Isuzu D-Max review

Selling pick-up trucks used to be simple. All you needed was a hefty payload, a strong diesel engine and decent reliability to get your truck on to farmyards and building sites across the land. Times change though – and so has the Isuzu D-Max. 

You see, having a tough truck in your dealership is no longer enough. Pick-ups have become more enticing as an alternative to SUVs – partly for the attractive company car tax rates – so they also need to be comfortable and safe for family trips, as well as smart enough to impress the neighbours.

That doesn’t mean Isuzu has forgotten its traditional market as a building site load-lugger. The D-Max is available with the option of a single cab with a long bed, an extended cab or a full five-seater double cab (the weekday work pick-up that can also serve as a weekend family hauler). There’s even a hardcore off-road version called the Arctic Trucks AT35.

Do those configurations give the Isuzu D-Max all it needs to take on the best pick-up trucks – including the Ford Ranger and VW Amarok along with the KGM Musso and Toyota Hilux? Read on to find out…

For now, discussing the choice of engine for the Isuzu D-Max is pretty easy because there’s only one: a 162bhp 1.9-litre diesel. That's set to change in 2025, though, with the introduction of the brand’s first all-electric D-Max.

Anyway, back to now. In everyday driving, the D-Max’s engine gets it off the line quickly enough but soon runs out of puff, making it best suited to low-speed commutes. It doesn’t feel any more sluggish than an entry-level Toyota Hilux but the more potent version of that and the Ford Ranger whip up to motorway speeds far faster.

The D-Max has a very short first gear on manual gearbox models while the six-speed automatic gearbox is hesitant before it kicks down.

It's legal to drive all D-Max models at the same UK speed limits as a car. That's because all versions weigh less than the 2,040kg threshold for dual-purpose and light commercial vehicles that requires you to drop your speed by 10mph on dual and single carriageways. It just takes you a while to get there...

The D-Max's ride is much more sophisticated than in pick-ups of years gone by, and far better than the previous-generation model. However, it still feels rather bouncy without a load in the bed and sends shudders through the body when you hit something sharp. The Hilux has tighter control while a Ranger is an altogether more supple and comfortable vehicle.

The Ranger is also happier in the bends. Although it’s easy enough to guide the D-Max along, the Ranger’s more precise steering gives you greater confidence and is less affected by mid-corner bumps.

Engine refinement is never the strong suit of a pick-up, and the D-Max is no exception. Any demands for a bit more speed result in a cacophony of noise not helped by the engine’s lowly output. You’ll also hear plenty of wind whistling around the big mirrors and a fair amount of road noise.

The engines in the Ranger and KGM Musso (formerly the Ssangyong Musso) are smoother and quieter.

Suspension noise is well contained, which helps explain why the D-Max feels right at home clambering over deeply rutted terrain off road.

In fact it copes almost as well as the Hilux thanks to lots of suspension articulation to keep its wheels on the ground, plus a lockable rear differential (standard on DL20 models and above) to provide maximum traction in difficult situations. The D-Max's maximum wading depth is 800mm.

If serious off-roading is your thing, take a look at our review of a D-Max variant that's modified to take on anything – the Arctic Trucks AT35.

"As someone who drives long distances on motorways, I find that the D-Max gets quite frustrating, running out of puff as speeds increase. The Ford Ranger is much easier to live with if you drive on anything more than country roads." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

When you climb into the Isuzu D-Max, you find a well laid out interior with a decent driving position and lumbar support on the driver’s seat in all versions (manual for single and extended cabs, electric on double cab). Some might wish the steering wheel would come out further from the dashboard though.

Visibility out of the front is good thanks to the lifted driving position, sizeable door mirrors and relatively slim side pillars. Rear parking sensors are standard from DL20 models up, while the DL40 and V-cross get front ones as well, along with a rear-view camera.

A 7.0in infotainment touchscreen comes as standard on DL40 D-Max models, with an upgraded 9.0in version reserved for the top-spec V-Cross or the Arctic Trucks AT35. That’s a good size and it’s positioned to be within easy reach, but the menu layout isn’t that logical, the graphics could be sharper and it’s not as responsive as the system you’ll find in a Ford Ranger or VW Amarok.

At least you get a row of physical buttons below the touchscreen for the stereo and a couple of shortcuts to certain functions. Meanwhile, the D-Max also has a dedicated panel for the ventilation system that’s easier to use than the touchscreen icons on the Amarok and Ranger.

Sat-nav isn’t standard on even the priciest V-Cross model but you get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring so you can run a sat-nav app on your phone through touchscreen. There's only one USB port up front, and no wireless phone-charging unless you go for the Arctic Trucks AT35 variant.

There are some soft-touch plastics on top of the dashboard, and there are painted trim highlights on higher-end versions around the gear lever, infotainment screen and doors.

All the D-Max's buttons and toggles have a very robust feel, although the central armrest is a bit flimsy. If you want something that feels plusher, we’d point you towards the Ford Ranger Wildtrak or the VW Amarok – they use a wider range of interior materials.

"The high driving position (especially that of the lifted Arctic Trucks version) is really useful, giving you one of the most commanding views you can get." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

As you might expect in something as big as the Isuzu D-Max, there’s enough head, leg and shoulder room for even the burliest of occupants to get comfortable up front.

Isuzu gives you four cupholders, a cubby in front of the gear lever and a cubby under the armrest. There’s also a decent glovebox.

The D-Max Extended Cab comes with two small folding rear seats to occasionally accommodate a pair of rear-seat passengers, with small rear-hinged doors providing access.

The D-Max Double Cab is the one to go for if you often need to take more passengers. It has full-size rear doors and back seats large enough for three average-sized adults to sit across in relative comfort. The backrest is fairly upright and the floor is raised, but it’s similar to most pick-up trucks. The two outer seats are more sculpted and supportive than the rather flat bench in the Ford Ranger.

Double Cab versions have two more bottle holders in the rear doors and two cup holders in the central armrest. The back of the passenger seat has a fold-out hook that’s rated for 4kg, making it a particularly sturdy "curry hook".

If you want to secure a valuable bike or other expensive kit inside the D-Max, you can flip up the seat bases in a 60/40 split or fold down the seat back (which uncovers the vehicle jack and tool kit).

It’s the boot space – or rather load bed – that’s of most importance to pick-up truck buyers, and with the D-Max there are three lengths, which decrease as cab size increases (as they do with the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux). All bed sizes can take a standard pallet lengthways between the wheel-arch intrusions.

There are four tie-down hoops in the bed, one for each corner, and all DL versions have a damped tailgate for ease of opening. The rear bumper has steps you can stand on to reach over the sides to get at anything in the load bed.

Even in its bulkiest Double Cab form, the D-Max can take a similar maximum payload to the equivalent Ranger. All versions are capable of carrying more than 1,000kg in the bed and towing 3,500kg, although not at the same time. The only pick-up capable of doing both at once is the KGM Musso.

"The four tie-down hoops are a really useful feature when it comes to securing loads in the load bay. I'd definitely suggest investing in the optional roller cover too so you can lock items away." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

Running your Isuzu D-Max as a company car will be affordable because every version is above the required 1,000kg payload threshold that enables you to classify it as a commercial vehicle.

Anyone buying a D-Max out of their own pocket should find that most models undercut the equivalent Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux or VW Amarok and cost a little more than the KGM Musso. There’s little difference between them in terms of fuel economy.

The D-Max in entry-level Utility trim is rather spartan, with 16in steel wheels and black (rather than painted) exterior trim. You still get the basics, such as air-conditioning, automatic lights and wipers, and cruise control but it's more of a workhorse.

The DL20 has more creature comforts, adding 18in alloy wheels, body-coloured exterior trim, heated front seats and interior carpets.

DL40 adds LED head and tail lights, silver side steps, leather upholstery, electric seat adjustment, keyless entry and dual-zone climate control.

Top-spec V-Cross swaps the chrome exterior trim for grey. If you upgrade to an automatic gearbox you get adaptive cruise control.

The D-Max didn’t feature in the 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey but it is backed by a five years/125,000 miles warranty, along with five years' roadside assistance. That's longer than you get with a Ranger and more mileage than a Hilux. The Musso beats them all with seven years/150,000 miles.

Safety is a D-Max strong suit, with a full five stars from Euro NCAP. The Hilux also holds five stars but was tested under the old regime and its safety software isn’t as comprehensive as the D-Max's.

Automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-departure warning and traffic-sign recognition come as standard. Double Cab models come with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while those fitted with an automatic gearbox also include active lane-keep assist.

"I think the varied trim levels and commercial vehicle tag will make the D-Max a compelling company car for a range of people, whether they want to use it solely as a workhorse or a mix of workhorse and commuter." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

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