It's been a while since I last drove a hulking SUV. These days my everyday ride has been a tiny hatch, which was why when Isuzu lent me their mu-X, I had to reacquaint myself to its huge dimension, higher driving position, and wider turning radius. I had to be familiar with all these since I will be driving it along some of the most congested and narrow, roads as well as maneuver it into tight parking spaces.

The timing was perfect as I had to fetch someone in Laiya, Batangas that week, and what better ride to have than the Satin Pearl White LS-E variant of the mu-X (a 4×2 automatic, priced at  P2.18 million)!

While Laiya is just around 120 km away from Las Piñas where I live (about a 3-hour drive), the route has always been a challenge because you have to deal with the traffic at the South Luzon Expressway and the town centers of Padre Garcia and Jan Juan. Moreover, the road traversing Rosario-San Juan and Laiya, while well paved and wide, is often filled with cargo trucks, jeepneys and slow-moving tricycles (with the latter always positioning themselves in the middle of the road).

One thing that certainly hasn't changed is the way the mu-X goes about its business on the road. Its torquey 3.0-liter Blue Power turbo diesel engine is a bliss especially during overtaking — I didn't feel I was driving a 3-ton, 4.85-meter long, 1.87-meter wide, and 1.825-meter tall SUV.

Relaxed and comfortable

When talking about the mu-X's steering and suspension, you can be assured that they give out a relaxed and comfortable feel. For those familiar with the Apolinario Mabini Superhighway (formerly STAR Tollway), there's this long stretch of road approaching Ibaan exit — especially the right lane — that is so uneven that you feel like driving on endless rumble strips. Most vehicles, upon reaching this section of the expressway, have no choice but to slow down as the repeated pounding of the pavement could be jarring for the occupants and dangerous for vehicles with worn out or poor shock absorbers.