Compared to counterparts like Toyota and Mitsubishi, the Isuzu mu-X came rather late in the mid-size SUV game — the first generation was introduced in 2013 — but has made some serious inroads into the segment with the arrival of the 2023 mu-X.

The Norwegian Blue exterior isn’t particularly striking. Historically, Isuzu was always known for, “How do we make our trucks more durable?” The mu-X is based on the renowned D-Max pickup truck — and less about, “Which vibrant color of the rainbow are we using on our vehicles?”

I commend Isuzu for sticking with its design philosophy, making the second-generation mu-X one of the most distinguishable in its segment, regardless of mods and accessories. It looks so much more classy than rivals that appear mutated when souped up with aftermarket parts. The downside is that it could be a con for buyers looking to make monster SUVs out of their mu-Xs.

LED lighting is standard, including fog lamps, and it even has fancy features like, the ‘Follow me home’ headlamp, auto on/off, auto-leveling, and a battery saver function.

It has roof rails for functionality, a rear spoiler to increase aerodynamic efficiency (which helps reduce fuel consumption), a smart power tailgate with a step sensor that opens automatically (but is sometimes glitchy), and new 20-inch wheels.

I would have preferred a shark fin antenna at the rear instead of what protrudes from the tip of the windshield, but maybe that’s for future updates.

Standing out versus the competition in a crowded parking lot is the last thing this mu-X will do, but again, Isuzu has never been about aesthetics, which brings us to the cabin.

The smart entry system makes ingress easy, but I wish the doors were unlocked when you reach for the handle. The cabin opens to a familiar space because it shares the same shapes and angular design as the façade. 

I like the padded dashboard surface with double-stitched leatherette, the silver accents, the dual glove box design for additional covered storage spaces, the multi-function steering wheel, the 10.1-inch colored touchscreen with a USB port (two would have been better), a wireless charging pad, and the uniform set of dual-zone climate control toggles. These are vast improvements from its predecessor.

But a few things need to be better in the cockpit. While the Bluetooth connection was fast, the Apple CarPlay was also glitchy. Sometimes it connected, sometimes it didn’t. Also, since the Philippine-spec unit is made in Thailand, there are blank spaces on the right of the center console. It’s not a bad look, but it would have been better without it.

The leather seats are nice, and the multi-angular adjustments make getting into the proper driving position easy, which is important when you expect to be stuck in traffic. And better yet, this model now has an auto-hold feature to make stop-and-go driving much easier.

There is less bolstering in the second row, but it is still comfortable and has plenty of legroom. It also has a drop-down armrest, USB connectivity, and rear vents for greater passenger comfort.

As a seven-seater, it has a third row with just enough space to squeeze a young adult in. Senior citizens are advised to stick to second-row seating.

Aside from durability, people gravitate to the mu-X because of the Isuzu engine, like this 3.0-liter 4JJ3-TCX inline-four turbodiesel. 190-Ps and 450-Nm of torque go to the part-time four-wheel drive via a six-speed automatic transmission. For seven days, it returned 14.2 km/l in mixed driving conditions.

Acceleration is at par with the competition, and just like its rivals with the same size engine, watch out on the expressway because it is so easy for this mu-X to go past the speed limit even with nominal throttle pressure. I like how it feels smoother now, and except for the expected stiff ride from the body-on-frame design, the power and drivetrain combo is seamless.

Because of its truck-based suspension, comfort will not be sedan-like. But it’s not as bad as it sounds. Think of it this way: if the roads are good, your passengers will sleep like babies, but if the roads suddenly turn bad  (as they so often do in the Philippines), you will be glad you’re sitting on top of an Isuzu chassis. 

The best additions are the front and rear stabilizers. I felt the effect during cornering. It was planted and turned like it was on rails, which makes the mu-X the most stable mid-size SUV in the market for me.

Expect better passenger protection with its advanced driver assist system and a 360-degree camera.

At P2.580-million, the 2023 Isuzu mu-X 3.0 LS-E 4x4 6AT has many bells and whistles, but there is some room for improvement, including adding a differential lock in the future. It is a late bloomer, but as they say, better late than never.