Isuzu MU-X vs Subaru Forester

The Isuzu MU-X starts from $43,900 before on-road costs, while the Subaru Forester opens at $43,490. That makes the Subaru Forester the more affordable entry point by $410.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $48,290 and $47,839 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Isuzu MU-X by roughly $2,425 in fuel alone.

Both the Isuzu MU-X and Subaru Forester hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 86% for the Isuzu MU-X and 83% for the Subaru Forester.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Isuzu MU-X packs more ADAS features with 6 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 4 in the Subaru Forester.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 8 in the Isuzu MU-X and 9 in the Subaru Forester.

The Isuzu MU-X features a 8-inch touchscreen paired with a 4.2-inch digital dash, while the Subaru Forester gets a 11.6-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Isuzu MU-X uses a Diesel producing 120kW and 400Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 11 seconds.

The Subaru Forester lines up making 136kW and 226Nm, paired to a cvt driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 11.2 seconds.

The Subaru Forester has the clear power advantage at 136kW vs 120kW. In the real-world sprint, the Isuzu MU-X is 0.2s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Isuzu MU-X measures 4,860mm long on a 2,855mm wheelbase, 205mm longer than the Subaru Forester at 4,655mm (2,670mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Isuzu MU-X generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 311L in the Isuzu MU-X and 520L in the Subaru Forester, giving the Subaru Forester a 209L advantage. The Isuzu MU-X seats 7 vs 5.

For towing, the Isuzu MU-X leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 1,500kg. That 2,000kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,824/year for the Isuzu MU-X and $2,309/year for the Subaru Forester. That is a $485 annual difference in favour of the Isuzu MU-X.

Estimated annual total: $1,824 (Isuzu MU-X) vs $2,309 (Subaru Forester). The Isuzu MU-X saves you roughly $485 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 6 years / 150,000km (Isuzu MU-X) vs 5 years (Subaru Forester). The Isuzu MU-X has longer coverage.