LS-U trim takes out leather and seats are manual-adjust.

EIGHTEEN-inch alloys shod with 265/60 rubber rather than 20s with 265/50s, cloth trim in place of leather, no electric adjust on the front seats, no tyre pressure monitoring and a new badge.

 All that adds up to a $5000 price reduction.

 That appears to be the summary of difference between a new base model of the rugged Izuzu MU-X, called the LS-U, which has introduced as an option to the LS-T edition that has been on sale for the past year.

 The new edition will sell for $75,990, so $5000 less than the LS-T, which remains in circulation.

 Why bring it in?

 Isuzu Utes New Zealand spokesperson Kimberley Waters responds to that question by offering: “The MU-X is a family favourite amongst the rural community and those that have something decent to tow.

 “By introducing a lower-spec option we hope to offer Kiwis a good balance of features and value, in a model known for its reputation, reliability and safety”. 

 The LS-U is not a new model for its maker, in that it has been on sale alongside the LS-T in Australia since MU-X production began. However, Isuzu Utes NZ originally decided to bypass it.

 Coverings aside, the front seats in the LS-T pamper with eight-way electric adjust on the driver’s side and four-way for the passenger. The LS-U drops all that and, interestingly, the kerb weight drops to 2155kg, a 20kg reduction over the flagship.