Before the advent of the soft-roader/crossover, SUVs were seen as tough, macho beasts that swilled fuel as they powered through dense, inhospitable climes. Sure, there were families and less rugged individuals who bought these things for the school run and the like, but the large size, poor driving manners on tarmac and horrendous fuel economy make it a daunting proposition to all but the most committed.
The unibody crossover changed all that – the fact that one could have the looks of a full-on SUV and the pretence of having an adventurous lifestyle, but with the ease of use and efficiency of a regular passenger car, drew in many customers previously put off by the truck-based versions' rough nature. This left the latter to cater only to proper thrill seekers and those looking for a no-nonsense workhorse.
Recently, however, there seems to be new movement in the pick-up-derived SUV market. The two class stalwarts, the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and the Toyota Fortuner, are due to be completely revamped quite soon, and later in the year we'll see a new challenger in the form of the 2015 Ford Everest.
In the meantime, through, a new Japanese contender joins the ranks – the Isuzu MU-X will be launched very soon, with attractive pricing that undercuts its main rivals. It's based on the D-Max pick-up, but will Isuzu's gamble on the market bring it a similar amount of success in Malaysia? We drive the new seven-seater SUV up Cameron Highlands and back to see if the new pretender has what it takes.
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