5-Star Safety for the New MU-X

4 October, 2021

All-New MU-X Awarded 5 Stars in Latest ANCAP Safety Testing

Safety has always been one of the main priorities for Isuzu across both the D-MAX and MU-X. With both having 5 star safety ratings, the new MU-X made sure it was no exception to this.

In the official ANCAP statement announcing the maximum 5-star safety rating result, ANCAP commended the all-new MU-X for its standard inclusion of a full suite of airbags, driver monitoring system and intelligent seat belt reminders for all seating positions across all three rows.

ANCAP’s 5-star rating announcement comes shortly after the all-new MU-X went on sale throughout the Isuzu Utes New Zealand dealer network in August.

Isuzu Utes New Zealand General Manager Sam Wallers said, “With the all-new MU-X sporting the same comprehensive suite of active and passive safety equipment as the new generation D-Max, expectations were high for the MU-X. We’re proud that this ANCAP announcement reaffirms our commitment to safety with both our MU-X and D-Max models having achieved the maximum 5-star safety rating.”

It’s no secret that Isuzu uses the D-MAX platform for MU-X. This has a lot of benefits as the ute’s toughness and capability carries over, additionally, due to the similarities between the two models, many of the test results obtained through testing of the D-Max last year were able to be carried across to the MU-X, with supplementary testing conducted where the MU-X’s design and safety performance was likely to differ.

The MU-X was subject to a fresh frontal offset (MPDB) test which revealed a score of 87 percent for Adult Occupant Protection with improved protection offered to the chest and upper legs of the driver and chest and lower legs of the front passenger. This score is among one of the highest scores awarded by ANCAP.

As a firm favourite amongst families with young children, the all-new MU-X is fitted with three seatback mounted tether points to accommodate three Child Restraint Seats (CRS) across the middle row, with compatibility for two ISOFIX CSR seats. All seats—including the third row—feature a seatbelt monitoring system, which relays if a passenger is not buckled up. The All-New MU-X recorded a score of 85 percent for Child Occupant Protection.

Expanding their testing and protocol regime to cover a broader range of likely scenarios, in late-2020 ANCAP revised their assessment criteria to better focus on real-world incidents, active safety assist technologies and pedestrian and cyclist safety; as part of the updated Vulnerable Road User Protection score.

Cyclist and pedestrian safety is often a shortfall of large SUVs, but with the high and flat bonnet design, the MU-X provided good protection during the assessment, with the MU-X scoring 69 percent for Vulnerable Road User Protection.

With a focus on preventing a road incident in the first instance through advanced technology, the MU-X is one of the few SUVs on market equipped with AEB with Turn Assist—with the system designed to autonomously brake at intersections to avoid driving into the path of an oncoming vehicle—a valuable assistance system that in part contributed to the Isuzu MU-X recording a score of 84 percent for Safety Assist.