2023 Best Value 4X4 SUV: Isuzu MU-X

The cost of living is skyrocketing, so it’s more important than ever to drive your dollar further when looking for an off-road-ready large SUV.

For those who’ve been out of the game for a while, there will be some unfamiliar faces here from China and Korea that stand out on paper with their low purchase prices. The LDV D90, GWM Tank 300, and Ssangyong Rexton all fall into this category.

But are they really cheaper to own than established nameplates like the Isuzu MU-X and Toyota Prado?

We dusted off the calculator to generate a ‘three-year ownership figure’ to compare each entrant.

The goal is to look beyond the purchase price and provide a clearer overall indication of how much each SUV will cost in your driveway. We’ve taken depreciation, servicing, insurance premiums, and fuel use into account and, as you can see, the results are surprising…

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Take the whopping $12,485 difference in drive-away price between the first-place Isuzu MU-X and third-spot GWM Tank 300.

It's plain to see that the Isuzu commands a hearty number of extra pineapples. Yet, after three years when it comes to moving each car on, the MU-X’s penalty flips on its head to a $3621.59 advantage over the cheaper-to-buy GWM.

It's a similar story with other new entrants. The Ssangyong Rexton ELX, for example, may be the third most affordable to buy yet its weak residual (51.5%) puts it a long way behind the second most expensive Ford Everest as an overall ownership proposition.

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JUMP AHEAD

• How we calculate best value
• 🥇 Isuzu MU-X
• 🥈 Ford Everest Ambiente
• 🥉 GWM Tank 300 Lux
• 🤔 Other recommendations
• Ownership costs
• Specifications

How we calculate best value

Our full results are in the table below, and we’ve highlighted the three best-value off-road large SUVs you can get.

But first, an explanation of how we calculated our ownership figures.

We focused on the cheapest four-wheel drive variants on offer and used drive-away pricing for vehicles delivered in Sydney with no options fitted.

You can go even cheaper by selecting 4x2 variants – especially with the LDV D90 – though given these vehicles’ point of difference to comfort-oriented monocoque SUVs (ranked here) is rough-road and towing capability, it makes sense for private buyers to spend a little extra on 4x4 models.

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Residual values (in percentage form) were gathered from Redbook and form the single largest cost of ownership. Insurance premiums were quoted for a 30-year-old male living in inner Sydney with a clean driving record.

Fuel bills were calculated based on each contender’s combined economy figure and the assumption that owners will drive 12,100km per year – the Aussie average, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Diesel and 91 RON unleaded were $2.00 and premium 95 RON at $2.10 per litre in our calculations

These figures are a guide only, of course. While they’re based on historical data and official manufacturer figures, they will change depending on where you live, how far you drive, and other market forces such as the swings in used-car values experienced during and after COVID.

But if value is a high priority, here are three top picks to consider in each category...

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🥇 Isuzu MU-X LS-M

Isuzu offers consistently great value across its range when it comes to overall ownership.

Following the related D-Max's domination in our best value utes comparison, the MU-X pulled a $2192.07 lead over the Ford Everest over a three-year ownership period thanks to the best resale value (70.3%) of the group.

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The second-place Ford clawed back some money when it came to servicing and fuel consumption, but the MU-X maintained a healthy lead overall.

In four-wheel drive guise the MU-X is well-equipped for rough Australian terrain and its reliable '4JJ3-TCX' is a towing stalwart with 3500kg braking capacity.

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🥈 Ford Everest Ambiente

High purchase prices can be off-putting, but guess what? They can also mean better residuals.

Think about it, 68% of $64,714 is more than 68% of $50,000 – and a hell of a lot more than 51.5% of $50K.

So if you're going to move a car on after three or five years anyway, it could be worth reaching a little further to get a vehicle with strong residuals such as the Ford Everest.

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The Everest's result is bolstered by best-in-class fuel consumption and the most affordable servicing here.

Of course, the Everest also happens to be not only our reigning Car Of The Year but also the overall winner of this test. It's a good buy, even in base Ambiente trim.

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🥉 GWM Tank 300 Lux

Not only are you buying Wrangler Chic, but the Tank 300 boasts the second-cheapest purchase price on test.

You can use even less fuel by moving up to the hybrid variant, though there isn’t much point stepping beyond the well-equipped Lux when it comes to interior presentation.

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Stopping the GWM from taking a higher place was a weak residual – though it's better than the Rexton and Pajero Sport.

It is worth noting that the GWM Tank 300 is one of the less well-equipped options here for long-range touring and towing. It’s only certified to lug a 2500kg load and its 397kg payload is far from best-in-class.

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🤔 Other recommendations

The LDV D90 is only $1593 dearer over three years than the GWM Tank 300 and it has seven seats.

It remains hard to go wrong with a Toyota. The Fortuner may only be fifth but you know that 2.8-litre turbo-diesel will be a reliable companion for many years to come with plentiful parts supply if anything does go awry.

Finally, for those not looking to tow heavy loads or go hardcore off-roading, a monocoque road-focused large SUV may be a better value option – click here to see the best value family-oriented SUVs.

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Ownership costs

Note: scroll across table to reveal full results

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Specifications

Note: scroll across table to reveal full results

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