Isuzu MU-X vs Mazda CX-5: Diesel RWD SUV for towing, or cheaper petrol AWD SUV
The Isuzu MU-X brings more seats, a far bigger towing figure and a longer warranty, while the Mazda CX-5 costs less, has AWD and offers more boot space with the seats up.
By Uzzi · 15 October 2026 · Every figure comes from each car's own page on CarSorted.
$43,900
RRP excl. on-roads
Price tracker
Standing price
$43,900 RRP before on-road costs
We check the maker's published price regularly and record every change here.
RRP before on-road costs, as published by the maker.
$39,990
RRP excl. on-roads
Price tracker
Standing price
$39,990 RRP before on-road costs
We check the maker's published price regularly and record every change here.
RRP before on-road costs, as published by the maker.
Who the Isuzu MU-X suits
The Isuzu MU-X suits buyers who tow something heavy or need the extra seats. It has 7 seats, a 3,500kg braked towing figure and a diesel engine with 400Nm of torque. It drives the rear wheels only in this version, so keep that in mind if you want AWD.
Who the Mazda CX-5 suits
The Mazda CX-5 suits buyers who want an SUV with 5 seats for around town and trips away with luggage. It's the cheaper of the two at $39,990 (RRP excl. on-roads), sends drive to all wheels and has a bigger boot with the seats up. Towing is more modest at 1,800kg braked.
What decides it
1. Seats and towing
The MU-X has 7 seats and is rated to tow 3,500kg braked. The CX-5 has 5 seats and a 1,800kg braked rating, so the MU-X can pull about 1,700kg more. If you have a big caravan or boat, or a bigger family, that settles it.
2. Price
The MU-X is $43,900 (RRP excl. on-roads) and the CX-5 is $39,990 (RRP excl. on-roads). That puts the CX-5 about $3,910 lower on RRP. We have no drive-away figures for either car.
3. Boot space
With the seats up, the MU-X boot is 311L and the CX-5 boot is 466L, about 155L in the Mazda's favour. Fold the seats and it's 1,119L for the MU-X against 1,594L for the CX-5. If you mostly carry gear rather than people, the CX-5 has the edge.
Running costs
The MU-X diesel is rated at 6.4L/100km combined with an 80L tank, while the CX-5 petrol is rated at 7.4L/100km with a 58L tank. Both service every 12 months, but we have no capped servicing figures for either. The MU-X has a 6-year, 150,000km warranty and the CX-5 has a 5-year, unlimited km warranty. Check the running-cost chart below to compare them over time.
True Cost of Ownership (5 Years)
$5,572
per year to run
$71,759
total 5yr cost
$0.92
per kilometre
Where the 5-year total goes
About $5,572/year to run, or $27,860 over 5 years including fuel, insurance, servicing, tyres and registration.
* Estimates based on your parameters. Servicing uses each manufacturer's capped-price schedule where we have it, and tyres scale with your weekly km. A guide only, not a quote.
True Cost of Ownership (5 Years)
$5,868
per year to run
$69,331
total 5yr cost
$0.89
per kilometre
Where the 5-year total goes
About $5,868/year to run, or $29,340 over 5 years including fuel, insurance, servicing, tyres and registration.
* Estimates based on your parameters. Servicing uses each manufacturer's capped-price schedule where we have it, and tyres scale with your weekly km. A guide only, not a quote.
Practicality
The MU-X is the bigger car at 4,860mm long and 1,815mm tall, against 4,690mm and 1,695mm for the CX-5. The MU-X has 230mm of ground clearance and a 705kg payload, versus 205mm and 517kg for the CX-5. The CX-5 turns in 11.2m against 11.6m for the MU-X, which helps in car parks. Both are rated to tow 750kg unbraked.
Cost to tow
The real fuel/energy cost once you hitch up. Pick a trailer and trip.
Estimate only: consumption rises as range falls; real use varies with terrain, wind and load.
Will it fit in the boot?
May fitExample sizes only - measure your item before relying on this.
Volume check only (seats up)
Item box about 166L (53% of the volume). Litres don't describe shape, so this can't confirm a fit.
Isuzu doesn't publish boot dimensions for this car, only 311 litres. Litres can prove something won't fit, but never that a rigid item will - so the best this car can score is "May fit".
Based on the manufacturer's published boot volume.
Cost to tow
The real fuel/energy cost once you hitch up. Pick a trailer and trip.
⚠ Not every limit could be checked: the manufacturer publishes no GCM for this vehicle, so this verdict rests only on the limits that are published.
Estimate only: consumption rises as range falls; real use varies with terrain, wind and load.
Will it fit in the boot?
May fitExample sizes only - measure your item before relying on this.
Volume check only (seats up)
Item box about 166L (36% of the volume). Litres don't describe shape, so this can't confirm a fit.
Mazda doesn't publish boot dimensions for this car, only 466 litres. Litres can prove something won't fit, but never that a rigid item will - so the best this car can score is "May fit".
Based on the manufacturer's published boot volume.
How quick is it?
How quick is it?
No manufacturer 0-100 time is held for this car, so it isn't ranked.
How quick is it?
0-100 times as published and held in our records. Counts cover on-sale cars with a figure and refresh daily.
Safety
Both cars carry a 5-star ANCAP rating. The MU-X rating dates from 2022 and the CX-5 rating from 2025, so the Mazda was assessed more recently.
The figures side by side
| Isuzu MU-X | Mazda CX-5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $43,900 (RRP excl. on-roads) | $39,990 (RRP excl. on-roads) |
| Powertrain | ICE | ICE |
| Fuel | Diesel | Petrol |
| Drive | RWD | AWD |
| Transmission | Automatic | Automatic |
| Power | 120kW | 132kW |
| Torque | 400Nm | 242Nm |
| 0-100km/h | No data | 8.7 seconds |
| Fuel use (combined) | 6.4L/100km | 7.4L/100km |
| Fuel tank | 80L | 58L |
| Body | SUV | SUV |
| Seats | 7 seats | 5 seats |
| Boot (seats up) | 311L | 466L |
| Boot (seats folded) | 1,119L | 1,594L |
| Length | 4,860mm | 4,690mm |
| Width | 1,870mm | 1,860mm |
| Height | 1,815mm | 1,695mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,855mm | 2,815mm |
| Ground clearance | 230mm | 205mm |
| Turning circle | 11.6m | 11.2m |
| Kerb weight | 1,995kg | 1,720kg |
| Towing (braked) | 3,500kg | 1,800kg |
| Towing (unbraked) | 750kg | 750kg |
| Payload | 705kg | 517kg |
| ANCAP rating | 5-star (2022) | 5-star (2025) |
| Warranty | 6-year | 5-year |
| Warranty distance | 150,000km | unlimited km |
| Service interval | 12 months | 12 months |
The verdict
Pick on how you'll use it: the MU-X for heavy towing and extra seats, the CX-5 for a lower price, AWD and more boot space with the seats up.
Pick the Isuzu MU-X if
You need 7 seats, plan to tow up to 3,500kg, or want the longer 6-year warranty.
Pick the Mazda CX-5 if
You only need 5 seats, want AWD and a bigger seats-up boot, and like paying about $3,910 less.
Put them side by side yourself
Every figure, feature and running cost for both, in our live comparison table.
CarSorted CoDriverBeta
Ask about these two cars
- Isuzu MU-X LS-M 2.2L 4x2
- Mazda CX-5 G25 Pure AWD
Tap a question or ask your own.Tap a question or ask your own. The answer starts from the cars in this comparison, with links to the rows behind them.
Questions buyers ask
Is the Isuzu MU-X or Mazda CX-5 cheaper?
On RRP, the Mazda CX-5 is $39,990 (RRP excl. on-roads) and the Isuzu MU-X is $43,900 (RRP excl. on-roads). We have no drive-away prices for either.
Which can tow more, the MU-X or the CX-5?
The Isuzu MU-X has a braked towing figure of 3,500kg, against 1,800kg for the Mazda CX-5. Both are rated at 750kg unbraked.
Which has the bigger boot?
With the seats up, the CX-5 boot is 466L and the MU-X boot is 311L. With the seats folded, it's 1,594L for the CX-5 and 1,119L for the MU-X.
Is this Isuzu MU-X all-wheel drive?
No. Our data lists this MU-X version as RWD, while the CX-5 version here is AWD.
What are the ANCAP ratings for the MU-X and CX-5?
Both have a 5-star ANCAP rating. The MU-X rating is from 2022 and the CX-5 rating is from 2025.
More on these cars
- 2026 Isuzu MU-X LS-M 2.2L 4x2: full specs and priceEvery Isuzu MU-X gradeAll Isuzu models
- 2026 Mazda CX-5 G25 Pure AWD: full specs and priceEvery Mazda CX-5 gradeAll Mazda models
Related reading
- Mazda CX-5 vs Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid: petrol AWD SUV or plug-in hybrid SUV
- Mazda CX-5 vs BYD Sealion 6: Petrol AWD SUV or Plug-in Hybrid SUV
- Kia Sportage vs Mazda CX-5: bigger boot and longer warranty, or AWD and lower fuel use
- Isuzu Adds Up to $3,000 of Free Accessories on D-Max and MU-X, Until 31 December
- New Mitsubishi Pajero vs Toyota Prado vs Ford Everest vs Isuzu MU-X: How It Stacks Up on Paper
- Mazda CX-5, BMW X3, MG S6 EV and Cupra Formentor All Score Five Stars With ANCAP
- 2026 Mazda CX-5: All-New Third Gen From $39,990 AWD