Isuzu MU-X Tour Mate: from the city streets to the mountain tops

The long weekend has been calling me from the moment I sat down at my desk last Monday. I’ve been desperately attempting to answer it every time it rang, wishing the working week would suddenly fast forward itself.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy my job and the people around me in the office. But right now – preparing to leave the city on a Friday after a lunchtime early mark – couldn’t have come soon enough, as I’m taking the family on a camping trip into the high country.

I love our alpine regions, especially at this time of the year as the fauna awakens from its winter hibernation under the warm spring sunshine, the creeks flow with crisp, clear water from the last remnants of melted snow, the days are warm while the nights are made for melting marshmallows over the fire, and far away campgrounds become accessible again.

As I hitch the caravan to the Isuzu MU-X Tour Mate in the driveway, I realise I couldn’t do this any other way. We have hauled tents and swags up there before, but having a home away from home makes any holiday, however long or short it is, a lot more convenient. And a little more luxurious.

At the same time, I recognise I couldn’t do it without any other car either. The MU-X Tour Mate is the perfect four-wheeled companion for our adventurous getaways, and tailor-made for towing.

Unlike most alternatives I looked at, I didn’t have to rifle through the options list to pick what I needed from the list of accessories. And then get a shock at the sticker price when they were added-up at the end.

Instead, it already came with all the gear required to haul a van or a trailer, including a tow bar with a 12-pin wiring harness, an electronic brake controller and extendable towing mirrors, plus a sturdy heavy-duty bull bar on the front. It’s all there ready to go.

It didn’t break the bank either, costing just $73,990 driveaway.

As I throw the last of our luggage into the capacious boot, I am stunned at how much stuff we have in there. It’s great to have the flexibility of a seven-seat layout, particularly during the week on the school run and on most other weekends taking the kids and a couple of their friends to their sporting activities as we can easily fit them all in plus their bags in the back. But with just four of us, and the third row folded flat, the MU-X has more than enough cargo carrying capacity (with 1119L of useable space) for our weekend necessities – and more. Plus, there’s the added convenience of pressing a button to open and close the powered tailgate, making it easy to access for any of us, no matter how young or tall.

Now that we’re all set to go, the kids easily climb into the back seat using the standard side steps and buckle themselves in for the road trip. Thankfully, they’ve got acres of space – and a centre arm rest – between them, and heaps of legroom to stretch out. They also have air vents back there, a USB power outlet to keep their iPads charged, cupholders for their drinks, and a clear view out the large windows. They’ve got everything they need to be comfortable for the next couple of hours on the road.

So do we up front. The leather trim brings a sense of luxury to the cabin, and the power adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support provides me with a commanding and comfortable view of the road ahead. We don’t need them yet, but the heated front seats will definitely come in handy when we climb higher into the mountains. And the dual-zone climate control allows me and my partner to set different temperatures for each side of the cabin. You know how it is.

After inputting our destination into the standard sat-nav within the nine-inch colour touchscreen, we’re off and running. At the touch of a button, I switch over to wireless smartphone mirroring and choose our road trip Spotify playlist, which pounds the first beat through the eight-speaker premium audio system and ignites a knowing holiday smile on all of us immediately.

On the road, the MU-X Tour Mate makes an easy escape from the city limits, even when towing the caravan. The 140kW 3.0-litre turbo diesel four-cylinder provides effortless acceleration thanks to its low-end pulling power as its maximum 450Nm of torque is on tap from just 1600rpm. And the seamless six-speed automatic transmission is so intelligent in its shift pattern that you barely know it’s changing gears.

Even though I know we will use more than the claimed average fuel consumption of 8.3L/100km with a fully load, and a van in tow, and a full 76-litre fuel tank.

In fact, the drivetrain is so strong that I’m only occasionally reminded there’s a van on the back each time I glance in the rear-view mirror, or out the side through the extended wing mirrors that provide a clear view of traffic in adjacent lanes. With a maximum braked towing capacity of 3500kg, the MU-X certainly makes light work of towing a heavy load.

The electronic brake controller is simple to operate too, allowing me to adjust the stopping power apportioned to the van according to how much weight is in there on each trip. And the trailer sway function, which is part of the comprehensive array of advanced safety features that are standard in the MU-X Tour Mate, ensures it follows in our wheel tracks safely all the time. It’s so clever that it almost feels invisible, even as we encounter an unexpected cross wind coming over a bridge.

Speaking of safety, the MU-X features autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keeping assistance, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and more, including a Driver Attention Assist that ensures I remain focused on the road ahead as well as traffic sign recognition that alerts me to any changes in the speed limit. With a five-star ANCAP safety rating, and eight airbags that provide protection for all occupants, there’s an overwhelming sense of security when driving the MU-X.

That also comes from the way it handles. The fully independent suspension soaks up any imperfections in the road while the 20-inch alloys with road-biased rubber and speed sensitive power steering deliver precise feedback and plenty of grip on the twisting ribbons of tarmac as we start to climb into the mountains. The powerful four-wheel disc brakes are a godsend here too, providing consistent stopping power for every bend.

A few hours on the road flies by for all of us, and our destination isn’t far away. But to get there before the sun dips behind the peaks, we need to head off the beaten track, first on a pretty easy section of gravel road, then across a creek before a short gnarly section to the campground.

As we veer off the bitumen, I rotate the Terrain Command controller in the centre console from 2 Hi to 4 Hi, engaging all-wheel drive without having to stop. The car feels just as secure and sure-footed as it did on the road, while the van remains happily in our dusty wake.

A little further on, I pull-up before the creek crossing and engage 4 Lo on the Terrain Command controller and also activate the Rough Terrain Mode, a feature that has been engineered specifically for Australian conditions and works alongside the rear differential lock and traction control system to maximise drivability in technical and slippery conditions.

With 800mm of wading depth and 235mm of ground clearance the MU-X Tour Mate skips across the stones on the riverbed with ease, while the bull bar creates a bow wave through the crystal-clear water that flows along the side skirts. With an integrated bash plate in the bull bar, and steel plates underneath the sump, transfer case and the leading edge of the reinforced resin fuel tank, I am comforted to know that the most critical components are protected from any potential damage.

There’s a steep exit on the other side of the creek crossing that the MU-X Tour Mate tackles with ease, thanks to its generous 29.2-degree approach and 26.9-degree departure angles.

And then we’re on the home stretch to the campground, a rocky, rutted section of trail that tests the mettle of any four-wheel drive machine, as well as the nut behind the wheel. But here’s where all the different elements of the MU-X Tour Mate come together in harmony – the rugged low-range capabilities, the grunty bottom end of its engine, its smart automatic transmission, strong brakes, precise steering and its suite of electronic driver aids – to cover even the toughest terrain without breaking a sweat. It’s fun, this hard-core off-roading, and even though the wife and kids are bobbing around as we rock and roll over the rough stuff, they love it too. The iPads are tucked away in the back seat pockets, the phone is off, and we’re all in it together.

After several kilometres navigating the narrow trail through dense fauna, the golden glow of fading light becomes brighter as we arrive at our campground for the weekend; a picturesque open area near a babbling brook with hiking trails beyond the tree line and to the summit, where you can see across the entire ranges.

Using the high-resolution digital reverse camera to position the van in the perfect spot, we’re here – home among the gumtrees – for the weekend. And, in a couple of days, I know the MU-X Tour Mate will take us back to the city just as easily, as comfortably and as effortlessly as it did getting us here. Thanks (Tour) Mate!

To have your own adventure in the Isuzu MU-X Tour Mate head to the Isuzu Ute website.