Isuzu MU-X vs Mitsubishi Outlander

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.

Isuzu MU-X in South Africa

Isuzu MU-X

3.0 DDi LSE 4x4 AT Diesel 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 973,800 ex-showroom
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 350 Nm ⛽ 13.2 km/l
VS
Mitsubishi Outlander in South Africa

Mitsubishi Outlander

2.5L Exceed CVT Petrol CVT Current
ZAR 819,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 135 kW 🔧 245 Nm ⛽ 12.3 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance MU-X
Fuel Economy MU-X
🛡 Safety MU-X
📦 Practicality MU-X
🔑 Ownership Not enough comparable data
MU-X starts ZAR 7,595 cheaper MU-X from ZAR 752,400 · Outlander from ZAR 759,995

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec MU-X Outlander
Maximum Power 110 kW @ 3600 rpm 135 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque 350 Nm 245 Nm @ 3600 rpm
Engine Size 3000 cc 2488 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 13.2 km/l 12.3 km/l
Ground Clearance 235 mm 210 mm
Boot / Load Bay - 205 l
Airbags Standard 7
Kerb Weight 2080 kg 1690 kg
Seating Capacity 7 seats 7 seats
Warranty 5 years / 120 000 km 3 years / 100,000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

MU-X has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Outlander remains close.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance MU-X +3 pts
Efficiency MU-X +3 pts
Safety MU-X +17 pts
Practicality MU-X +24 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Catalogue-index leader

MU-X

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Outlander

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

MU-X

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Outlander

  • Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec MU-X Outlander
Model Introduced Year 2013 2022
Generation Current generation MU-X built on Isuzu D-Max platform Fourth-generation Outlander
Facelift History Latest updates improved styling and safety tech Current 2026 South African specification including Edition 25.
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version Current specification
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style 7-seat SUV SUV
Color Note White, Black, Silver, Grey, Red -
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup -
Drivetrain Note Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 3.0 DDi LSE 4x4 AT -
Gross Combined Mass Kg 5900 kg -
Model Year MY26 2026
Production Status published active
Segment SUV Medium seven-seat SUV
Tare Mass Kg 2080 kg -
Vehicle Type SUV Passenger vehicle
Spec MU-X Outlander
Length 4850 mm 4710 mm
Width 1870 mm 1862 mm
Height 1825 mm 1745 mm
Wheelbase 2855 mm 2706 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 235 mm 210 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 80 l 55 l
Kerb Weight 2080 kg 1690 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2800 kg 2355 kg
Payload Capacity 659 kg 665 kg
Towing Capacity 3500 kg 1600 kg
Seating Capacity 7 seats 7 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 11.4 m 5.5 m
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) - Not Officially Disclosed
Boot/Cargo Space - 205 l
Number of Rows - 3 rows
Front Headroom - 986 mm
Rear Headroom - 950 mm
Front Legroom - 1058 mm
Rear Legroom - 1014 mm

Source-backed Catalogue Index

A transparent specification index shown only when every vehicle clears the minimum comparable-data threshold.

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

MU-X leads by 12 points

MU-X has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Outlander remains close.

Index leader 75 /100
Lead 12 points
Data 62% source coverage
75
#1 Index leader

MU-X

62% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 93 Check Efficiency 52
Performance 62
Efficiency 52
Safety 93
Practicality 88
Leads by 12 points
63
#2

Outlander

78% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 76 Check Efficiency 49
Performance 59
Efficiency 49
Safety 76
Practicality 64
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance MU-X +3 Efficiency MU-X +3 Safety MU-X +17 Practicality MU-X +24

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

MU-X

Performance 62/100
Efficiency 52/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 88/100

Outlander

Performance 59/100
Efficiency 49/100
Safety 76/100
Practicality 64/100

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Isuzu MU-X leads the catalogue index with 75 pts vs 63 pts for Outlander

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, MU-X leads. However, Outlander may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. 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

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.

Hagalu does not publish a guaranteed resale winner. Depreciation depends on age, mileage, condition, derivative, colour, supply and demand. Compare several current used-market listings and obtain trade-in valuations for equivalent examples before relying on a resale estimate.

Check the exact derivatives for drive type, ground clearance, tyres, approach and departure angles, wading depth and low-range gearing where officially disclosed. SUV styling or all-wheel drive alone does not prove that a vehicle is suitable for demanding off-road use.

Calculate each exact derivative using your monthly distance and a current fuel or electricity price, then add finance, insurance, scheduled service, tyres and licence costs. Hagalu does not claim a fixed monthly saving without those buyer-specific inputs.

It is worth more only when the exact price difference buys equipment, space, performance or ownership cover that matters to you. Compare like-for-like lifecycle states and derivatives; a current offer and a historical last-listed price are not directly equivalent.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

This MU-X and Outlander comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: MU-X 62 vs Outlander 59.

Efficiency index: MU-X 52 vs Outlander 49.

Safety-equipment index: MU-X 93 vs Outlander 76.

Practicality index: MU-X 88 vs Outlander 64.

Ownership-cover index: MU-X not separately scored vs Outlander not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.