SUV spec comparo: Isuzu Mu-X vs. Nissan Terra

A few months ago, we saw the premiere of two popular SUVs in the Philippines. These are the heavily updated Nissan Terra and the all-new Isuzu Mu-X. It's perfect timing too since many of us just can't get enough of SUVs. Thanks to these two models, the local market just got more interesting.

But which one has the specs to impress? Let's put the two latest SUVs side by side and take a look at the numbers these have to offer.

Size

Is bigger always better? That depends. If you want more precense on the road, then it's a good thing. But you have to remember about the garage space you have at home. So which one of these fits better?

The Isuzu Mu-X is 4,850 mm long, 1,870 mm wide, and 1,825 mm tall, while the Nissan Terra is 4,900 mm long, 1,865 mm wide, and 1,865 mm tall. In reality, there is very little difference between the two, and you will need a lot of space to fit either of these comfortably in your garage. But if those millimeters matter to you, then the Terra is longer and taller than the Mu-X.

Ground Clearance

One of the reasons why people buy SUVs is because of ground clearance. Thanks to persistent flooding and bad roads, the need for extra clearance is no longer a novelty. As these are truck-based SUVs, you can count on these being high off the ground.

In this case, it's the Isuzu that comes out on top again and by a significant margin. The Mu-X holds a 10 mm advantage with a clearance of 235 mm (9.25 inches) versus the Nissan's 225 mm (8.86 inches). For those who plan to take these SUVs off road, you have a good baseline from here.

Wading Capacity

But ground clearance isn't the only measure by which water-crossing capabilities are judged. An SUV may have high clearance but if the vital components are low, it can't cross high floods. With that in mind, both the Terra and Mu-X have a wading capacity of 800 mm. It's worth pointing out that the Terra can match the Mu-X in this aspect despite its ground lower clearance.

Performance

On paper, there is nothing that splits the two SUVs apart. Both have 190 PS and 450 Nm of torque for the higher-spec models. In the case of the Terra, that is the output for all versions whether it's the entry-level model or the top-spec variant.

However, it's the Terra that extracts more power from a smaller engine. The Terra has a 2.5-liter engine whereas the Mu-X has a 3.0-liter unit. On the flipside, it could be said that the Mu-X's engine will be more “relaxed” since a larger capacity engine puts out less effort to get to speed. As for transmissions, both are available with six-speed manuals. The Mu-X can be specified with a six-speed automatic, while the Terra can come with a seven-speed automatic.

But for those who prefer an even smaller engine, only Isuzu can offer that for you. For the base model Mu-X, it uses a 1.9-liter turbodiesel dubbed the RZ4E. It's good for 150 PS and 350 Nm of torque.

Fuel Capacity And Consumption

If you buy a vehicle like this, there's a good chance that you will take it on a long road trip. That means you need a car that's not only efficient, but can also offer range. A vehicle's fuel consumption will be for nothing if the fuel tank is small. With that in mind, the Terra has a tank capacity of 78 liters, while the Mu-X packs 80 liters. It's easily double the size of subcompact hatchbacks that usually have a load of 30 to 40 liters.

As for fuel consumption, the only way we will know is if we test them in the real world. But assuming these SUVs do about 10 kilometers in mixed traffic conditions, we're looking at about 800 kilometers between fill-ups.

Safety

Both the Terra and Mu-X scored five stars in the ASEAN New Car Assesment program (ASEAN NCAP). Both SUVs provided excellent crash protection and near perfect scores in child occupant protection. When it comes to sparing you from injuries in an accident, you can't go wrong with either. But safety goes beyond the crash test. Today, a car must have active safety features that help avoid a crash from happening in the first place.

In top spec trims, both have automatic emergency braking, forward colission warning, and pedal mis-application mitigation. The Mu-X features a manual speed limiter, while the Terra has an intelligent rear-view camera that helps prevent blind spots. All variants come standard with six airbags and stability control.

Price:

Listed below are the prices for both the 2022 Isuzu Mu-X and Nissan Terra variants.

Mu-X

Mu-X LS 4x2 1.9 A/T - PHP 1,590,000

Mu-X LS-A 4x2 1.9 M/T - PHP 1,770,000

Mu-X LS-A 4x2 3.0 A/T - PHP 1,900,000

Mu-X LS-E 4x2 3.0 A/T - PHP 2,100,000

Mu-X LS-E 4x4 3.0 A/T - PHP 2,450,000

Terra

Terra 2.5L EL 4x2 M/T - PHP 1,649,000

Terra 2.5L VE 4x2 A/T - PHP 1,829,000

Terra 2.5L VL 4x2 A/T - PHP 1,999,000

Terra 2.5L VL 4x4 A/T - PHP 2,339,000

Of course, you can consider the previous versions of these models if you want to save a little more cash. You can fine second-hand and repossessed models of the Terra and Mu-X at our website, Automart.PH.