Skoda Kodiaq vs Isuzu MU-X
What's the difference?

Skoda Kodiaq

$38,440 - $77,490

2025 price

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Isuzu MU-X

$49,900 - $77,100

2026 price

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Summary

2025 Skoda Kodiaq

2026 Isuzu MU-X

By Emily Agar

By Marcus Craft

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 4, 2.0L

Diesel Turbo 4, 3.0L

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Diesel

Fuel Efficiency

9.2L/100km (combined)

8.3L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Generous feature list for a base model
Clever, family friendly touches
Comfortable ride with solid cabin space

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)

Dislikes

Engine can feel flat under pressure
Glitchy infotainment and climate controls
Reversing camera quality isn’t great

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

2025 Skoda Kodiaq Summary

In the eight years it’s been in our market, the Skoda Kodiaq large SUV has only seen modest updates, but the second-generation seven-seater marks a firm step forward.

You still get all of the clever practicality that Skoda is known for, but it now features a (slightly) sharper design, a raft of new features, improved technology and more room inside.

This week, my family of three has been living with the base 140TSI Select variant to find out whether this understated contender deserves more attention and if its rivals should start to worry.

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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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Deep dive comparison

2025 Skoda Kodiaq 2026 Isuzu MU-X

Verdict

The new Skoda Kodiaq Select 140TSI is a quiet achiever. It may not be as flashy as some of its rivals, and the engine won’t knock your socks off, but it delivers where it counts. This is a well-rounded seven-seater that’s comfortable, practical and cleverly equipped with more standard features than you’d typically expect from a base grade. If you’re after a family SUV that flies under the radar but ticks all the right boxes, the Kodiaq deserves a close look.

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.

Skoda Kodiaq vs Isuzu MU-X What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Skoda Kodiaq vs Isuzu MU-X
What's the difference?