2024 Ford Everest vs Isuzu MU-X: Spec battle

When it comes to large, ute-based SUVs the Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X are the picks of the people.

The two models accounted for nearly 30,000 new car sales in 2023, and the sales race between the pair is neck-and-neck heading into the second half of 2024.

Buyers have plenty of choice across both models, with a combined 15 variants between them, making it tricky to decipher the best buy.

2024 Ford Everest vs Isuzu MU-X: Spec battle — ***Ford Everest Sport 4WD***

That’s especially true near the top of the tree, where the Everest Sport 4WD and MU-X LS-T 4×4 are separated by fine margins.

With that in mind, here’s a head-to-head comparison of these two fierce rivals.

Pricing

The Sport 4WD is the second most expensive variant in the Everest range, coming in at $73,740 before on-road costs.

It’s $4340 more expensive than the MU-X LS-T, which is priced below $70,000 before on-roads despite sitting at the top of the MU-X range.

You’ll also pay a premium for the Ford when comparing base models, as the Ambiente is nearly $7000 dearer than the equivalent MU-X LS-M.

Model	Price before on-roads
2024 Ford Everest Sport 4WD	$73,740
2024 Isuzu MU-X LS-T 4×4	$69,400

Drivetrains and efficiency

These large SUVs both source power from 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engines, but the Everest powerplant packs two extra cylinders.

The Ford produces 184kW and 600Nm from its turbo-diesel V6, 44kW and 150Nm more than the turbo-diesel four-cylinder in the Isuzu.

Both cars will shift gears themselves, although the 10-speed Everest has more ratios than the six-speed MU-X.

The Ford is slightly thirstier than the Isuzu though, with a claimed fuel consumption of 8.5L/100km – 0.2L/100km more than the MU-X.

	Ford Everest	Isuzu MU-X
Engine	3.0L turbo-diesel V6	3.0L turbo-diesel 4cyl
Power	184kW	140kW
Torque	600Nm	450Nm
Transmission	10-speed automatic	6-speed automatic
Driven wheels	Four-wheel drive	Four-wheel drive
Fuel economy (claim)	8.5L/100km	8.3L/100km
Fuel tank capacity	80L	80L

Dimensions

The Ford Everest is larger than the Isuzu MU-X in every dimension, and weighs an extra 288kg.

Despite the size advantage, the Everest can’t match the MU-X for boot space – the Isuzu has 52L more room with three rows of seating in place, and 315L with two rows folded down.

Bear in mind, the two brands use different measurement standards, and in our experience have similar boots in reality.

Both cars boast a braked towing capacity of 3500kg.

	Ford Everest	Isuzu MU-X
Length	4914mm	4850mm
Width	2207mm	1870mm
Height	1842mm	1825mm
Wheelbase	2900mm	2855mm
Boot capacity	259L (min) – 898L – 1823L (max)	311L (min) – 1119L – 2138L (max)
Kerb weight	2468kg	2180kg
Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM)	3150kg	2800kg
Towing capacity	3500kg	3500kg
Approach angle (degrees)	30.2	29.2
Departure angle (degrees)	25.0	26.4
Ramp-over angle (degrees)	21.9	23.1
Wading depth	800mm	800mm

Servicing and warranty

The Everest is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty like the wider Ford range.

Maintenance is required every 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, and the first five services are each priced at $379 under the Blue Oval’s capped-price service program – $50 higher per service than in pre-MY24 vehicles.

The 2024 Isuzu MU-X is covered by a six-year, 150,000km warranty. When you service on schedule at an Isuzu dealer, up to seven years of roadside assistance is offered.

Logbook servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first, apart from a complimentary three-month service.

	Ford Everest	Isuzu MU-X
Warranty	5 years, unlimited kilometres	6 years, 150,000km
Service intervals	12 months, 15,000 kilometres	12 months, 15,000km
Avg. annual service price first 5 years	$379	$449

Safety

The Ford Everest earned a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

It scored 86 per cent score for adult occupant protection, a 93 per cent score for child occupant protection, a 74 per cent score for vulnerable road user protection, and an 86 per cent safety assist score.

The five-star rating applies to the whole Everest range, and is based on tests carried out on the closely related Ford Ranger ute.

The 2024 Ford Everest comes with the following standard safety equipment:

Nine airbags
Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
Reverse AEB
Post-impact braking
Lane-keep assist
Lane departure warning
Driver attention alert
Blind-spot monitoring
Reverse camera
Front and rear parking sensors

The Isuzu MU-X has a five-star safety rating from ANCAP, issued in July 2022 after a redesign to the driver’s knee airbag and instrument panel.

It received an adult occupant protection score of 86 per cent, child occupant protection score of 85 per cent, vulnerable road user protection score of 69 per cent, and safety assist score of 84 per cent.

The 2024 Isuzu MU-X range comes standard with the following safety features: