Isuzu D-Max

A workhorse, a daily driver and an off-roader, it caters to all. The new Isuzu D-Max, upgraded and launched in Malaysia.

A third-generation pick-up truck, it comes in single- and dual-cab body types with eight powertrain setups. 

Fully imported (CBU – Thailand), available via Isuzu Malaysia are six variants:

Low Ride

• 1.9L 4x2 MT – MYR 92,199

Single Cab 

• 1.9L 4x4 MT – MYR 100,949

• 3.0L 4x4 MT – MYR 107,888

Auto Plus 

• 1.9L 4x2 AT – MYR 111,499

Standard 

• 1.9L 4x4 MT – MYR 111,599

• 1.9L 4x4 AT – MYR 118,999

Premium

• 1.9L 4x4 AT – MYR 137,649

• V-Cross 3.0L 4x4 AT – MYR 144,138

X-Terrain 

• V-Cross 3.0L 4x4 AT – MYR 161,938

Prices (OTR, w/o insurance) include a standard warranty (five years/150,000 KM) and an extended warranty (seven years/unlimited mileage – X-Terrain).

Exterior colours (Namibu Orange, Onyx Black, Mercury Silver, Islay Grey, Dolomite White Pearl, Splash White, Biarritz Blue).

The new D-Max has a clean and angular dashboard, linked to a low-rising centre console (gear/handbrake lever, storages, armrest).

A single-/dual-tone theme, it sees Black (Low Ride, Single Cab, Auto Plus, Standard, Premium) hard-panels and Criollo Brown with Light Brown contrast stitching (X-Terrain) soft-/hard-panels.

Filling-in the spaces are the driver/central displays (instrument cluster, infotainment), angular air-conditioning vents (trigger-like control panel), dash storage (passenger-side) and ambient lighting system (multi-colour – X-Terrain).

Inclusively, the layout is neatly designed with every accessibility ergonomically arranged (driver-centric, passenger-oriented).

Installed driver displays (instrument cluster) are 3.5-Inch conventional-type with illumination control LCD monochrome display (Low Ride, Single Cab), 4.2-Inch e-LUMAX with illumination control TFT LCD colour display (Auto Plus, Standard) and 7.0-Inch e-LUMAX with illumination control TFT LCD colour display (Premium, X-Terrain).

Meanwhile, variants Premium and X-Terrain get electronic-powered (eight-way, lumbar - driver) and manual adjustment (four-way - passenger) seats.

Standard fitment, the rear comes with a bench seat (60:40 split-fold), featuring a centre armrest (fold-out).

A two-/five-seater (Single Cab/Low Ride, Auto Plus, Standard, Premium, X-Terrain), the cabin offers generous space, providing ample interior mobility for the occupants (front, rear).

Sufficient head, shoulder and leg rooms.

Practical storage areas. E.g., side door/seat back pockets, centre console caverned/partitioned spaces, dash storage (passenger-side: Low Ride, Single Cab), rear under-seat storages, sizable deck (flatbed) and a glove box.

Mounted is a four-spoke urethane (Low Ride, Single Cab, Standard) and leather-wrapped (Auto Plus, Premium, X-Terrain) steering wheel, finished in Black (Single Cab, Auto Plus, Standard, Premium) and dual-tone with Light Brown stitching (X-Terrain).

Features are multi-function controls (Auto Plus, Standard, Premium, X-Terrain) and column adjustments (tilt, telescopic). The steering is aided via a Hydraulic Power Steering (HPS) system.

Multiple cup (front, rear) and bottle (door panels) holders, strategically positioned around the cabin.

Provided are USB ports (Low Ride, Auto Plus, Standard, Premium, X-Terrain), 12 V sockets (Low Ride, Single Cab, Auto Plus, Standard, Premium, X-Terrain) and a wireless charger (Auto Plus, Premium, X-Terrain).

Deck (flatbed). 1,495 MM (Low Ride), 2,345 MM (Single Cab) and 1,571 MM (Auto Plus, Standard, Premium, X-Terrain) long, 1,530 MM (Low Ride, Auto Plus, Standard, Premium, X-Terrain) and 1,590 MM (Single Cab) wide and 490 MM (Low Ride, Auto Plus, Standard, Premium, X-Terrain) and 465 MM (Single Cab) tall. 

The new D-Max weighs in at 1,770 KG (Low Ride 1.9L 4x2 MT), 1,805 KG (Single Cab 1.9L 4x4 MT), 1,885 KG (Single Cab 3.0L 4x4 MT), 1,830 KG (Auto Plus 1.9L 4x2 AT), 1,890 KG (Standard 1.9L 4x4 MT), 1,915 KG (Standard 1.9L 4x4 AT), 1,945 KG (Premium 1.9L 4x4 AT) and 2,025 KG (Premium V-Cross 3.0L 4x4 AT, X-Terrain V-Cross 3.0L 4x4 AT).

Other dimensions measure at 5,285 MM (Low Ride), 5,330 MM (Single Cab) and 5,270 MM (Auto Plus, Standard, Premium, X-Terrain) long, 1,810 MM (Low Ride, Single Cab) and 1,870 MM (Auto Plus, Standard, Premium, X-Terrain) wide, 1,695 MM (Low Ride), 1,770 MM (Single Cab), 1,785 MM (Auto Plus, Standard) and 1,810 MM (Premium, X-Terrain) tall and with a wheelbase spanning 3,125 MM.

Deck (flatbed). 1,495 MM (Low Ride), 2,345 MM (Single Cab) and 1,571 MM (Auto Plus, Standard, Premium, X-Terrain) long, 1,530 MM (Low Ride, Auto Plus, Standard, Premium, X-Terrain) and 1,590 MM (Single Cab) wide and 490 MM (Low Ride, Auto Plus, Standard, Premium, X-Terrain) and 465 MM (Single Cab) tall. 

Solid and athletic, it exudes a robustly blocky exterior, emphasised by clean-cut and seamlessly smooth surfaces.

Variant-specific, the front-end sees a thick bar-like trim (ISUZU script – Chrome) and a large hexagonal grille (Black-Grey: Low Ride, Single Cab – Black-Matte Grey: Auto Plus, Standard – Silver-Dark Grey: Premium – Dark Grey-Black Chrome: X-Terrain).

Framing the setup is a Black (Single Cab), body-coloured (Low Ride, Auto Plus, Standard, Premium) and body-coloured-Dark Grey (X-Terrain) bumper with triangularly sharp corner cut-outs (fog lamps). 

Filling-in the layout is a mildly sculpted bonnet, muscular quarter panels (Dark Grey cladding: X-Terrain), a bumper guard (Dark Grey: X-Terrain) and side steps (Black: Auto Plus, Standard – Silver: Premium – Dark Grey: X-Terrain).

Symmetrically designed, it continues the robustly stocky exterior, emphasised by straight and angularly horizontal contours.

Variant-specific, the rear-end sees a plain/X-Terrain-scripted (Low Ride, Single Cab, Auto Plus, Standard, Premium/X-Terrain) tailgate with a side lock (Low Ride, Single Cab), body-coloured (Auto Plus, Standard), Chrome (Premium) and Dark Grey (X-Terrain) tailgate handle.

Paired to it is a Black two-step/body-coloured integrated two-step (Low Ride, Single Cab/Auto Plus, Standard, Premium, X-Terrain) bumper, framed by muscular quarter panels (Dark Grey cladding: X-Terrain).

Filing-in the layout is a cargo box (Single Cab), a guard frame (Single Cab), a Black bedliner (Low Ride, Single Cab, Auto Plus, Standard, Premium, X-Terrain) and side steps (Black: Auto Plus, Standard – Silver: Premium – Dark Grey: X-Terrain).

The headlamps are housed angularly inward-tilted. 

Installed are multi-reflector halogen bulb (Low Ride, Single Cab, Standard 1.9L 4x4 MT) and bi-LED projector (Auto Plus, Standard 1.9L 4x4 AT, Premium, X-Terrain) units, with a set of bulb/LED (Low Ride, Single Cab, Auto Plus, Standard/Premium, X-Terrain) fog lamps.

Features are bulb/LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) (Low Ride, Single Cab, Standard 1.9L 4x4 MT/Auto Plus, Standard 1.9L 4x4 AT, Premium, X-Terrain), manual/automatic On-Off-levelling (Low Ride, Single Cab, Auto Plus, Standard/Premium, X-Terrain), Automatic High Beam (AHB - X-Terrain), Follow-Me-Home lights and turn signals.

The tail lamps are housed rectangularly horizontal and wrapped around.

Installed are bulb/LED (Low Ride, Single Cab, Auto Plus, Standard/Premium, X-Terrain) units, paired to a set of LED (Premium, X-Terrain) fog lamps. 

Features are manual/automatic On-Off (Low Ride, Single Cab, Auto Plus, Standard/Premium, X-Terrain), Follow-Me-Home lights and turn signals.

The side mirrors (Black: Low Ride, Single Cab – body-coloured: Auto Plus, Standard – Chrome: Premium – Dark Grey: X-Terrain) are electric-powered (auto-fold: X-Terrain – adjust).

Features are LED turn signals (Auto Plus, Standard, Premium, X-Terrain) and blind-spot indicators (Blind Spot Monitor – BSM: Premium, X-Terrain).

Fitted are ventilated disc (front) and leading-trail drum (rear) brakes. Incorporated is a conventional handbrake system (lever).

Gripping the terrains are variant-specific sets of wheels.

Variant Low Ride cruises on a set of 16-Inch alloy rims, wrapped in 215/70 R16 tyres (front, rear).

Variant Single Cab rides on a set of 16-Inch steel rims, wrapped in 205 R16C tyres (front, rear).

Variants Auto Plus and Standard sport a set of 17-Inch alloy rims, wrapped in 255/65 R17 tyres (front, rear).

Variants Premium and X-Terrain plough with a set of 18-Inch alloy rims, wrapped in 265/60 R18 all-terrain tyres (front, rear).

The new D-Max features the following sets of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Standard systems (Low Ride, Single Cab, Auto Plus, Standard, Premium, X-Terrain) include Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), Brake Assist (BA), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Hill Descent Control (HDC), Brake Override System (BOS) and Emergency Stop Signal (ESS).

Variant-specific systems include reverse camera (Auto Plus, Standard, Premium, X-Terrain), Around View Monitor (AVM – Premium, X-Terrain), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM – Premium, X-Terrain), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA – Premium, X-Terrain), Forward Collision Warning (FCW – X-Terrain), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB – X-Terrain), Turn Assist (X-Terrain), AT Pedal Misapplication Mitigation (X-Terrain), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop/Go (X-Terrain), Manual Speed Limiter (MSL – X-Terrain), Automatic High Beam (AHB – X-Terrain), Lane Departure Warning (LDW – X-Terrain), Rear Cross Traffic Brake (RCTB – X-Terrain) and Multi Collision Brake (X-Terrain).

Passive safety includes two/seven airbags (driver-passenger: Low Ride, Single Cab, Auto Plus, Standard – driver-passenger, sides, curtains: Premium, X-Terrain), seat belts (front - reminders, pretensioners, anchors), ISOFIX (two-outer-rear-seats: Low Ride, Auto Plus, Standard, Premium, X-Terrain), whiplash protection (seats – front, rear), rear parking sensors (two: Low Ride, Single Cab – four: Auto Plus, Standard, Premium, X-Terrain), front parking sensors (four – Premium, X-Terrain), reverse camera (Auto Plus, Standard, Premium, X-Terrain), Around View Monitor (AVM – Premium, X-Terrain), impact beams (side doors), automatic door locks (speed-sensing, central locking) and anti-theft system (security alarm, key code immobiliser).

Installed is a Terrain Command 4x4 System (2WD, 4WD-High, 4WD-Low: Single Cab, Standard, Premium, X-Terrain), featuring a Rough Terrain Mode (Standard, Premium, X-Terrain).

Installed central displays (infotainment) are standard 1-DIN with radio/USB /Bluetooth (Low Ride, Single Cab), 9.0-Inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto/USB/Bluetooth (Auto Plus, Premium), 7.0-Inch touchscreen with USB/Bluetooth (Standard) and 10-Inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto/USB/Bluetooth (X-Terrain).

Entertainment is channelled through a two-speaker setup (Low Ride, Single Cab), a six-speaker setup (Auto Plus, Standard) and an eight-speaker with roof unit setup (Premium, X-Terrain).

Nestled in the new D-Max are variant-specific powertrain setups.

First setup (Low Ride 1.9L 4x2 MT, Single Cab 1.9L 4x4 MT, Auto Plus 1.9L 4x2 AT, Standard 1.9L 4x4 MT/1.9L 4x4 AT, Premium 1.9L 4x4 AT) is a 1.9-Litre in-line four-cylinder VGS turbo intercooler DOHC 16V diesel engine (RZ4E-TC), producing 148 HP at 3,600 RPM and 350 NM 1,800 to 2,600 RPM.

Second setup (Single Cab 3.0L 4x4 MT, Premium V-Cross 3.0L 4x4 AT, and X-Terrain V-Cross 3.0L 4x4 AT) is a 3.0-Litre in-line four-cylinder VGS turbo intercooler DOHC 16V diesel engine (4JJ3-TCX), producing 187 HP at 3,600 RPM and 450 NM at 1,600 to 2,600 RPM.

Mated to the setups are six-speed manual with Gear Shift Indicator (GSI) and reverse gear lockout (Low Ride 1.9L 4x2 MT, Single Cab 1.9L 4x4 MT, Single Cab 3.0L 4x4 MT, Standard 1.9L 4x4 MT), and six-speed automatic with sequential shift (Auto Plus 1.9L 4x2 AT, Standard 1.9L 4x4 AT, Premium 1.9L 4x4 AT, V-Cross 3.0L 4x4 AT, X-Terrain V-Cross 3.0L 4x4 AT).

Power is transmitted to all four wheels (Single Cab, Standard, Premium, X-Terrain), via an All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system and to the rear wheels (Low Ride, Auto Plus), via a Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) system.

Incorporated is a rear differential lock system (Single Cab, Standard, Premium, X-Terrain).

Fuel tank capacity is at 76-Litres (Low Ride, Single Cab, Auto Plus, Standard, Premium, X-Terrain).

The new D-Max features these conveniences.

E.g., Passive Entry & Start System (PESS – Auto Plus, Premium, X-Terrain), remote engine start (X-Terrain), walk-away door lock (Auto Plus, Standard, Premium, X-Terrain), automatic headlamps (On/Off/high-beam: Premium, X-Terrain), steering wheel (multi-function, column adjustments, HPS), dual-zone climate control (Premium, X-Terrain), electric-powered seats (front – Premium, X-Terrain), assist handles (all doors), illumination system (cabin, reading, footwell, ambient), rear parking sensors (two: Low Ride, Single Cab – four: Auto Plus, Standard, Premium, X-Terrain), front parking sensors (four – Premium, X-Terrain), reverse camera (Auto Plus, Standard, Premium, X-Terrain), Around View Monitor (AVM – Premium, X-Terrain), rear-view mirror (interior – day-night: Low Ride, Single Cab, Auto Plus, Standard/automatic-dimming: Premium, X-Terrain), automatic door locks (speed-sensing, central locking), multiple power outlets (USBs, power sockets, wireless charger) and Blind Spot Monitor (BSM – Premium, X-Terrain).

Installed is a manual air-conditioning system (Low Ride, Single Cab, Auto Plus, Standard) and a dual-zone automatic air-conditioning system (Premium, X-Terrain) with rear vents (Auto Plus, Standard, Premium, X-Terrain).

Coming with a robustly tuned suspension system, it provides a great confidence on the road, especially when taking corners. 

Propping-up the chassis is a suspension setup of independent double wishbones, coil spring and stabilisers with gas shock absorbers (front), and semi-elliptical leaf springs with gas shock absorbers (rear).

Elsewhere, it is firm and safe, and the seats are supportive and well-bolstered, offering a comfortably sporty driving dynamic for all that all-terrain needs.

Good sound insulation, covering all the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects. No abnormal wind issues at any speed.

The new Isuzu D-Max offers an all-rounder appeal with its commanding demeanour and robustly comfortable interior.

Performance-wise, its multiple powertrain setups offer a dynamic and an engaging drive, and the suite of ADAS is a bonus.

Ultimately, the new D-Max is satisfactory, a well-blended four-wheeler, combining design, performance and practicality.