The MU-X Type S looking spick and span after a car-wash in Bintulu.
Huge potholes, filled to the brim with water, dot the 12km-stretch of road to Marudi Town.
CUTTING across the thick muddy Marudi Road like a sharp knife through a piece of butter best describes the ability of the Isuzu MU-X Type S vehicle in tackling rugged terrain.
It was slightly past 11am on June 16 when we reached the Marudi Road junction for an appointment with two government officials, assigned to help us to our destination – Marudi Town, 44km away.
After a light snack at the canteen near the junction, we were all set for the drive through the seemingly brand new stretch of road ahead of us, only to be told the tar-sealed portion of it is just 9km long.
Effectively, the remaining 35km of the journey over rough terrain would be an acid test for the truck-based SUV and, of course, the driver.
We decided to take turns behind the wheel and I took the liberty to have the first go.
When we hit the first obstacle of muddy patches, we were told by the driver of the leading government vehicle that the journey ahead would only get worse following a heavy downpour before we started out from Bintulu. In fact, it was drizzling during the entire drive.
Handling the powerful 2.5 L 4×4 automatic transmission (AT) was actually quite easy – even for the women drivers. My two female colleagues on the expedition drove the MU-X Type S with much ease en route to our earlier destinations, including the under-construction Pan Borneo Highway.
But under muddy, slippery and hilly conditions like the Marudi Road, drivers have to be extra careful, especially with the power steering, as a small misjudgement could spell big trouble.
We had to take due care to ensure our safety in this most arduous part of the journey.
After getting past the first obstacle safely, our next challenge loomed large ahead – driving up a very slippery, steep and winding hill.
Before engaging the low gear for the task at hand, my heart was pounding as I wondered how the vehicle would handle the harsh conditions, especially with the tyres not meant for driving on tricky terrain.
After a while, I regained my composure and confidence and we ventured into unknown territory, proceeding cautiously as every direction we took must be the right one.
The elegant driver’s seat and dashboard of the MU-X Type S.
Little room for error
There was very little room for error. Certain stretches of the road are flanked by ravines – abysmal and scary.
Seriously, it could get so unnerving at times that you just had to dig deep to muster your inner strength – and also pray for divine intervention to get you through safely.
Ascending the slippery and muddy hill, the vehicle swerved to the right and left as the mud-covered route reduced tyre traction to a minimum. I was worried we might get stuck in the middle of nowhere.
Our only consolation was the government vehicle in front of us in case of emergency. But with such atrocious road conditions, there was no guarantee the government vehicle could yank us out if we got stuck as its tyres too were not meant for off-road driving.
We got through the first hill without any incident … to the relief of all. But the drive ahead was far from easy and smooth with two more similar hills to navigate.
The hilly winding portion of Marudi Road was so bad that driving through it could give you the feeling you were inside a washing machine – with all the yawing and vibrating.
That particular stretch is about 23km long, yet driving through it felt like ages as we could not pick up speed.
And what a relief it was when we finally overcame the three hills and descended to level ground – after almost two hours of very careful driving!
But our ordeal was not over yet as we had to cover another 12km stretch, dotted with big potholes smack in the middle of the road. Driving through it was really challenging – a misstep and you could get bogged down in a pool of slushy water.
The MU-X Type S parked near Sarikei’s icon — a pineapple.
Still in one piece
When we finally reached Marudi town, almost three hours later, with a couple of stops along the way, we were thankful we had made it through – still in one piece.
Our sturdy SUV was up to the challenge with a marvellous performance except that at the end of the long hard drive, its Splash White colour was hardly recognisable, being splattered with layers of mud.
Overall, the MU-X Type 5 has passed all the tests with flying colours for handling, road-holding, cornering and comfort (leather seats and snug interior design) on various types of terrain.
Isuzu 4-wheel drive vehicles have been synonymous with the annual The Borneo Post Adventure Team (BAT) since the latter’s inception in 2011.
Toughly built, these vehicles, such as the D-Max, D-Max V Cross and MU-X models we have test-driven, gave us confidence and peace of mind as we set out in the comfort and security of their protective frames on our yearly state-traversing BAT expedition. They have always taken us through our BAT assignments and home safely.
The MU-X Type 5 we test-drove during our recent 16-day BAT7 excursion (June 5-20) is a full-spec 2.5 L 4×4 AT model.
The MU-X Type 5 is available in four colours – Cosmic Black, Uluru Brown, Splash White and Titanium Silver. The on-the-road (OTR) price plus GST is RM182,822.28.
For more information, call Rhino Motors on 082-571222 (Kuching) or 084-344444 (Sibu).
BAT7 members taking a photo after reaching Marudi Town.
