If you already own an Isuzu MU-X, you'll probably know exactly what we're talking about.
It's a big, practical SUV. There's plenty of room for the family, plenty of space in the back, and it's the sort of vehicle that gets used for everything from the school run and weekly shopping to camping trips, road trips and carrying just about anything that needs to go from A to B.
But there's one small inconvenience you might not think about until you use the boot several times a day.
The tailgate is manual.
Most of the time, that's perfectly fine. You walk up, open it, load whatever you need, then reach up and pull it closed.
But then you have one of those days.
You're carrying bags and trying to get everything into the boot before it starts raining. You've just finished loading camping equipment. You're holding a child and need to get something out of the back. Or you've parked in a tight shopping centre and don't particularly feel like reaching up and wrestling with a large tailgate.
That's when you start thinking, "Why doesn't my MU-X have an electric tailgate?"
And once you've had one, you'll probably wonder why you waited so long to install it.
An electric tailgate is one of those upgrades you don't appreciate until you have it
Instead of lifting the tailgate manually, you can simply press a button and let the system do the work. Depending on the setup, you can operate it from your original vehicle key, the tailgate itself or an interior button while you're sitting in the driver's seat. For even more convenience, a hands-free foot sensor can also be added as an optional feature.
It sounds like a small thing, but small things become surprisingly important when you do them every day. Think about how many times you've opened your MU-X's boot over the past month. Now imagine not having to manually lift and close it every one of those times.
That's where the upgrade starts to make sense.
But don't make the mistake of buying the cheapest kit you can find
This is probably the most important thing we want MU-X owners to understand before buying an electric tailgate.
If you search online, you'll find plenty of kits at very different prices. Some may look almost identical in the photos, and it's tempting to simply choose the cheapest option and save a few hundred dollars.
We wouldn't recommend doing that.
An electric tailgate isn't just a pair of powered struts. The system needs to work with the weight and geometry of the MU-X tailgate, the locking mechanism, the vehicle's electrical system and the way the tailgate is controlled.
There is no genuine "one kit fits every car" solution that will give you the same result across every vehicle.
The quality of the motors, control module, wiring, connectors, safety system and other components can make a significant difference to how the system performs over time.
A cheap system might work perfectly when you first install it. The real question is how it performs after months and years of opening and closing the tailgate.
That's why we always say: you get what you pay for.
So what makes the Auto Retrofit system different?
At Auto Retrofit, we aren't trying to compete with the cheapest electric tailgate kit you can find on the internet.
There will always be someone selling a cheaper product.
Our focus is on supplying a quality system that is properly designed for the vehicle and backed by people who actually understand the installation.
For the MU-X, that means the system is designed around the vehicle rather than trying to force a generic setup to work.
The controls are OEM-style, the system can work with your original vehicle key, and the installation is designed to keep the finished result looking as close to factory as possible.
That's important because the last thing you want after spending money on an upgrade is to open the boot and immediately think, "Yep, that's definitely aftermarket."
The ideal result is the opposite.
You should be able to use the tailgate without thinking about the fact that it was ever retrofitted.
It's also about how the system feels
A good electric tailgate shouldn't simply open and close.
It should do it smoothly.
The opening speed should feel controlled. The closing movement shouldn't feel aggressive. The system should recognise an obstruction and stop rather than continuing to force the tailgate down.
This is why features such as anti-pinch protection, obstacle detection and controlled movement matter.
They're not the sort of features you'll brag about to your friends, but they're the features you'll appreciate when you actually use the system every day.
Installation is just as important as the kit
Here's something else you should consider before buying an electric tailgate.
Even a good kit can become a bad upgrade if it's installed poorly.
The MU-X has a large tailgate and the wiring needs to move every time the boot opens and closes. The components need to be mounted correctly, the wiring needs to be routed properly and the system needs to be calibrated after installation.
If shortcuts are taken, problems can appear later. You may end up with rattles, inconsistent operation, wiring problems, alignment issues or other faults that are much more frustrating to fix after the interior trim has been put back together.
That's why, if you're not experienced with automotive electrical installations, we'd strongly recommend having the system professionally fitted.
At Auto Retrofit, we don't just sell you a box and leave you to figure it out. We can supply the kit if you already have a trusted installer, or you can have the complete electric tailgate upgrade professionally installed through Auto Retrofit installer partners network.
The difference is that you're buying both the product and the support behind it.
Why buy from Auto Retrofit instead of just ordering one online?
This is where price comparisons can be misleading.
You might find a cheaper MU-X electric tailgate kit somewhere else. That's fine. There will always be cheaper options.
But before you compare the price, compare what you're actually getting.
What quality are the components? Is it genuinely designed for your MU-X? Does it work with the original key? What happens if something goes wrong? Is there Australian support? Can the seller help you troubleshoot an installation problem? And if you don't want to install it yourself, who is actually going to fit it properly?
At Auto Retrofit, our business is automotive retrofit and accessories. Electric tailgate upgrades are one of our key products, so we're not simply adding a generic tailgate kit to a catalogue and hoping it fits.
We understand that you're not buying a product just because you want a motorised boot.
You're buying it because you want your MU-X to be easier and more convenient to live with.
That's the result we're trying to deliver.
Is it worth upgrading your MU-X?
If you barely use your boot, probably not.
But if your MU-X is your family car, daily driver, touring vehicle or work vehicle, you're probably opening that tailgate far more often than you realise.
And that's why an electric tailgate is one of those upgrades that makes more sense the longer you own the vehicle.
You're not changing the way the MU-X drives. You're not adding something purely for appearance. You're simply making one of the most frequently used parts of the vehicle easier to operate.
After a few weeks, you'll probably stop thinking about it.
You'll just press the button.
And then the next time you drive a car without an electric tailgate, you'll suddenly notice how inconvenient a manual boot actually is.
Thinking about upgrading your MU-X?
If you're considering an electric tailgate for your Isuzu MU-X, we'd recommend doing your research before buying the first cheap kit you find online.
Choose a system designed specifically for your vehicle, make sure it has the safety and convenience features you actually need, and most importantly, make sure you have proper support behind the installation.
Auto Retrofit can supply the electric tailgate kit for your MU-X or provide a complete professional installation.
If you're not sure which system is suitable for your particular MU-X, get in touch with us before ordering. We'd rather help you choose the right setup from the beginning than have you spend money on a kit that isn't right for your vehicle.
Because at the end of the day, your MU-X is already a great SUV.
You don't need to replace it just to make it more convenient.
Sometimes, all it needs is one upgrade that makes you wonder why it wasn't fitted from the factory in the first place.