Isuzu MU-X vs Jetour X70 Plus

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 Automatic
ZAR 973,800 ex-showroom
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 350 @ 1800-2600 Nm ⛽ 13.2 km/l
VS
Jetour X70 Plus in South Africa

Jetour X70 Plus

Deluxe Petrol Automatic
ZAR 484,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 115 kW 🔧 230 Nm ⛽ 7.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance MU-X
Fuel Economy MU-X
🛡 Safety MU-X
📦 Practicality X70 Plus
🔑 Ownership MU-X
X70 Plus starts ZAR 752400 cheaper MU-X from ZAR 752,400 · X70 Plus from ZAR 454,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec MU-X X70 Plus
Engine Power 110 @ 3600 115
Torque 350 @ 1800-2600 230
Engine Size 3000 1498
Claimed Mileage 13.2 7.8
Ground Clearance 235 200
Boot Space Not Applicable 1680
Airbags Standard Front and front side airbags plus side curtain airbags
Kerb Weight 2080 Not Applicable
Seating Capacity 7 7
Warranty 5 years / 120 000 km -

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

MU-X has a slight advantage, but X70 Plus remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance MU-X +13 pts
Efficiency MU-X +16 pts
Safety MU-X +28 pts
Practicality X70 Plus +3 pts
Ownership MU-X +4 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

MU-X

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

X70 Plus

Strengths
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

MU-X

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

X70 Plus

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec MU-X X70 Plus
Model Introduced Year 2013 Not Available
Generation Current generation MU-X built on Isuzu D-Max platform Current local listing
Facelift History Latest updates improved styling and safety tech Not listed by current South African source page.
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version Original current-generation version
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 -
Model Year MY26 Current
Production Status published Active
Segment SUV SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec MU-X X70 Plus
Ground Clearance 235 mm 200 mm
Wheelbase 2855 mm 2720 mm
Length 4850 mm 4724 mm
Width 1870 mm 1900 mm
Height 1825 mm 1720 mm
Kerb Weight 2080 kg Not Applicable
Gross Vehicle Weight 2800 kg 2076 kg
Seating Capacity 7 7
Boot Space Not Applicable 1680 l
Towing Capacity 3500 kg Not Applicable
Front Track Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Track Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Turning Radius 11.4 m Not Applicable
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 1680 l
Number of Doors 5 Not Applicable
Max Payload 659 kg Not Applicable
Boot Volume Not Applicable 1680 l
Doors 5 Not Applicable
Seats 7 7
Fuel Tank Capacity 80 l 57 l
Front Overhang Mm 895 mm -
Gross Combined Mass Kg 5900 kg -
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2800 kg 2076 kg
Ground Clearance Max 235 mm 200 mm
Ground Clearance Min 235 mm 200 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 235 mm 200 mm
Height Mm 1825 mm 1720 mm
Length Mm 4850 mm 4724 mm
Loadbox Length Mm Not Applicable Not Applicable
Loadbox Width Mm Not Applicable Not Applicable
Payload Kg 659 kg Not Applicable
Cargo Volume Not Applicable 1680 l
Rear Overhang Mm 1100 mm -
Tare Mass Kg 2080 kg Not Applicable
Track Front Rear Mm 1570 / 1570 -
Turning Circle 11.4 m Not Applicable
Turning Circle M 11.4 m Not Applicable
Width Mm 1870 mm 1900 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

MU-X leads by 12 points

MU-X has a slight advantage, but X70 Plus remains highly competitive.

Winner 70 /100
Lead 12 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 12 points
58
#2

X70 Plus

68% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Practicality 91 Check Efficiency 36
Performance 49
Efficiency 36
Safety 66
Practicality 91
Ownership 40
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance MU-X +13 Efficiency MU-X +16 Safety MU-X +28 Practicality X70 Plus +3 Ownership MU-X +4

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

X70 Plus

Performance 49/100
Efficiency 36/100
Safety 66/100
Practicality 91/100
Ownership 40/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Isuzu MU-X wins with 70 pts vs 58 pts for X70 Plus

In structured scoring, MU-X emerges as the stronger overall package. However, X70 Plus 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: MU-X 52 vs X70 Plus 36. 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: MU-X 94, X70 Plus 66. 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: MU-X 44, X70 Plus 40. 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: MU-X 88, X70 Plus 91. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: MU-X 62, X70 Plus 49. 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 MU-X and X70 Plus in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: MU-X scores 62 vs 49.

Efficiency: MU-X scores 52 vs 36.

Safety: MU-X scores 94 vs 66.

Practicality: MU-X scores 88 vs 91.

Ownership: MU-X scores 44 vs 40.

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