Twenty vehicles only for one mission. That was the main goal of the members of the mu-X Owners Philippines (muXOP) and their families when they recently participated to Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) epic adventure drive to Catanduanes, allowing them to complete the road trip with over 1,000-kilometers drive.

Joining the trip were representatives of Isuzu Philippines Corporation and members of the motoring media who rode a mu-X LSA Automatic 4×2 and a mu-X LSA Manual Transmission 4×2 variant powered by Isuzu’s newest and most efficient diesel engine, the BluePower RZ4E.

The flag off started at the Petron Southbound Service Station at the South Luzon Expressway in Calamba, Laguna, where the group took an early morning roll-on roll-off (RORO) trip from Tabaco Port in Albay Province to the San Andres Port in Catanduanes.

Catanduanes, the country’s 12th largest island and a “maogma” (happy) place for the locals, also dished out wondrous sights as the convoy circumnavigated the island that weekend. The highlight of the 150-kilometers island loop was the stop at Binurong Point, which revealed to visitors standing at the edge of a 200-foot-high seaside cliff a breathtaking view of the open Pacific Ocean.

All throughout the drive, the muXOP provided reliable, consistent power and stability to negotiate the tricky twists and turns of the mountain and coastal roads. The mu-X offered enough comfortable space for entire families and their heavy luggage, and still leave room for the mandatory “pasalubong”.

Val Estor, muXOP head, explained that the Club which already counts over 2,000 members has been actively engaging in group tours and humanitarian missions, the most recent of which was when the club delivered relief goods to those displaced by the recent eruption of Mount Mayon.

“The new RZ4E engine would motivate mu-X owners to embark on more trips, what with the vastly improved fuel efficiency, significantly reduced noise and vibration, and cleaner emissions,” shares Estor.

The Isuzu RZ4E engine is the result of the Japanese carmaker’s 6 years of extensive research, and represents Isuzu’s first foray into smaller engines but with higher outputs.

Even while capable of generating maximum 150 PS of power and 350 Nm of torque, the RZ4E-powered mu-X has been recorded to yield up to 37 kilometers per liter on highway runs. The RZ4E engine is also 60 kg lighter than the previous 4JJ1 engine, meets Euro4 emission standards, and is noticeably quieter.

Occupants of the two RZ4E-powered mu-X SUVs noted that they were able to keep pace with the rest of the convoy despite being loaded with passengers, luggage, camera equipment, and native pasalubong, and still manage to get a respectable fuel mileage of 17.63 kilometers per liter for the automatic, while 14.37 kilometers per liter for the manual.

The new Isuzu mu-X is powered by the innovative BluePower, Euro4 emission-standard 1.9-liter RZ4E diesel engine. With the introductory price of P1,595 million for the RZ4E LSA AT 4×2, P1.570 million for the RZ4E LSA MT 4×2, and P1.395 million for the entry-level variant RZ4E LS MT 4×2, one not only saves on the purchase cost, but also on owning and running the vehicle.