain variants.

The most economical car argument is still a valid one, despite the fact that oil prices have stabilised around the world.

Utes are Australia’s most popular type of vehicle, but which models offer the best resale value when the time comes to selling them? CarsGuide’s analytics team crunched the numbers so that we could bring you this exclusive report. 

The D-Max Blade, a collaboration between Isuzu and the Walkinshaw Automotive Group, was developed locally as a hardcore four-wheel drive. It has 3mm steel bash plates, Aussie-tuned and lifted suspension, light truck construction all-terrain tyres and Blade-specific design enhancements. But, without extra power and torque, is the Blade actually worth $15,000 more than the LS-U+ on which it's based?

Australia clocked a record number of new-car sales in 2024, proving once again how diverse our new-car market really is.

In recent years the pointy end of the Australian new vehicle sales race has reflected our seemingly insatiable appetite for dual cab utes, with the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux locked in a fierce arm wrestle to determine the annual winner.

Australia’s top-selling car and the top-selling brands for 2024 have been revealed and it’s been yet another record year of sales.Last year, Australians bought 1,237,287 new vehicles, which represented a modest 1.7 per cent upswing compared with 2023 sales. It was enough to make it the biggest year of sales in Australian history.Utes and SUVs continued to dominate with just one passenger car - the Toyota Corolla - managing to remain in the top 10 best-selling models list.Almost 700,000 SUVs were sold in the calendar year compared with 270,000 light-commercial vehicles and just over 203,000 passenger cars (hatchbacks, sedans, wagons, sports cars and people movers).The top-selling model for 2024 was the Ford Ranger, repeating its 2023 win, despite a slight dip in sales to 62,593 (-1.2%).The Toyota RAV4 had its best sales year and came pretty close to toppling the Ranger, but had to settle for a still-impressive second place with 58,718 units, closely followed by its HiLux stablemate on 53,499.The Isuzu D-Max was the only other ute in the top 10, landing in fourth place with 30,194, and rounding out the top-five models was the Mitsubishi Outlander.Making up the rest of the top-10 models were Ford’s Everest, the Corolla, Mazda CX-5, MG ZS and the Kia Sportage. Check the tables below for all the figures.Toyota maintained its dominance in the industry, leading the charge with 241,296 sales, which is 12.1 per cent ahead of last year’s total.As expected, Ford leapfrogged Mazda to nab second place with a healthy 100,170 units, helped mostly by those solid Ranger and Everest numbers.Mazda dipped a little in 2024 (95,987) but remained well ahead of fourth-placed Kia on 81,787, while Mitsubishi (74,547) capped off the top-five brands.Hyundai (71,664) only just missed out on a top-five position, trailing Mitsubishi by 2883 units.MG also took a sales tumble but still stayed firm with 50,592 (-13.3%) for seventh place, while Isuzu continued to punch above its weight in eighth spot, recording 48,172 sales with just two models on sale.Nissan managed to make some gains in 2024, landing in ninth place with 45,284, and China’s GWM is now firmly a top-10 player having grabbed tenth spot with 42,782.The Chinese giant kept Subaru and Tesla out of the top list, with Subaru collecting 40,604 sales and Tesla sliding by 17 per cent to 38,347.The Model Y also just missed out on a top-10 spot for model sales, with 21,253 finding homes, a drop of 26 per cent.Despite the bumper sales year, the automotive industry’s peak body is forecasting a gloomy outlook and taking a swipe at the Federal Government’s New Vehicle Emissions Standards that kicked in on January 1.“While overall consumer preferences remain clear with SUVs and Light Commercial vehicles continuing to dominate the market and especially the top ten sales, many vehicles in these segments are either difficult or expensive to decarbonise. This will prove to be a significant challenge in meeting the extremely ambitious targets of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) which began on 1 January 2025,” Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries Chief Executive Tony Weber said in a media release.“The industry is responding to NVES by increasing the range of zero and low emission vehicles on offer. However, a continuation of current customer buying preferences will inevitably lead to the accrual of substantial penalties under the Government’s new scheme, which will create price inflation within the new vehicle market.”

If you want a big beefy engine under the bonnet of your dual-cab, it might be now or never.