The Hunua is a special place, source of much of Auckland’s drinking water, clad in native bush that delivers clear, clean water into a series of holding dams for delivery into the municipal supply. It is home to a massive population of kokako.
The bush is in places virgin and original; in others reclaiming old sheep and beef farm paddocks. Managed by Auckland Council, it’s a mecca for hikers, bird-lovers and mountain bikers. It’s been well ‘hardened’ for 4WDs, so don’t come out there hoping for a classic North Island 4WD experience.
Instead, a 4WD becomes the means to an end for those who love these ranges. Most of those who love the area are not deterred by ‘a bit of rain’. But today the best we get is a light monsoon as one of mid-year’s epic storms gallops across the ranges on its way south to batter places like Nelson and the South Island’s West Coast.
The storm means dawn isn’t happening, just a gradual lightening of a leaden sky to give us better views of the rain.
Slips have dropped overnight onto the gravel roads that take us further into the interior, and we have cause to be pleased for the added security of a traditional SUV that means reassuring grip when braking to avoid a messy sledging halt in a pile of sloppy yellowish clay.
Standing water pools are in low spots, but these are no deterrent to the MU-X and its commanding driving position gives ample notice of the pools of water developing on the road.
Unfortunately, the scoreboard is firmly in favour of the kokako. We hear them on other ridges, but the drizzly dawn has hushed their customary song. Wisely, the blue-grey crows are mostly sitting tight, avoiding the weather. It’s the smaller birds doing the Happy Rain Song including the clowns of the New Zealand bush, the bellbirds and tui. A few fat kereru regard us with puzzlement from high in native trees. Fantails flit closer, looking for insects stirred up by our progress.
Overall, it’s kokako 1, foolish soggy humans nil.
So, what is the essence of the 2022 MU-X?
Our vehicle was the LS-U, a slightly less loaded version than the LS-X.
The seven-seat MU-X LS-U shares its robust power unit with the LS-X and of course with the acclaimed current D-Max ute. Its body type is slightly heavier than an unladen D-Max and that does slightly mute the truck-like grunt of the engine.
The 450Nm torque plateau is well matched to the Aisin six speed automatic transmission. There is no manual transmission option.
Inside, there’s a nine-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and high-grade cloth seats.
The tailgate has power operation, giving access to a cargo space that is good with the third row of seats; better with them stowed. We suspect most owners will run the truck in five seat format, deploying the third row only when needed.
Underneath, there’s a traditional separate chassis that provides rigidity and insulates from road harshness.
Safety provisions – active and passive – are extensive. They have to be, the MU-X has earned a five-star ANCAP rating based on the recent and very strict 2020 criteria.
