Isuzu MU-X vs Audi SQ5
What's the difference?

Isuzu MU-X

$49,900 - $77,100

2026 price

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Audi SQ5

$49,990 - $89,950

2022 price

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Land Rover Discovery Sport

Mercedes-Benz EQ-Class

Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Mercedes-Benz G63

Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLS

Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

Mini Countryman

Mitsubishi ASX

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Mitsubishi Outlander

Mitsubishi Pajero

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

Summary

2026 Isuzu MU-X

2022 Audi SQ5

By Marcus Craft

By Andrew Chesterton

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Diesel Turbo 4, 3.0L

Diesel Turbo 6, 3.0L

Fuel Type

Diesel

Diesel/Electric

Fuel Efficiency

8.3L/100km (combined)

7.0L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Suitably refined on-road (for a 4WD wagon!)
Retains off-road capability
Eight-speed auto is good. (It should be in the 3.0-litre as well)

Style with little sacrifice
Plenty of on-board tech
SQ5 is a fun and engaging drive

Dislikes

Extra gruff
Laggy take-off
More power and torque wouldn't hurt

Price penalty for Sportback
Regular Q5 Sportback more premium than performance-focused
Cabin not quite premium at every touchpoint

2026 Isuzu MU-X Summary

Isuzu’s 3.0-litre MU-X has attracted plenty of fans over the years – and for good reason: it’s a seven-seat 4WD wagon packed with features, driver-assist tech and it has a decent 4WD set-up including a recalibrated rough terrain mode.

But the Japanese brand's 1.9-litre experiment has now officially ended – it’s a Gary-goner. So, for this test I’m driving its replacement: the 2.2L MU-X. This 4WD wagon has a, you guessed it, 2.2-litre engine – offering better claimed fuel consumption than the 3.0L, as well as an eight-speed automatic transmission and idle stop-start technology. And this MU-X has the same 3.5 tonne towing capacity as the 3.0-litre version, that’s 500kg more than the outgoing 1.9L MU-X.

So, how does this new 2.2L MU-X perform off-road? And does it make more sense as an adventure wagon than its 3.0L stablemate?

Read on.

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2022 Audi SQ5 Summary

The Audi Q5 now has a sportier-looking sibling, with the German brand's all-time best-selling SUV welcoming a sleeker, more aggressive solution it calls its Sportback range.

And look, spoiler alert, it looks better than the regular Q5. It's as simple as that. So if that's all you're here to find out, feel free to close the laptop, put the phone away, and move on with your day.

But you'd be doing yourself a disservice, because there are more questions to be answered here. Like will you paying in on-board comfort for this new raked roofline? Do the Sportback's sporty intentions make for a more annoying daily drive? And how much does Audi want you to pay for one?

All these questions and more answered. So stay with me.

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Deep dive comparison

2026 Isuzu MU-X 2022 Audi SQ5

Verdict

The MU-X has plenty of appeal as a daily driver – dependable and it’s a proven 4WD wagon.

Does the 2.2-litre engine add anything substantial to the mix?

Well, it's better than the 1.9-litre, that's for sure, and there's a lot to like about this MU-X in terms of its off-road capability, driver-assist tech, standard features and all-round driveability. And, while the LS-T lacks the top-shelf polish of the X-Terrain, it’s still an appealing potential purchase.

But the 3.0-litre option is better because while the 2.2L is very effective off-road and general day-to-day driving, it lacks grunt and has to work that much harder and is that much noisier under load than the 3.0-litre in most driving scenarios, including 4WDing.

Verdict

Let’s forget the money, for a second, because yes, you’re paying more for the Sportback variant. But if you can afford it, then why wouldn’t you. This is a sleeker, sportier and more stylish answer to the regular Q5, which was already a super-solid offering in the segment. And as far as I can tell, the practicality sacrifices you have to make are minimal at best.

So why not?

Isuzu MU-X vs Audi SQ5 What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Isuzu MU-X vs Audi SQ5
What's the difference?