GWM Jolion Pro vs Isuzu MU-X

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

GWM Jolion Pro in South Africa

GWM Jolion Pro

1.5T Pro Ultra Luxury 7DCT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 466,450 ex-showroom
⚡ 105 kW 🔧 210 Nm ⛽ Not Applicable km/l
VS
Isuzu MU-X in South Africa

Isuzu MU-X

3.0 DDi LSE 4x4 AT Diesel Automatic
ZAR 973,800 ex-showroom
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 350 @ 1800-2600 Nm ⛽ 13.2 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance MU-X
Fuel Economy Jolion Pro
🛡 Safety MU-X
📦 Practicality MU-X
🔑 Ownership Jolion Pro
Jolion Pro starts ZAR 752400 cheaper Jolion Pro from ZAR 392,150 · MU-X from ZAR 752,400

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec Jolion Pro MU-X
Engine Power 105 110 @ 3600
Torque 210 350 @ 1800-2600
Engine Size 1500 3000
Claimed Mileage Not Applicable 13.2
Ground Clearance 168 mm 235
Boot Space Not Applicable Not Applicable
Airbags Not Available Standard
Kerb Weight Not Applicable 2080
Seating Capacity 5 7
Warranty 5 5 years / 120 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

MU-X holds a noticeable edge over Jolion Pro, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance MU-X +17 pts
Efficiency Jolion Pro +4 pts
Safety MU-X +85 pts
Practicality MU-X +23 pts
Ownership Jolion Pro +21 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Jolion Pro

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency
🏆 Overall Winner

MU-X

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Jolion Pro

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

MU-X

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Jolion Pro MU-X
Model Introduced Year Current local generation year not confirmed 2013
Generation Current South African Jolion Pro listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data. Current generation MU-X built on Isuzu D-Max platform
Facelift History Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle. Latest updates improved styling and safety tech
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV 7-seat SUV
Color Note Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering. White, Black, Silver, Grey, Red
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Model Year 2026 MY26
Production Status published published
Segment SUV SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Drivetrain Note - Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 3.0 DDi LSE 4x4 AT
Spec Jolion Pro MU-X
Ground Clearance 168 mm 235 mm
Wheelbase 2700 mm 2855 mm
Length 4472 mm 4850 mm
Width 1841 mm 1870 mm
Height 1619 mm 1825 mm
Kerb Weight Not Applicable 2080 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight Not Applicable 2800 kg
Seating Capacity 5 7
Boot Space Not Applicable Not Applicable
Towing Capacity Not Applicable 3500 kg
Front Track Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Track Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Turning Radius Not Applicable 11.4 m
Load Bed Length Not Applicable Not Applicable
Load Bed Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Legroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Legroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Headroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Headroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Shoulder Room Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Shoulder Room Not Applicable Not Applicable
Boot Space Seats Folded Not Applicable Not Applicable
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload Not Applicable 659 kg
Boot Volume Not Applicable Not Applicable
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 7
Fuel Tank Capacity 55 l 80 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg Not Applicable 2800 kg
Ground Clearance Max 168 mm 235 mm
Ground Clearance Min 168 mm 235 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 168 mm 235 mm
Height Mm 1619 mm 1825 mm
Length Mm 4472 mm 4850 mm
Loadbox Length Mm Not Applicable Not Applicable
Loadbox Width Mm Not Applicable Not Applicable
Payload Kg Not Applicable 659 kg
Cargo Volume Not Applicable Not Applicable
Tare Mass Kg Not Applicable 2080 kg
Turning Circle Not Applicable 11.4 m
Turning Circle M Not Applicable 11.4 m
Width Mm 1841 mm 1870 mm
Front Overhang Mm - 895 mm
Gross Combined Mass Kg - 5900 kg
Rear Overhang Mm - 1100 mm
Track Front Rear Mm - 1570 / 1570

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

MU-X leads by 24 points

MU-X holds a noticeable edge over Jolion Pro, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 70 /100
Lead 24 points
Data 79% confidence
70
#1 Winner

MU-X

79% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Ownership 44
Performance 62
Efficiency 52
Safety 94
Practicality 88
Ownership 44
Leads by 24 points
46
#2

Jolion Pro

58% data confidence 0 strong categories
Best at Practicality 65 Check Safety 9
Performance 45
Efficiency 56
Safety 9
Practicality 65
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance MU-X +17 Efficiency Jolion Pro +4 Safety MU-X +85 Practicality MU-X +23 Ownership Jolion Pro +21

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

MU-X

Performance 62/100
Efficiency 52/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 88/100
Ownership 44/100

Jolion Pro

Performance 45/100
Efficiency 56/100
Safety 9/100
Practicality 65/100
Ownership 65/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Isuzu MU-X wins with 70 pts vs 46 pts for Jolion Pro

In structured scoring, MU-X emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Jolion Pro may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the MU-X edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: Jolion Pro 56 vs MU-X 52. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: Jolion Pro 9, MU-X 94. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: Jolion Pro 65, MU-X 44. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: Jolion Pro 65, MU-X 88. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Jolion Pro 45, MU-X 62. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The MU-X edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The MU-X scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between Jolion Pro and MU-X in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Jolion Pro scores 45 vs 62.

Efficiency: Jolion Pro scores 56 vs 52.

Safety: Jolion Pro scores 9 vs 94.

Practicality: Jolion Pro scores 65 vs 88.

Ownership: Jolion Pro scores 65 vs 44.

Final structured scoring gives MU-X the advantage in this comparison.