[Yeldo]

Originally Posted by RSR

Many of you seem to believe Isuzu has overpriced the MU-X. Some even believe it is grossly overpriced for what it offers.

A comparative price check reveals the exact opposite.

Am I missing something here?

It appears that Isuzu have not matched the price expectations of most members here.

Part of the problem is that the MU-X is half a generation old, and a competitor to the old Fortuner. The current Endeavour and Fortuner have taken the game forward. But Isuzu offer a product that compares with the old versions and have priced their car on lines with the prices of the old Fortuner.

Maybe, we having so much exposure to Endeavour and Fortuner, were expecting prices nudging the upper brackets of Mahindra XUV territory for a slightly older vehicle.

If you ask me, Sir, would I consider this if I were in the market? As there is a service outlet near my place, I would. If the question was about choosing between the Fortuner and the Endeavour, I would have no doubts and bought the Toyota. But if I am asked about the MUX and the Fortuner, with a significant price gap as this, and that B-I-G 3.0 Diesel with its oodles of stress free torque, I would have been definitely tempted.

And my humble suggestion to any manufacturer who is going to launch a car in our market: With social media proliferation at its peak, please ensure that your vehicles come with as many airbags as possible. After the NCAP videos on Datsun and Figo, we have suddenly grown very conscious about occupant safety, and have come to relate safety directly with a vehicle's airbag count. Two airbags in a 20L vehicle somehow does not sound right!

[Behemoth]

Originally Posted by RavenAvi

1) In the 25-lakh SUV segment, brand Isuzu doesn't have the same pull as brand Toyota or brand Ford.

2) Customers in this segment, who are spending 25 lakhs+ for their cars, won't mind to spend a few more to get the better, more recognisable and ease of maintenance option.
=====================
7) The MU-X doesn't offer anything drastically different or aspirational (in terms of features or performance) from it's in-segment competition, and as such it will exist as "just another SUV" in the 25-lakh segment. Look what happened to the much more competent Trailblazer. Same fate awaits the MU-X.

Just to add on a few more points to RavenAvi's !

The interiors of the MU-X are similar to the older Gen Ford Endeavour and are quite behind the Interiors of the New Gen Endeavour and Fortuner - both of which have very rich and modern interiors.
In comparison, the MU-X uses the similar interiors to the D-Max and the TrailBlazer, which are mostly hard plastics.

In terms of Service locations, 21 cities is hardly anything and if I take my 4x4 SUV to mountainous regions, there are no service centres. The closest service centre in the mountains is in Chandigarh, which for a person going to Leh via Manali is some 600-800 km behind! I doubt that Road side assistance would also help any person who is beyond a 100km of the service locations, so doesn't help much. Does Isuzu expect users to use the MU-X like a pseudo city SUV!! I hope not because most users would consider it for hard core offroading and not for city roading.
For true offroading it really needs a strong reliability and also a service presence for peace of mind.
Though this vehicle is very much capable of going to Leh and other areas, but how many of us would take the risk with family, without service presence and also the risk of complaints like what people are facing with the D-Max Vcross.

It really is a chicken or egg story. First a brand needs to build a very strong service presence and then sell more cars and set ambitious prices!
This was how both Toyota and Hyundai launched and became successful in India. Maruti also has always had that strength since the beginning.
Brands like Skoda and VW have had a really bad time in this aspect because they underestimated the value of good service.
Isuzu like GM is also now making the same mistake and underestimating the importance of service. I only hope that they realize their mistake in time and correct it.
Isuzu actually should be focusing on the service presence in a big way, as with commercial vehicles, they should have a very strong presence in most cities too.

I have absolutely nothing against Isuzu or its products, and in fact am one of the people who really liked the V-cross and was actively considering the MU-X. But seeing the reality after the launch I don't feel that the price is justified, given the lack of service presence and the current crop of complaints in the VCross which other users are facing.

[Turbanator]

In terms of Service locations, 21 cities is hardly anything and if I take my 4x4 SUV to mountainous regions, there are no service centres.

+1, our commercial Isuzu recently stopped on way near to Kandla and had to be towed all the way to Surat. They kept for a couple of days as they suspected some issues with the Self-starter ( second time) and then all of sudden found some blown fuses and a weak battery. I will say not only they have limited service centres but they also lack trained manpower.

Two airbags in a 20L vehicle somehow does not sound right!

Correct, that too in a 25 Lac SUV and specifically when you fancy targeting Two established large Global players - Toyota & FORD.

[Sankar]

Originally Posted by RSR

Isuzu may be absolutely nothing when it comes to monocoques, but this company is certainly not a pushover in the field of body-on-frame vehicles (they excel at trucks) and are renowned for their diesel engine prowess. So it's not as if they're pushing an inferior product. What's more, the Chevrolet Trailblazer is basically a badge-engineered Isuzu MU-X.

Am I missing something here?

Isuzu is not a pushover when it comes to Diesel engines and Body on frame vehicles, what they said is true. But neither is Toyota or Ford when it comes to these things and both of them have better brand value and recall in our Market.

With 30 lacs to spend why would anyone buy an unknown Isuzu? Rear DVD screen? Even the MU7 had a company fitted one. I accompanied my colleagues 3 years ago to Cochin to take a TD of the MU7 and for the price (26L OTR then) the interiors were a big let down. Only thing going for it was the size. The MU7 at that time was an outdated product being replaced by MUX in other markets. The 3.0 engine in MUX is also an old product with developed markets receiving the twin turbo variant of this engine.

But with a lower price for the 4x4 variant it could have enticed a few buyers in the 20lac range to consider this.

How many people outside of TBHP members even know about Isuzu MU7? Such is the brand recall of Isuzu and its SUV in the Indian market.

They should be building the brand Isuzu first before asking big money for a not so new product.

[raja_ys]

Disappointed with Isuzu for launching the outdated MU-X 2013 model in India, instead of the latest refreshed 2016 models running in Thailand and Australia. MU-7 was launched with a 4 years lag and it bombed, don't understand why Isuzu is following the same strategy with MU-X again. India being the world's 5th biggest Auto market needs better updated products and not this second grade treatment from Isuzu India.

[A350XWB]

Originally Posted by Yeldo

Two airbags in a 20L vehicle somehow does not sound right!

When the Toyota Fortuner AT was launched in 2015 at a price of 26.59L, it had only 2 airbags, poor brakes (as reported in the official review) and Innova's interiors. MU-X is at least priced lower than that. Agreed on the brand and service part though.

[Yeldo]

Originally Posted by A350XWB

When the Toyota Fortuner AT was launched in 2015 at a price of 26.59L, it had only 2 airbags, poor brakes...and Innova's interiors. MU-X is at least priced lower than that. .

Yes. That is the whole point.

Yesterday's car at yesterday's price is what the MU-X is about.

And we here (the members of this form) do not seem to be sold on that proposition. Let us watch how the market reacts.

Originally Posted by Yeldo

...the MU-X is half a generation old, and a competitor to the old Fortuner. ... Isuzu offer a product that compares with the old versions and have priced their car on lines with the prices of the old Fortuner.

[jinojohnt]

For me, suddenly the V-cross looks 'too much' value for money at 16 lakhs on-road.
For a layman like me, the only addition in MU-X is the cramped 3rd row. I would rather have a cargo box like the one in the V-Cross.
Only one thing to say, Isuzu got carried away by the success (or so they think) of the V-Cross.

[A350XWB]

Originally Posted by Yeldo

Yesterday's car at yesterday's price is what the MU-X is about.
And we here (the members of this form) do not seem to be sold on that proposition. Let us watch how the market reacts.

Definitely the market will not accept the MU-X. But that is not going to be because of the capability of the vehicle, but because of the brand and the service. The last generation Fortuner was selling like hot cakes even with 2 airbags (and nobody seem to complain even when the humble XUV was offering 6 airbags) and at a higher price point than the MU-X, till November last year.

[PraNeel]

Here are some first look videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DD8qVBeBSo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hoG9nyFE9Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YNwAHgyKKs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iOXau5yF7g

[aaggoswami]

The pricing of MU-X is definitely on higher side than expected. Probably the value chord isn't stuck as hard by Isuzu as it should. In order to do so, they should have factored in their Brand Image.

Isuzu started its Indian innings with an SUV which didn't click and then came up with utilitarian pickup which is far more well known than the earlier SUV attempt. Then came along a lifestyle vehicle and then a premium SUV. In my opinion, this could be a realistically tough task for Isuzu as far as image goes. The premium SUV buyer is having options of established products with better brand perception than Isuzu.

Next, the market placement against Innova Crysta (am aware that its an MPV, not an 4x4 SUV, but bringing it in just due to pricing). Innova Crysta has a more premium brand perception and for a bit less than MU-X, a buyer can have a more powerful, probably more comfortable, reliable car which has more support in terms of dealer/service network plus will fetch good resale too. And just above MU-X, its Ford's Endeavour, already established in the market. Point I am trying to drive home : The gap identified by Isuzu to place MU-X is likely to backfire. Going into any market gaps cannot result into sales success. Somebody putting 25-28 lakhs on a machine may not trust a relatively newer brand. To crack the market initially, pricing has to be more value enticing.

[LoneTraveller]

Some more pictures of the MU-X:

[SmartCat]

The price difference between V-Cross and MU-X is inexplicable. Do double cabs get any tax benefits?

Autocar India's review is out -
http://www.autocarindia.com/auto-rev...-404894,0.aspx

the MU-X simply can't compare to the new Fortuner or the Endeavour on most counts – performance, refinement, comfort, luxury, equipment and ride quality, but then you have to remember it costs Rs 5-6 lakh less than them. In fact, the entire MU-X range (Rs 23.99-25.99 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi) is cheaper than the cheapest variants of the competition. Only the Chevy Trailblazer compares on price.

So, it falls a bit short of the gold standard set by the brand new Endeavour and Fortuner in this segment, but it is a whole lot more affordable. Think of it then as the SUV for those who are on somewhat of a budget but also don't mind skipping a few fripperies. The MU-X has all the essentials, if not every luxury, while also being spacious and comfortable, and superb off road.

[agambhandari]

Originally Posted by smartcat

The price difference between V-Cross and MU-X is inexplicable. Do double cabs get any tax benefits?

Autocar India's review is out -
http://www.autocarindia.com/auto-rev...-404894,0.aspx

I was expecting the price difference earlier since it was expected to be a CBU, but when they announced it will be a CKD, i was

Reading the review it seems like the whole product is very much like the Previous generation Endeavour in its virtues. Gets the job done, cuts a few corners, very capable, but not stylish

Btw, is it just me or the Rear lights when viewed straight on, look eerily similar to the Ecosport?

[Kandisa]

Originally Posted by smartcat

The price difference between V-Cross and MU-X is inexplicable. Do double cabs get any tax benefits?

No tax benefits as such for double cabs. Its just that Isuzu's pricing strategy for Vcross has probably been a bit more mature than that of MU-X even after taking into consideration the difference in engine, transmission and few other add-ons. If they would have launched the MU-X even with the same engine as Vcross and priced it in sub-20 L segment, there would have been more interested people in India. Saw the MU-X in person yesterday, a decent package overall and there were few people who came to TD it. I think there would be some decent sales but nothing to put the chart on fire compared to the Ford & Toyota