Subaru Forester vs Isuzu MU-X

The Subaru Forester starts from $43,490 before on-road costs, while the Isuzu MU-X opens at $43,900. 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 $47,839 and $48,290 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Isuzu MU-X by roughly $2,140 in fuel alone.

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

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 9 in the Subaru Forester and 8 in the Isuzu MU-X.

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

The Subaru Forester uses a Petrol producing 136kW and 247Nm of torque, sent through a cvt to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 11.2 seconds.

The Isuzu MU-X responds with a Diesel making 120kW and 400Nm, paired to a automatic driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 11 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 Subaru Forester measures 4,655mm long on a 2,670mm wheelbase, 205mm shorter than the Isuzu MU-X at 4,860mm (2,855mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Isuzu MU-X generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 496L in the Subaru Forester and 311L in the Isuzu MU-X, giving the Subaru Forester a 185L advantage. The Isuzu MU-X seats 7 vs 5.

For towing, the Isuzu MU-X leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 1,800kg. That 1,700kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,252/year for the Subaru Forester and $1,824/year for the Isuzu MU-X. That is a $428 annual difference in favour of the Isuzu MU-X.

Estimated annual total: $2,252 (Subaru Forester) vs $1,824 (Isuzu MU-X). The Isuzu MU-X saves you roughly $428 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Subaru Forester) vs 6 years / 150,000km (Isuzu MU-X). The Isuzu MU-X has longer coverage.