Isuzu mu-X LS-A 4×2 3.0 AT (2018) vs Isuzu D-Max 3.0 LS-A Plus 4×2 MT (2024)

Isuzu mu-X LS-A 4×2 3.0 AT (2018) vs Isuzu D-Max 3.0 LS-A Plus 4×2 MT (2024): which should you buy?

For a Filipino buyer deciding between these two Isuzu diesel workhorses, the choice boils down to body type and transmission preferences. The 2024 D-Max 3.0 LS-A Plus 4x2 MT (₱1,796,000) offers the latest generation with a more powerful engine (190 PS, 450 Nm) than the 2018 mu-X LS-A 4x2 3.0 AT (₱1,845,000, 177 PS, 380 Nm). It is also ₱49,000 cheaper. However, the D-Max is a pickup truck with a manual transmission, which may be less convenient for daily city driving and carries different lifestyle and tax implications (pickups are classified as commercial vehicles in the Philippines, subject to different regulations). The mu-X, on the other hand, is a proper SUV with an automatic transmission and a larger cabin (though seating capacity is both 5-seater, the mu-X is a wagon body). It is also the older, pre-facelift model (2018) with less power and torque. Choose the D-Max if you need the latest power figures, a bed for cargo, and don't mind shifting gears; it's the more practical work truck. Choose the mu-X if you prefer the convenience of an automatic SUV for family and daily commuting, but be aware it's a 2018 model and slightly more expensive.