2024 Isuzu D-Max X-Rider review

The Isuzu D-Max has damaged away from the pack.

Not Supplied — 2024 Isuzu D-Max X-Rider Credit score: CarExpert

Though the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux stay the best-selling utes in Australia, the D-Max completed 2023 in a snug third on the gross sales charts. Up to now in 2024, it’s managed to hold onto that spot.

The D-Max has been a strong ute since launch, however Isuzu hasn’t rested on its laurels. It’s persistently up to date the automobile over time; first to take care of complaints about turning off its energetic security methods, and subsequently to provide it a brand new nostril, a brand new infotainment system, and revised suspension.

On take a look at right here is the X-Rider, which mixes a troublesome exterior design with a extra pared-back inside than the LS-U or X-Terrain.

Meaning you miss out on some luxuries, however you’ll additionally spend much less upfront. With a sticker worth sneaking in beneath $60,000 earlier than on-road prices, this undercuts the X-Terrain by greater than $10,000 on paper.

Cash nicely saved, or must you dig deeper into your pockets?

How a lot does the Isuzu D-Max value?

On take a look at right here is the mid-spec X-Rider dual-cab ute which is now a everlasting a part of the D-Max vary.

2024 Isuzu D-Max pricing:

To see how the D-Max stacks up in opposition to its rivals, evaluate it utilizing our comparability instrument.

What’s the Isuzu D-Max like on the within?

Though its fundamentals haven’t modified, Isuzu has executed some sharpening behind the wheel of the D-Max.

There’s a brand new touchscreen infotainment system, and dials for quantity and tuning rather than the fiddly outdated switches. Past that, this can look acquainted to anybody who’s sat behind the wheel of the final automobile.

That’s no unhealthy factor. There’s simply the correct quantity of bolstering within the seats, though the scalloped-out backrest means there’s not fairly as a lot lumbar help as could be preferrred, and every little thing falls inside straightforward attain.

Isuzu has stored the pop-out cupholders on the outer edges of the dashboard for 2024 – an excellent factor given the central cupholders swallow a small espresso cup entire, with nothing protruding for the motive force to seize onto. Base fashions miss out, however the X-Rider additionally will get a cut up glovebox and a pop-top storage compartment atop the sprint.

There’s no smooth leather-based right here; even the steering wheel is trimmed in plastic. Though the marginally dour sprint and fabric seats aren’t significantly offensive in a industrial car, it feels a bit stingy that Isuzu hasn’t trimmed the wheel in leather-based.

As is often the case, this may’t come near matching a equally priced SUV for atmosphere or luxurious.

The up to date 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen is great once you’re utilizing the wi-fi smartphone mirroring. Together with the brand new quantity knobs, it has new graphics which might be much less aftermarket and really feel extra becoming for a ute with a sticker worth across the $60k mark.

At this worth, we’d wish to see the right local weather management pod from the X-Terrain right here as an alternative of a budget black dials right here. Even a low-level Mitsubishi Triton has a extra trendy setup.

The entrance USB-A port is now a USB-C unit, though it’s not built-in underneath the dashboard and as an alternative must be plugged into the display screen housing.

As for the brand new knobs? Sure, they make life simpler if you wish to tune the radio or change quantity on the transfer.

In entrance of the motive force is an easy set of analogue dials, between which sits a 4.2-inch color journey laptop show. Together with a digital speedo, it exhibits details about your off-road {hardware}, gasoline financial system, and media.

Rear leg room is par for the dual-cab ute class, as is toe room. There’s loads of head room again there, and kids or troublesome apprentices will recognize the air vents on sizzling days.

There are two ISOFIX factors and three prime tether mounts again there, and the seat bases raise as much as release more room for gadgets you don’t wish to slot into the tray.

Anybody who desires to suit a baby seat will have to be affected person. As is the case in most of those dual-cab utes, the actual fact the highest tether level is up in opposition to the rear bulkhead makes it laborious to connect a finicky seat anchor.

We beloved the inclusion of a hook behind the passenger seat for purchasing luggage and different bits and items which have a behavior of flying across the cabin.

To see how the D-Max stacks up in opposition to its rivals, evaluate it utilizing our comparability instrument.

What’s underneath the bonnet?

There aren’t any adjustments to the engine within the D-Max between the pre- and post-update automobiles.

To see how the D-Max stacks up in opposition to its rivals, evaluate it utilizing our comparability instrument.

How does the Isuzu D-Max drive?

Little or no has modified within the D-Max from behind the wheel, which is generally an excellent factor.

The engine stays a winner, not less than alongside its four-cylinder rivals.

It’s nonetheless a bit clattery on startup, however the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine is {smooth} and quiet sufficient at low speeds to really feel fairly refined by dual-cab requirements.

Peak torque comes on faucet at simply 1600rpm and sticks round till 2600rpm, so efficiency is powerful off the mark. It stays linear because the revs construct, providing precisely what the motive force desires, when they need it.

With 300Nm of torque nonetheless on faucet at 4000rpm, it additionally doesn’t run out of puff because the mid-range bleeds into the highest finish. Barely dampening the attraction of this engine is the three.0-litre V6 on supply within the Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok.

It stacks up nicely in opposition to four-cylinder rivals just like the Triton, however the $6000 bounce to a Ranger XLT V6 is tantalising if it’s pure punch you’re after.

Mated to the engine is a smooth-moving six-speed computerized. It’s unobtrusive more often than not, shuffling well via gears once you’re cruising round city.

The result’s a ute that feels assured and, by advantage of the actual fact it’s not continuously altering its thoughts about one of the best gear on mild throttle, {smooth} on the transfer. It’s additionally good sufficient to drop a gear going downhill to benefit from the engine braking.

With mild steering and strong all-round imaginative and prescient, the D-Max is simple to put on the town. The parking sensors work with a (nonetheless common) reversing digital camera to supply an honest image of what’s occurring round you, banishing reminiscences of what was required within the earlier mannequin.

Journey high quality is fairly good when there’s nothing within the tray. This isn’t an X-Terrain; it has a payload of a couple of tonne, and shares chunks of its inside with hard-wearing fleet fashions. It’s not a bouncy mess although, with sufficient compliance to sit down extra on the SUV with a tray finish of the ute spectrum.

There’s a touch of sharpness over potholes or pace bumps, however the rear finish settles shortly, and by no means feels prefer it desires to get lost in a separate route to the nostril.

The low-speed expertise doesn’t make the D-Max really feel flighty at freeway speeds. It’s confidence-inspiring on the open highway, and the relative lack of wind and highway noise means it’s one of many higher dual-cab utes wherein to whereas away time on the open highway.

We’ve beforehand loaded 650kg into the rear of the D-Max. Though the engine has to work more durable the trip settles down with extra weight over the rear axle, and there’s no awkward squatting with a load on board.

As earlier than, 4×4 variations of the D-Max characteristic 2H, 4H, and 4L fashions for his or her four-wheel drive methods. Meaning that you must be on an unsealed floor to activate it, in contrast to within the new Mitsubishi Triton or Ford Ranger V6 with their 4A modes.

The massive information relating to off-roading is the addition of Tough Terrain mode, which tweaks how traction management system works.

Beforehand, we’ve discovered the D-Max can battle to place its energy down when it has one wheel within the air; the brand new Tough Terrain setup solves that downside.

In any other case, we’ve discovered it is a strong off-roader. The inclusion of a rear differential lock was welcome with this new-generation automobile, though in our testing we’ve beforehand discovered the hill descent management system is susceptible to often letting the car’s momentum get away.

What do you get?

On take a look at is the mid-spec D-Max X-Rider, which was beforehand a limited-edition mannequin however is now a everlasting a part of the vary with the newest replace.

D-Max LS-U highlights:

17-inch metal wheels
Dunlop AT25 tyres
Three-leaf normal rear suspension (Ute fashions)
Three-leaf heavy-duty rear suspension (Cab Chassis fashions)
Halogen headlights
Welcome headlight operate
Automated high-beam
Gloss Black and Materials Black grille
Tailgate help (Ute fashions)
4.2-inch multi-information show
8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment show
Wired and wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
DAB+ digital radio
4-speaker sound system
Two USB-C ports (one in Single Cab and Area Cab)
USB-A port for aftermarket sprint cam
Air-conditioning with HEPA filter
Rear air vents (Crew Cab fashions)
Urethane steering wheel
Urethane transmission selector
Urethane handbrake
Vinyl ground
Fabric upholstery

D-Max LS-M provides:

17-inch alloy wheels
Three-leaf normal rear suspension (Ute fashions)
Bi-LED headlights
LED fog lights
Rear parking sensors (Ute fashions)
Physique-coloured mirrors, door handles and tailgate deal with
Gloss Black and Gray Metallic grille
Excessive-grade fabric upholstery

D-Max X-Rider provides:

Gloss black 17-inch alloy wheels
Black grille
Black entrance underbody spoiler
Darkish gray grille encompass
Black rear step bar
Black mirrors, door handles and tailgate deal with
Black B-pillars
Darkish gray sidesteps
Black inside door handles
Darkish gray and black inside door trims
Piano black steering wheel spoke trims
Black headlining
Satin black sports activities bar
Black smooth tonneau cowl
‘X’ badging on tailgate

Is the Isuzu D-Max protected?

The Isuzu D-Max wears a five-star ANCAP security score, based mostly on testing performed in 2020.

It acquired a design change to the motive force’s knee airbag and instrument panel in July 2022 and was re-tested, sustaining its five-star score.

Customary security gear contains:

8 airbags
Autonomous emergency braking
Blind-spot monitoring
Driver consideration monitoring
Ahead collision warning
Lane-departure warning
Lane-keep help
Rear cross-traffic help
Flip help
Adaptive cruise management with cease and go
Visitors signal recognition
Driver consideration help
Reversing digital camera

Automated fashions additionally add wrong-pedal acceleration warning. LS-M Ute variants add rear parking sensors, LS-U and up add tyre stress monitoring, and entrance parking sensors are reserved for the flagship X-Terrain.

How a lot does the Isuzu D-Max value to run?

The Isuzu D-Max coated by a six-year, 150,000km guarantee. Once you service on schedule at an Isuzu supplier, as much as seven years of roadside help is obtainable.

Logbook servicing is required each 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first, other than a complimentary three-month service.

Isuzu D-Max service pricing:

CarExpert’s Tackle the Isuzu D-Max

The D-Max stays a robust performer within the crowded ute world.

It neatly blends refinement with the type of rugged attraction dual-cab consumers demand, and the newest replace brings significant enhancements to the cabin know-how.

The X-Rider appears to be like powerful, and it’s sharply priced alongside lower-end variations of the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux – together with mid-level takes on the Mitsubishi Triton, which is not the knockout worth choice it as soon as was.

There’s nonetheless room for enchancment. Little issues just like the guide air-conditioning pod and plastic steering wheel look like low cost upgrades that’d additional elevate the automobile.

In case you’re a ute purchaser with some cash to spend, however can’t fairly stretch to the highest finish of the vary the X-Rider is interesting.