New MU-X takes top safety rating

It’s getting harder and harder to score a five-star safety rating.

Where once protecting driver and passengers from serious harm was the benchmark, now vehicles need to show they can also protect pedestrians and help the driver avoid crashing into things.

Whether it’s an Australian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP) or Euro NCAP rating, five stars is hard for ‘proper’ 4WDs and SUVs to attain due to the shape and sheer mass of the vehicles.

Isuzu’s fresh new MU-X, boasting an eight airbag array as part of a safety gear suite they call Intelligent Driver Assistance System (IDAS), scored an ANCAP five star rating in late September ahead of its New Zealand debut. New Zealand, due to its market size, doesn’t have its own programme and mostly adopts the ANCAP rating as its own safety framework.

The ANCAP testers said, “Safety is a must for those in the market for a sevenseat family vehicle, and the MU-X provides a safe choice for active families. The new MU-X takes full advantage of safety features already demonstrated in the D-MAX, and it is pleasing to see this strong performance carried over into the large SUV segment.”

ANCAP commended the 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.

The recently-launched new D-Max also received the full five-star rating.

Isuzu says the body of the MU-X is stronger and safer than the previousgeneration MU-X; constructed with twice the amount of high and ultra-high tensile steel, featuring large energy-absorbing deformation zones and a new ‘ringstructure’ manufacturing technique that integrates the body pillars with closed cross-sections for increased occupant cell protection.

“The backbone of the MU-X is a ladderframe chassis constructed from hightensile steel for increased strength and rigidity.”

With a focus on occupant safety, eight airbags are fitted to the entire MU-X range. Comprising of dual front, dual side, dual full-length curtain – which extends from the front passengers all the way to the third row – a front knee and a centre (far-side) airbag. The centre airbag is designed as a countermeasure during side impacts to protect both front occupants from colliding with each other and from external intrusion into the cabin during a severe side impact.