Isuzu D-MAX
269 reviews
The Isuzu D-Max must be one of the least reliable utes on the market. The vehicle has had no end of failures resulting in far too many trips to the dealership for repairs. Isuzu Australia and their dealer network have no regard for their customer base and try and avoid doing any warranty work. The vehicle has had a shopping list of catastrophic… Read more
failures, resulting in many months of being off the road. I would avoid purchasing any Isuzu product, unless you want to deal with an organisation that has little to no regard for their customers.
Third and last Isuzu I buy. Absolute piece of rubbish, the car has had a laundry list of issues and every time one is resolved a new one appears. This nightmare experience has been exacerbated by the poor customer service of the car yard (Carco Midland - avoid at all costs). Show details
very disappointed with the issues i have had with the vehicle and isuzu warranties in particular. I have had very poor service, all brake rotors and pads failing at once after a service, a steering rack after 70k, then additional knocking following repair which is still a work in progress and awaiting diagnosis 3 months after initial warranty… Read more
repair. Paint has worn to bare metal in footwells and door pillar 'decals' severely faded around all doors. Constantly get deny then delay on warranty claims. Be careful on what you buy from Isuzu. Family vehicle with occassional 4wding
Reviews with attachments
- +8
A simple yet practical work Ute – Everything from the tray through to the cabin were as expected for this segment. There’s some movement in the plastic centre console, and some flimsy feeling plastics around the door panels. This is the base model D-MAX, so the materials used aren’t exactly going to blow your socks off, but in a car like this, that doesn’t matter. When I tested… Read more
the D-MAX SX single-cab, there was a special offer of $29,990 driveaway, which was a fair bit cheaper than the usual price of $32,200 before on-road costs, which is quite competitive in this segment. This is a strong price for a small truck in this segment, and can take the crown as one of the most powerful utes in this category. For your money, you’ll receive the same 3.0L four-cylinder diesel motor that produces 140kW of power and a torque of 450Nm, also found in the range-topping X-TERRAIN. Additionally, you’ll retain the same wading depth of 800mm that all D-MAX models possess, which is particularly impressive, seeing as many single-cab utes usually offer a reduced ride height, when compared to the more expensive versions of the same vehicle. You’ll also receive a swath of safety features with the base D-MAX, including reversing cameras, autonomous braking, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning and automatic dimming high beams.
All of these features made driving this base model ute feel far more advanced than driving cars even only a few years old. There’s wireless Apple CarPlay and (wired) Android Auto, which makes connectivity a lot easier than using a phone mount or relying on the native system. Combine power, safety, and tech with the body of a single-cab ute, for the price of $29,990, and you have a seriously competitive truck.
As for maintenance, as is standard, the D-MAX comes with a 6 year warranty/150,000km, 7 years roadside assistance and 7 years capped price servicing. Isuzu is transparent about what scheduled services with them will cost. As part of Isuzu’s capped price servicing, your cheapest service will cost you $299 at 75,000km while your most expensive service costs $749 at 90,000km. When tested, the empty metal tray refused to rattle and shake to produce that distinct metallic sound you hear when a tradie-spec ute bounces past. Possibly over time, you’ll get some noise emanating from the tray, but while the car is relatively new, you have no noise worries there. The speaker system in the D-MAX SX can be tinny and lack some depth of clarity, but your ears quickly adjust, and this soon becomes unnoticeable.
As a single-cab ute, this vehicle saves on weight when it's not carrying up to 1.3T in the rear tray. Braking is direct, to the point and confidence-inspiring, even though the rear brakes are drums. I could imagine under load, the D-MAX would still provide smooth and progressive braking, as these brakes felt more than capable when driven daily.
Same power, less weight. This is the same engine you’ll find in the range-topping D-MAX X-TERRAIN. That means you’ll receive 140kW and 450Nm from the same 3.0L 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel motor. However, in the base D-MAX, a manual transmission is standard, which is an interesting inclusion. I can imagine that manual working utes are there to help cut costs, but I do think most drivers would appreciate a traditional auto instead. Driving a manual diesel means you’re shifting lower in the rev range, which can feel a little strange to those familiar with petrol motors paired with manual transmissions. When moving off the line, the 1st to 2nd gear change can feel laborious. Since you are required to change rapidly, it can make getting up to 50km/h feel slower than it actually is. 0-100km/h times are estimated to be just under 10 seconds, which is plenty of speed for a ute of this calibre. The mid-gear pulls are strong and are where you can definitely feel that range-topping torque come alive. I’m an absolute fan of this diesel motor as it drives mostly like a car, but with truck-like performance.
This single-cab has a drastically increased load carrying capacity compared to the dual-cab variant as a result of a revision of the leaf springs on the rear. The big issue with revising suspension to carry more is that when the suspension is unladen, it can feel like a bounce house across bumpy surfaces. The suspension will do a decent job at keeping the car flat through corners, it will wallow, but remain stable, which will keep items in the rear stay upright. Nevertheless, it is somewhat entertaining to bounce across speed bumps and potholes. I would definitely recommend that you buy a tray cover to secure smaller items from jumping and sliding out from the back. The rear wheels can slide out from the back when driving on slippery surfaces. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the tyres fitted on the base D-MAX as all this tohttps://youtu.be/Nifdgl4KVXIrque being sent just to the rear resulted in the slipping and sliding of the tyres.
This is a 4-cylinder diesel, so fuel efficiency is going to be lower than petrol alternatives. Efficiency is claimed to be 8L per 100km (combined), whereas I achieved around 9L per 100km around the city. The interior is basic yet rugged. You hop into the D-MAX SX and you immediately know you’re here to work and not to rest in luxury. Everything here serves a purpose, from the two grab handles on each side through to the vinyl flooring that makes cleaning dust and debris a lot easier. The dash in the base D-MAX misses out on the cubby holes found in the higher-end variants. Which means you’re left with shallow tubs, from which small items like keys and coins will just slip out from. There’s a smaller 7-inch touch screen, which needed some tweaking to adjust for appropriate brightness and contrast, as this display looked a little washed out initially. Responsiveness of the screen isn’t amazing, but it does have wireless Apple CarPlay, which was a welcome addition, as you didn’t have to pull your phone out every time you entered the cabin.
The size of this rear tray measured 2550mm in length, 1777mm in width, and just under 300mm in height. All three sides of the tray were capable of folding 180 degrees, which should help with loading larger items, like wood pallets, in and out of the D-MAX. You can tow up to 750kg with the SX, and up to 3,500kg braked, which is absolutely impressive for a two door ute.
Our test ute was fitted with an optional under-tray tool box, which could carry smaller items, and even lock them up to ensure nobody snags your valuables.
Another item under the tray that was an optional extra, was a water tank. This includes a hand pump for soap, sunscreen or even hand sanitiser. Funny addition, and quite useful if you need somewhere to store some fresh water...or whatever liquid you want to carry in this tank.
In the cabin, you can store toolboxes and backpacks behind the seats, which fold forwards to reveal interior storage. This is quite generous and accommodating for the largest of bags, and provides peace of mind for storing those extra-valuable items inside and away from the elements.
Don’t expect the D-MAX SX to replace your daily driver, if you’re buying this for personal use. Its suspension, manual transmission, rear wheel drive and limited interior storage space will drive the everyday man a little nuts. The everyday man is better off with an extended or dual cab with an auto, and 4X4 capability. If you’re a business owner needing a truck to do a lot of heavy lifting in, or working in a field where you need a reliable work-horse that doesn’t feel like a death trap, you’re looking at the right ute.
*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.
- +8
Solid 'no-frills' 4X4 with all the features you need – This is the second-most expensive Isuzu D-MAX dual-cab you can buy. It moves up the range with alloy wheels and a nicer set of LED lights. Some buyers don’t want the leather seats, or the bigger screen. Instead, they’re after this: the bare-bones dual-cab that’ll take a beating at work, and be able to drive from the work site to your favourite… Read more
campground the second you clock off.
The D-MAX is a tough ute. There’s plenty of durable materials, robust tub-lining and a lot of hard plastics.
The issue with those hard plastics is that they’re more susceptible to rattles and squeaks, some of which were heard across bumpy sections of tarmac and trails.
In addition, there could have been some improvements to the trims to make them feel more secure, and there was a little lifting on the tub liner from the body of the ute. I did also spot some sound isolation foam sticking out from the centre console, which wasn’t the most impressive either.
The LS-M 4x4 dual-cab specced with an automatic gearbox, as you see here, is priced from $55,300 and is just above $60,000 drive-away (in NSW).
It’s not a significantly affordable ute, but I have to say that Isuzu’s inclusion of technology throughout the car helps justify that price.
There’s radar cruise control, rear cross traffic assist, wireless Apple CarPlay, a reversing camera and autonomous emergency braking. Along with automatic headlights and wipers, these features help justify this ute as a comfortable and safe daily driver.
Not to mention that you’re also getting a 4x4 system with a rear locking differential, and you have a capable ute for all conditions.
As for maintenance, as standard, the D-MAX comes with a 6 years warranty/150,000km, 7 years roadside assistance and 7 years capped price servicing. You can jump onto the Isuzu website to see what every service interval will cost you, as part of Isuzu’s capped price servicing. Your cheapest service will cost you $299.00 at 75,000 km, and your most expensive service will cost $749.00 at 90,000 kms.
Just like every other Isuzu D-MAX, you’re absolutely going to hear that 3.0L four cylinder when accelerating.
The speaker system is fine, and plenty powerful for listening to podcasts and music with the windows down. However, as some of my passengers noted, that diesel motor is obvious.
You’re still getting drum brakes on the rear and discs on the front, just like every other D-MAX in the range. There’s no strange sponge effect or excessive dead zone in the pedal feel; the D-MAX makes you feel as if you’re in control, especially if you need to brake for an emergency.
I will note that those rear drums were a little squeaky, either because this was a brand new car, or because there was some debris in the drum (reinforcing my preference for discs all around).
Strangely, I did notice a slight improvement in acceleration with the D-MAX LS-M. It was a little lighter than the more generously appointed LS-U+ and X-Terrain, and felt a little more nimble when putting its power down.
What’s great is that you don’t lose power by saving some cash when buying the LS-M version of the D-MAX.
This is the more powerful 3.0L four-cylinder diesel engine option in the D-MAX range, producing 140kW and 450Nm from this turbocharged motor.
Acceleration in the wet can be a little unnerving if you’re in 2WD mode, as that surge of torque low in the rev range will spin those rear wheels with ease.
Leaf springs on the rear help justify that large payload capacity of over 1 tonne, and springs on the front aid in cornering.
The LS-M was comfortable to drive around day-to-day, although a little bouncy on tough sections of road. Out in the country highways, that suspension set-up offered comfort and respite from the hours of driving I had to do across this tarmac. I really didn’t feel strained after spending a surprising amount of time behind the wheel.
When off-roading, the lack of a multi-link rear suspension set-up means that articulation is a little more limited. Yet, the D-MAX still delivered in its ease of use when it came to taking it away from paved roads.
Combined fuel consumption is claimed at 8L/100km. I saw around 10L/100km during my week with the D-MAX - a respectable figure that’ll allow you to travel a week without having to fill up your tank.
It’s utilitarian inside the D-MAX to say the least. It’s built around the ethos of function over form, yet there still are a few bits of design in here that make the new D-MAX interior feel a little nicer to look at.
There are bag hooks, under seat storage compartments and 2 additional storage cubbies on the dashboard. In addition to cloth seats, there’s a smaller 7-inch touch screen surrounded by an obvious large bezel.
There are plenty of hard buttons too, making it easy to interact with when wearing gloves. Forget keyless entry and exit too, there’s a traditional turn-key start instead.
A lack of mirrors in the sun visors points to the fact this is a work-ute more than anything too.
This dual-cab’s tray measures in at 1,570mm x 1,530mm x 490mm (length x width x depth), and is rated with a Gross Vehicle Mass carrying capacity of 6,000kg.
Towing is absolutely recommended, as the LS-M comes with a towing hitch right from the factory. Braked towing capacity is rated at 3.5T.
There are a few dual-cab utes to choose from at this price point. However the D-MAX offers an ideal blend of performance, price and features when it comes to buying a model that’s more on the affordable end. Wireless Apple CarPlay, a reversing camera and a full-safety feature suite are clear advantages when buying a D-MAX.
In addition, you’re not missing out on any power or capability when buying the D-MAX LS-M. Rather, it’s almost better suited to those who enjoy modding their dual-cabs for off-road and work purposes.
If you’re not after a bigger screen, heated seats, or any additional exterior upgrades, the basic LS-M is the one to get. It’ll leave you room in your budget for upgrades, along with the same utility capabilities enjoyed by the more expensive versions of the D-MAX.
*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.
- +8
Isuzu listened to its customers and made possibly the best D-MAX model you can buy – This is the Isuzu D-MAX LS-U+, and it’s the bridging model between the LS-U and the off-road focused X-TERRAIN. It’s meant to be the best of both worlds: a luxurious working truck that you enjoy using on your time off too. The D-MAX is no stranger to being built to withstand tough environments. The LS-U+ trim of this ute is no exception to that… Read more
rule.
At $61,900 before on-road costs, there’s a lot to appreciate about not having to spend over $70,000 for additional features.
Although, for those focused on wanting a more aggressive looking ute from the factory, the LS-U+ might not cut it entirely.
To be honest, for the price, I think you’ve got the pick of the range if you like how this looks. I don’t entirely love the looks of the X-TERRAIN, so this would be the ute I’d be opting for.
You have additional features, like a leather interior, tow hitch receiver, heated front seats, electronically adjustable drivers seat, dual vanity mirror lights, auto dimming rear view mirror, heated door mirrors, the Lane Support System Switch, a GCM of 6,000kg and a tub liner.
As for maintenance, as standard, the D-MAX comes with a 6 years warranty/150,000km, 7 years roadside assistance and 7 years capped price servicing. You can jump onto the Isuzu website to see what every service interval will cost you, as part of Isuzu’s capped price servicing. Your cheapest service will cost you $299.00 at 75,000 km, and your most expensive service will cost $749.00 at 90,000 kms. Service intervals are 15,000km apart.
The braking experience in the D-MAX never faltered, despite being used to descend from the heights of the Blue Mountains to sea level.
There’s no strange sponge effect or excessive dead zone in the pedal feel; the D-MAX makes you feel as if you’re in control, especially if you need to brake for an emergency.
This is the more powerful 3.0L four-cylinder diesel engine option in the D-MAX range, producing 140kW and 450Nm from this turbocharged motor.
It’s enough power if that’s what you’re thinking. Thanks to that large displacement, it’s a motor that rarely feels strained.
Acceleration in the wet can be a little unnerving if you’re in 2WD mode, as that surge of torque low in the rev range will spin those rear wheels with ease.
Once traction is gained, that turbocharger pulls strongly, however there’s a distinct drop in acceleration if you’re determined to change gears yourself once you’re high up in the rev range.
The 6-speed automatic transmission found in the D-MAX does an excellent job of moving through gears without hesitation.
You can only battle the physics of a larger dual-cab ute like this for so long, without changing the suspension for a more road-focused set-up. For the money, you’re getting a hybrid on-road/off-road suspension setup, so you’ll need to expect compromises at the extreme ends of both experiences.
Off-road, the D-MAX does take a little bit of time to get used to when it comes to its high centre of gravity. Once acquainted, you realise this work ute is ready to play.
Thanks to its tighter proportions, you can squeeze through smaller trails, and it’s far from a daunting activity to navigate more challenging off-road stages.
Combined fuel consumption is claimed at 8L/100km. I saw around 10L/100km during my week with the D-MAX, a respectable figure that’ll allow you to travel a week without having to fill up your tank.
Just as this interior was in the X-TERRAIN, the LS-U+ is a refreshing upgrade over the previous generation. There are clean lines, a large touchscreen, easy-to-read analogue dials and simple buttons to operate the climate controls and 4x4 controls.
Thanks to the leather seat upgrade, the LS-U+ interior feels every bit as premium as the exterior. There’s no doubt that the LS-U+ will stand up to the test of time, as there’s a blend of soft touch materials, mixed with a healthy appointment of tough plastics
This dual-cab’s tray measures in at 1,570mm x 1,530mm x 490mm (length x width x depth), and is rated with a Gross Vehicle Mass carrying capacity of 6,000kg.
Towing is absolutely recommended, as the LS-U+ comes with a towing hitch right from the factory. Braked towing capacity is rated at 3.5T, making it more than capable of hauling whatever you want to throw at it.
Travelling with four people will be ideal, however, just advise any passengers taller than 6’2” that they’re going to suffer a little. Limited under-seat feet room, and limited knee room will impact those taller individuals. Additionally, the middle seat is strictly for temporary use. I wouldn’t recommend three adults to drive further than a local destination in the second row seats.
Deeply impressed with the Isuzu D-MAX X-TERRAIN, I wasn’t expecting a lot when it came to the more affordable and slightly less equipped LS-U+.
How wrong I was. Instead, I’ve found the pick of the range when it comes to looks, pricing and features. This is a capable ‘out-of-the-box’ ute. It’s a great marriage of work and play, and something that I’m sure will sell well for Isuzu.
I appreciated the more subtle, yet muscular, looks of this LS-U+. It doesn’t set high expectations with its exterior, but still proceeds to impress both on and off-road as the ute that has it all. Take it to work, and it’s built for it.
*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.
- +8
Isuzu's halo ute is ideal for daily driving and off-roading but could do with some additional tech – The Isuzu’s interior looks premium, and for the most part, feels it. While on road, and even off-road, there was a surprising lack of rattles, squeaks and shakes coming from the cabin, even over more demanding surfaces. If you start moving your hand away from the steering wheel or door inserts, there is a use of cheaper plastic trim, with the… Read more
biggest let down being the build quality of the centre storage bin. It just felt cheap and moved a bit too much side to side when opening and closing for my liking.
As for maintenance, as standard, the D-MAX comes with a 6 years warranty/150,000km, 7 years roadside assistance and 7 years capped price servicing.
The new generation D-MAX also offers a 20% stronger ladder chassis, higher mounted suspension control arms, lighter but stronger leaf suspension and a claimed 4,000,000 kilometres of simulated testing over 6 years here in Australia.
Hopefully, this will translate into an increase in long-term reliability.
Isuzu is transperant on what scheduled services with them will cost, as part of Isuzu’s capped price servicing, with your cheapest service costing you $299.00 at 75,000 kms. Your most expensive service costing $749.00 at 90,000 kms.
Service intervals are 15,000 kilometres apart, which is normal.
There’s no mistaking that there is a diesel motor under the hood, or that you’re rocking hybrid road/off-road tires.
Immediately starting up the D-MAX, you’re greeted with a distinct turbo diesel thrum, which quiets down once you get moving.
Acceleration isn’t really what you’d be buying a D-MAX X-TERRAIN for, as some sources have claimed the D-MAX to head to 100km/h in around 10 seconds.
When driving around town, and even on the highway, I couldn’t tell you this thing felt underpowered. Quite the opposite actually.
That would be thanks to the 450Nm being produced by the large 3.0L 4 cylinder motor, being delivered as low as 1,600rpm.
Never did I feel like the D-MAX was ‘running out of puff’ at higher speed thanks to possessing 140kW, nor did I feel any distinct lag in the engine when setting off from lights in city driving.
The Isuzu’s power off-road was delivered smoothly, consistently and reliably, so there were no complaints about the power delivery here, it was as expected.
This turbo diesel motor, and four wheel drive system is paired to an automatic 6-speed gearbox.
6 speed is a little antiquated compared to the likes of modern SUV’s which are now offering 7 speed or up to 9 speed gearboxes.
But, you can’t fault 6 speed if it works, and in this case, it does.
I love how the suspension set-up looks on the D-MAX X-TERRAIN, it really makes the look of the truck. Giving this truck the appearance of being able to tackle the toughest of terrains.
The only downside which is obvious to those who know, is that this results in some body roll during corners at higher speeds, which is simply the trade off you need to accept if you want to drive a large dual cab ute that is designed to head off-road.
Besides some moderate body roll, on-road manners were impressive, with there being obvious local testing involved.
Aussie roads did not phase the D-MAX, it behaved well across all surfaces it encountered. Ironed out the creases and bumps, without resulting in an overly numb driving experience.
Averaging around 10L/100km around town, traffic and occasional highway driving, I wasn’t shocked by this number, or disappointed.
Naturally, any motor will be thirsty in a car that weighs 2130kg and rides as high as this truck.
Aerodynamics and weight are working against the D-MAX here, but ultimately, a claimed 8L/100km should be close to achievable under longer stretches of road without too much traffic.
A dual purpose suspension set-up matched with a respectable power and a purposeful four wheel drive system, the D-MAX is able to drive you to the campground on Friday, head deep into the bush, and bring you back for work at 9AM on Monday.
Off the road, the suspension, even with no payload in the rear tray, behaves with exceptional precision. The handling setup of the truck allows you to explore tougher terrain, without having your eyeballs shaken out of your skull.
From photos, I could immediately tell that the revised interior was a step above other dual cab brands. It’s the one thing I’ve never understood in this segment, making a beautifully brutish exterior, but incorporating an interior from 2009.
This is where I feel Isuzu really worked hard to shake this perception.
It features one of the largest centre media screens in the segment, at 9 inches. There is also a 4.2 inch digital display between two analogue gauges in the driver’s instrument cluster to help modernise the cabin. Wireless Apple CarPlay meant I never needed to worry about connecting my phone to a cord everytime I set off, nicely complimenting the low latency and clear centre screen.
The only reason why you’re buying a ute, is because of the massive load carrying capacity they possess over traditional SUV’s or station wagons.
Your load area is 1570mm in length, 1530mm in max width and 490mm in height. You have a max rear payload of 970kg.
The entire tray is covered in a robust tray liner, which means you don’t have to be too shy pulling items in and out of the rear.
The locking tonneau cover is a fantastic addition, especially as it’s a rolling cover, meaning you don’t need to lock it every time you drive, unlike a lockable hard lid cover.
You’re also able to tow up to 3.5 tonnes, very respectable, making this a more than capable ute for most requirements.
If you've compared the D-MAX with other dual cab Utes and decided it's the truck for you, there is no need to hesitate.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the X-TERRAIN and could see myself heading into work in plenty of comfort, and even had the urge to go camping again.
*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.
Mighty MUX/Dmax - This car can do it all! – Absolutely love my MuX (2022 model). It does everything! from touring this great country in comfort, to Towing our 2T caravan with ease, dropping off the kids at school and has done some difficult 4WDing (Budawangs national park/ Gardens of stone national park). Fuel economy is remarkable, my long term… Read more
average is 7.3l/100km (no van, mostly highway driving at 100km/h - click the photo attached as I know you won't believe me!), and with 2.2T Van I achieve 11-12l/100km (around 100km/h). The car effortlessly cruises along at 1500RPM on the highway and the motor is quiet as a mouse (love the new 6 speed trans).
It tows out 2.2T Expanda caravan with ease, hardly going over 2000RPM (note: Nex gen MuX has a huge 3500kg towing capacity). The ride is very quiet and refined and you can drive for 5-6 hours without breaking a sweat. The van tow ball weight is 170kg so I don't need any suspension upgrades (just stock), they can handle up to 350kg.
No issues to date and great service from my dealer. I priced a Prado at $95,000 and ended up with a brand new MUX for $60,000 and bought a caravan with the saving! Toyotas need 6monthly/10,000km servicing while MUX is 15,000/1 yearly so halve the maintenance costs.
The legendary 4JJ3 motor is bullet proof and doesn't require Ad blue like the 2024 Prado/Everest, so less things to go wrong, and avoid $80 to fill up the ad blue tank. The DPF is one of the most reliable to date, a friend at work has a DPF model (2018) with over 300,000km and still going strong (no DPF issues). The drive train is good for 500,000+ km. The car weighs a little over 2T, substantially less than Prado at 2.6T meaning much higher power / weight for effortless hauling of heavy loads.
I've taken this car deep into the Victorian high country, Barrington tops, Snow driving and 4WDing in many of the national parks and never been stuck. All with stock tyres and suspension. This model comes with Diff locks as standard!
The kids love the rear air conditioning. There is an evaporator in the boot, with separate fan controls so they can adjust their own temperature (lucky!)
The car has loads of room, we can fit 4 persons + gear for a snow trip with ease. The boot space is gargantuan (you can pack your elephant) and the 3 rows sit perfectly flat, so you can install a fridge, or just sleep in the back (I recently saw the new Prado boot and you'd struggle to fit 2 suitcases, its a deal breaker).
Isuzus are very popular, and fully supported by the online forum "Ozisuzu.com.au" where there are loads of passionate Isuzu lovers that will offer free support/advice on upgrades/4WDing etc.
I researched Pajero sport, Prado, Everest, and MUX was best by far, comes with a 6 year warranty, great resale value, Corolla fuel economy and small price tag for this level of 4WD capability/towing/comfort.
I also researched the older (pre 21 models) but purchased the Next gen for the following benefits: - The cabin noise NVH is excellent compared to previous generation, quiet and comfortable. - The rear boot area sits perfectly flat, no plastic boxes that look like an after thought. - Fuel tank size is 80L (gives a range of 1100km on a tank @7.3l/100) - Electric steering makes light work steering a large car with caravan - 6 speed auto is amazing, at 100km/h the RPM is 1500 RPM and you can hardly hear the motor - LED lights are bright! - The car has ventilated disk brakes on all corners, providing great confidence when towing down steep hills. - huge 3.5T towing capacity and 350kg ball mass
This car is serious 4x4 offroader. The drive train is a north south motor, with rear wheel drive (great for towing with caravan ball mass adding to grip), then a transfer case to power the front wheels. The gearbox has low range for steeps climbs, crawling etc. All gearboxes have diff breathers as standard and the rear diff comes with diff locker as standard. Wading depth is 800mm out of the box! The car can be heavily modified with large wheels, lifted, bull bars, roof racks, long range tanks (all readily available). Air bags can be easily fitted to the rear springs if high weights are carried (ie caravan).
Latest follow-ups
Where do I start. Bad first. Front suspension issues, the usual reported excessive tire wear and ill handling when going through bumps etc on the road. Isuzu reckon my car isn't one of the effected ones. Don't know how they can claim that. The… Read more
reports are covering 2021 to 2025 models. Mine is a 2021. Also won't do anything as it's done more than 40,000kms. How does a bad design fix itself once the vehicle has gone past 40,000kms? The transmission doesn't allow the engine to use it's torque and chops down at the first sight of a hill or even slight rise in the road. Very sensitive so called safety electronics, very intrusive. Mine didn't have the software installed to have the one button cancel option. Took a long time to get approval from Isuzu for it to be upgraded. Emergency braking alert scares the hell out of me, it will activate whenever it feels like having a panic attack. Loses power intermittently when trying to take off. Doesn't happen often but can be dangerous. It will give enough power to get you into the intersection then give me nothing. The engine drops back to idle and I then can't get out of the way of oncoming traffic. Could be dangerous. It has also had the recall done one the ECU for losing power at highway speed. Did lose power on us once before the recall so it was a thing. However it had to be done twice , for some reason it didn't work the first time. Once again they don't know why. Had it checked out by Isuzu on a couple of occasions but they have no clue. Probably have to pay out of pocket to get it sorted by someone that actually can diagnose issues and know what they are doing. It took 2 months to get a part from the warehouse in Melbourne and delivered to Sydney. Couldn't tell me where it was or when it would arrive. What sort of system is that? The good. When the engine is operating properly I'm quite happy with it, good amount of power, however does need a throttle controller to minimize the turbo lag. And no, I haven't got one on at the moment so Isuzu can't blame the power loss issues on that. Relatively comfortable, even though mine is the base model. Comes with all the mod cons I want and some I don't want/need. Don't expect economy anywhere near their claims. Only time I can get it below 11km/l is down hill with a tail wind. To be fair I'm running A/T tires that are one size larger than standard so that could be why. They are also cheaper and I have more choice. We use the car for general running around and also tow a 3 ton of road van. With my experience from owning this I more than likely would not buy another. It's not because of the issues I've had it's because of the way Isuzu feels the need to ignore genuine concerns and come up with nonsense excuses.
Follow-up · Nothing has changed. A poor design in suspension or steering won't fix by itself and Isuzu continue to hide behind a ridiculous policy that makes no sense at all. They've lost me for a repeat customer.
Recent reviews
Be warned … have issues you will get no help – Be warned ….two Isuzus and both have major issues. One a 2024 DMAX the air con stopped working after 6000kms. Isuzu Australia take no responsibility. Dealerships won’t help. Sorry long waits, get in line with everyone else. We had to abort our holiday and return home. No dealerships would even look at it. Our local dealer said sorry earliest we… Read more
can look at it is the day before Christmas. Isuzu Australia said that wait is reasonable in their view. No air con for 6 odd weeks in the Australian summer. Nice one Isuzu! The other one has gone through one set of tyres after scrubbing out the front tyres. Service people are deceptive and don’t divulge what they know about issues. Rattle in the dash they “can’t find”, steering makes a noise ….”can’t find that either”…be warned if you have issues no one will help and you are on your own. Warranty means they will fix it when they are ready…bad luck if it’s major you are just another customer waiting by the sounds of things along time to have their cars fixed. Pathetic Isuzu!
Isuzu remove any negative responses on social media such as Instagram. Obviously keep the good ones and remove the negative to protect themselves …..
Frustrating vehicle – Have had a 2024 Dmax twin cab for several months now and I simply do not like this vehicle. As a straight up car the performance of the engine is quite weak and makes some odd noises but this is not its downfall. Fuel economy is fine. Steering and most general functions are fine. Like the aircon, suspension etc. It fails with all the safely… Read more
equipment and sensors the auto braking system is just appalling in that it will apply brakes when there is simply nothing around particularly when parking and on bends. When the brakes are auto applied it makes a god awful noise. The lane monitoring and guidance safety system often throws the car from what it perceives as a dangerous situation into a more dangerous situation especially when travelling at some speed in heavy traffic.this can at least be turned off if you remember to do so at the beginning of every trip. The audio system is a nightmare constantly wanting to Bluetooth to everything it picks up. Televisions other phones, cars, it’s appalling. Turning off wifi is not enough you have to turn off the Bluetooth from another screen as well and then it will simply turn itself back on again. Without you doing anything. It is constantly turning on and changing screens intermittently it is like it will react to outside influences while your driving. It becomes very distracting and very very annoying. I use this car everyday all day for work. I still have not worked out how stop automatic call answering it just answers every incoming call regardless. I have turned off auto answering on both the phone and the audio system. Yet it still auto answers. Arrh. Very unfriendly system and very frustrating. Took it to an authorised Isuzu dealer they had no answers. The user manual is bigger than a bible.
Only just okay – My latest employer provided work only car. In comparison to the previous D Max, Interior: is just a funereal looking as the last one with everything in black. The car has a vinyl floor covering which in a work vehicle is good for it's easy to clean. Dash cluster is easy to read but often has silly meaningless messages and more about that in a… Read more
minute. Air conditioning is adequate with dials not menus. Infotainment I can't comment on as I don't use it. Driver's seat is comfortable with good support. Driving: Ride quality is a bit jiggly over uneven surfaces. This D Max has a "safety package" which often gives false messages. There is a tiny speed sign which is only good in dry weather not foggy weather or night time driving. A message appears in the dash cluster "unable to read speed clean windscreen". If in a 60kph zone and then I turn down another road that message appears until it finds a speed sign it can read. Also when driving through a school zone the speed indicator adjusts to 40kph which doesn't apply out of the stated times but the car's computer doesn't know that. The silly chimes with this feature can be turned off permanently in the menu system. Anti collision warning when you're not about to collide with anything and the dash cluster goes red and there's a red LED warning bar where the top of the dashboard meets the lower part of the windscreen. I've covered that up with black gaffer tape. Lane keeping assist can be turned off by pressing a small steering wheel icon on the right side of the steering wheel. It has to be done every time you start the car. All these silly messages an safety icons appearing in the dash cluster make driving the car LESS safe because you're taking you eyes off the road it read and look this rubbish. Fuel economy is not great but I do have a heavy canopy on the back so the economy reads 11-13L/100km and I get about 600-650km to a tank of diesel but it's mainly stop start urban driving. On picking up the D max from work when new I did what I always do and went to a servo to check the tyre pressures and not one tyre matched another. The highest was 28psi and the lowest was 19psi and it should have been 33psi front 43psi rear. Gearbox: being an auto the accelerator has to be pressed hard to get it moving with gear changes taking place at 2000rpm and with a CVT auto one needs to keep the accelerator pressed to keep the car at 2000rpm to achieve rapid changes. This needs to be done if pulling away from rest on an 80kph zoned road. The car has a manual selector and like the previous Colorado and D Max I tend to use this rather than leaving the selector in D. The car will change down to first gear when stopping like at traffic lights. But can be manually moved to second for a higher and smoother take off speed. This car doesn't have running lights and only halogen lights as it's the poverty pack model. Already rattles have started to appear coming from the cheap plastic door cards with only 16K on the odometer and I wonder what else is soon to rear it's ugly head. Being an employer provided work only car I don't have to worry about fuel costs, rego, insurance or servicing costs as my employer has facilities for servicing the car. The car only goes back to the dealer for warranty work if needed and the work will be done as the dealer has no choice as my employer is government. Would I buy one? no just too much under developed computer tech put into the car to comply with ADR regulations with little thought given to it's functionality in day to day driving.
Find out how Isuzu D-MAX compares to other Utes
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What customer service – Bought the car new in 2019, at 30000km had a turbo replaced, has gone into limp mode 4 times while towing our caravan, last time the wiring wasn't plugged in yet they still blame the caravan. Had another turbo replaced at 75000km and the barometric pressure switch was replaced because it had bull dust in it. The engine blew up because the… Read more
bullbar that the dealership fitted prior to purchase made the intercooler overheat, it took 9 months and 2 court cases to have the car fixed. A new engine was fitted which has since failed. Currently my vehicle is sitting at Isuzu Toowoomba and has been for the past 2 months waiting for Isuzu Australia to decide if my new engine can be installed. Customer service is obviously not part of the deal when you purchase a vehicle from them.
Have I got plans for this baby – I have had my X-Terrain for 6 months now, and am greatly impressed. From its roomy interior, to faux leather and heated seats, to the power and smoothness on the freeway, large lined tub with lockable roller cover, tough looks, quiet ride, and OK fuel economy. I have towed a large loaded trailer, and it had absolutely no issues; maintaining speeds… Read more
uphill without effort while in cruise control. I travel frequently between the North Coast NSW, Canberra, and Far South Coast NSW, and the ride feels safe and very stable. I haven't done much off-road, but that will change. I intend to tow a van with this ute and after perusing the roads prior to purchase to see what people prefer, the D-Max and MUX, were regularly spotted towing trailers, vans, boats of all varieties and sizes.
The reason I have taken away a star, and it's not a minor issue either, is the collision alert system, that has involved itself on a number of occasions, characterised by red flashing lights, an alarm, and automatic braking. The idea is great, but the reality is that the brakes will be activated even when the vehicle in front veers off and moves out of your way, and it is apparent that there is absolutely no chance of a collision. The first time this occurred, my heart rate returned to normal in about 2 hours. Like most modern cars, there are all the annoying beeps and buzzes, which can be turned off easily, as well as the lane departure mechanism, which you occasionally have to fight the steering wheel to go where you want to go.
The reverse camera is perfect, as well as the front sensors, which come in handy when you can't see the front of the vehicle. I have had nothing but praise for the dealers, who have been supportive from the purchase phase, to servicing.
Storage inside the cabin is plentiful, with (large) cup holders and recesses everywhere. I have had a slight issue with using an Android, and especially when my partner uses her Iphone, with the D-Max wanting to automatically change its allegiance to Apple randomly. Needless to say, she isn't welcome anymore...Kidding! The screen took a bit of getting used to, but once familiar with Isuzu logic, you know where to go. Not really intuitive.
I'm 6' 3" and sat in the rear seats for a short drive, with no issues at all. The middle rear seat is a little more uncomfortable and a grown adult would suffer on a long drive. Overall, I am looking forward to some long distance travel adventures with my new baby. Very impressed so far!
Very poor service, don't cover faults under warranty agreement – At 25000km we have been told the vehicle needs a new clutch and will not be covered under warranty, costing us $600 to replace. Vehicle has already had to have starter motor replaced and recalled as tray nuts to chassis are falling out frequently. One month with no car and no offer of a courtesy vehicle, dealer very rude and short with us, poor… Read more
communication. We would never buy from Isuzu again given the poor service we have received. We have honoured all services have only taken it off road twice on unsealed roads fit for 2 wheel drives. Isuzu has blamed us for driving the car through water over wading depth yet this is untrue.
Great vehicle, just as good as their rivels – Love my Dmax. Im on my second one now ( upgraded) and I wont drive anything else! They're just as good if not better as there rivels starting with 'H'. I have never had any faults with either of mine. No DPF issues as long ( take it for a highway drive once a week for at least 30mins, that should prevent that). The only thing I will say is that the dmax has a turning circle of a road train, but they are a great ute Show details
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DMax all the way – Bought the DMax before I retired to tow the 2.5ton van. Bought the extra cab (suicide doors), steel tray and put a checkerplate canopy on it. Had it 75,000km now and find it perfect for towing. Sits on around 15L/100km at 100km/hour. I can highly recommend them for this purpose. Great daily drive as well. Look around any caravan park and you will see many DMax and MUX towing. Show details
Buy Pre DPF or Petrol, don't buy ISUZU – The car itself has been decent up until now and a DPF sensor has rendered it useless. After sales support and servicing has always been subpar. Two week wait until they can take 15 minutes to fit a sensor. Faulty turbo, first replaced, second one making the same noise but they say it's okay this time. Rubbish body mounts, refused warranty because… Read more
of a GVM upgrade besides others with a GVM upgrade getting them replaced by warranty. Others experience body cracks and AC lines breaking. Buy a pre DPF car or petrol.
Maybe the updated model will iron out issues – Had immobiliser issues and keyless entry issues within the first 3 months of ownership. Saftey swerving and braking is dangerous on country roads. Looks really nice and drove nice apart from these issues. Ended up selling and going back to an older model as we intend to travel remotely and don't need unnecessary electrical issues. Show details
Brilliant car .. pity about the customer service – While everything I have previously written about the ute is true, recent customer service has altered my opinion of purchasing another Isuzu. We recently left her in for a service and a tyre fault was brought to our attention. After driving around for two months on the spare tyre, we have been informed that Isuzu will not be replacing the faulty… Read more
tyre as it was meant to be actioned at another time.
So now we have to replace an obviously damaged tyre at our expense.
Not happy to say the least
True Review: The powerful diesel offers a very smooth and comfortable ride and the heated leather seats are a spoiler for this amber beauty. We purchased her to tow our new caravan and have not been disappointed - tows our 19 foot van like there was nothing on board. The DMax provides ample storage including a handy pop down sunglass holder and cup holders in the centre console and doors. Airconditioning is easy to negotiate for both front seat passengers and there have been no complaints from the back seat. The centre touchscreen is easy to use and does not impact driving. The sound system is great and comes with both Apple and Android accessibility as well as a USB port. We opted for roof racks that hold our surfboards and SUP easily. The only down side for the new ute is the rolling tonneau cover for the parcel bay .. the storage capacity is compromised by the roll mechanism. Other than that, she is a smart looking vehicle and much more impressive than this small sedan driver expected.
Vehicle is good performer, but not Isuzu Assist – Very impressed for the first 3 years. Performs well, economical on fuel, and huge torque good for towing my 21' caravan, but the 6 year Isuzu Assist cover is a waste of time. I had a minor issue with the brakes which caused the pedal to go to the floor slowly, even though it would still pull me up. Because it was scary, I felt it needed to be… Read more
fixed immediately before continuing my trip with the caravan in tow. I call Isuzu roadside Assist, and they say no worries, we will have someone out there within 1 hour to help you back on your way. Well not so; a guy from RAA Port Augusta SA tell me they have to send a tow truck and cart it to a repairer of my choice. Really? And leave my caravan parked so it can be stolen by thieves? As it was, I limped to a caravan park only 5kms away, so I was not left totally in the cold. So I ask who can repair and they say Isuzu motors in Port Augusta... so I call them. They say sorry, we are very busy and cant help you for 10-15 days. I was left high and dry by Isuzu Assist. So I call a local guy from AAA Auto in Port Augusta, and he fix me up no problems within 24 hours (after I drive it to his workshop) and back on the road again and only charge me $200. All it was is a small piece of grit had entered when I take off the master cylinder cap to check levels. This grit had stuck under one of the seals causing fluid to escape, and hence the pedal goes slow to the floor. If the RAA guy had of attended the car like he is supposed to do, it could have easily been accessed and I would be on my way. Problem is, it should have cost me nothing, but of course I had to pay AAA Auto out of my own pocket. What are my chances of being reimbursed by Isuzu? Two hopes... Buckleys and none I reckon. So much for the 6 years guarantee and Road assist. I do hope an Isuzu rep sees this. I used to praise them to everyone... not now mate... they are full of hot air. The Dmax is used for caravaning and small local trips for everyday services only... hence the low milage. The vehicle is great, but after sales is lacking. EDIT: One thing I neglected to add... Its not Isuzu fault for grit under seal; so it is merely the "assist" part I am not satisfied with.
Find out how Isuzu D-MAX compares to other Utes
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Dont believe Isuzu false promises on delivery times – I paid a deposit in November - told to expect delivery late April. May came - no ute. Then June, July both promised but now its mid August I'm told its not even built yet. Either Isuzu Japan lies to Isuzu Australia or Isuzu Australia lies to their dealers. No business can be that far out of control with their basic supply processes. To make it… Read more
worse, 2 emails to Isuzu Australia have gone unanswered. I feel sorry for their dealers. Wish I'd ordered a Toyota. They were more honest about delivery times.
Buyers beware! – Had a 2015 dmax 4x4 car was regularly serviced and well looked after, first two weeks of ownership the fuel pump failed and had to be replaced under warranty, 12 months out of warranty and the engine failed completely and had to be replaced had only done 130,000km's, Isuzu provided absolutely no compensation as it was outside of warranty, absolute… Read more
pain to deal with. Then the rear diff failed 2 weeks after having the engine replaced (this is a known problem with the Dmax) Isuzu also wanted no part in helping out on this occasion. I would stay away from this brand unless you want a poor product and bad customer service.
DPF problem, no warranty support – 2021 model, DPF problem after 45k. Isuzu Australia looked for excuses for 4 weeks, refused warranty. Their excuse is some "contaminants" in the bottom of fuel tank. Anyone can be in the same position. I will never buy from Isuzu again! Show details
Ticks all the boxes for a great 4x4 ute – When I started looking for a new Ute, I explored all brands and did extensive research. What lead to the purchase of the DMAX Xterrain was the design, the towing capacity and 3L turbo diesel, the value for money (much less than popular utes such as the Ranger) and inclusions. The x terrain comes with extras such as premium leather and red… Read more
stitching on the dash and doors to complement, the roller cover for the tray, the Moulded seats etc.
I have had for 6 months now and can say I love my Ute, very easy to drive, great on the beach and dirt tracks, hard wearing and looks great.
Rated as a reasonable buy after 15 months use – Model: 2021 Build. SX Space Cab 3Ltr Auto Pickup truck style. (e.g. NOT roadworks style ute with flat aluminium tray) Paid: 39K new on the road, (price included some options such as side steps, tonneau cover, 2 sets of front and rear floor mats (1 rubber / 1 carpet), and rear tray liner mat. Likes: - 3LTR Engine has enough go for my purpose -… Read more
Torque converter Auto transmission works quite fine - This model was more affordable than others and represented reasonable value for the vehicle segment - seats are comfortable, including on longer trips - the steel wheels on this model don't look as bad as on many other ute brands, and are cheap to replace if dented badly by potholes etc... - the AT tyres than come with the car are just about right for a mix of country highway travel and unmade or dirt/gravel roads (which is what I drive on). - plenty of interior cabin storage space and options
Dislikes: - audio system sound is terrible and volume takes forever to adjust up and down (can only be adjusted by buttons) - paint work is subpar and too soft or thin resulting in scratches or marks that come far too easily (e.g. on plastic bumpers) - no rear jump seats and seatbelts, unlike the previous model - media system display panel and software is absolutely terrible to use and extremely old-school (android auto is not visible as an option even though it is supposed to be) - when needing to travel unladen, suspension is absolutely bone-jarring on this model, which has the heavy duty suspension installed as standard - interior trim is pretty cheap and nasty (e.g. hard black plastics with zero silver garnishing, and vinyl flooring rather than carpet - though among other various free inclusions and discounts, I did negotiate a set of carpet mats for using when I need them) - just even a slightly dirty/dusty windscreen will result in the cruise control not functioning. - both keys are really long old-school keys on this base model that do not fold in, so stick into you in your pocket when carrying - the options on the speedometer display are lacking, and hard to read (overcrowded). E.g. display a lot of info that you don't need, but none of the basic info that you do need, such as how many KMs until your tank is empty.
Would I buy it again? - It's been fine so far, and I really can't complain. In truth though I'd probably buy a Ford Ranger base model next time, or even one model above the base level to get just a little more "bling". The Ford Ranger also looks a lot better in the new 2023? model in my view, and dealers are easier to come across in remote areas.
The best 4WD Ute I’ve ever owned! – It’s nothing fancy but this is by far the best 4WD Ute I’ve ever owned. Bought new I have never had a problem with this Ute. The 3ltr engine is super reliable. I’ve now got 170kms on the clock and apart from scheduled services I’ve only ever had to replace one set of tyres and one battery. The dealer services are always 10/10. I recommend these utes for all tradies out there. Show details
Perfect Euthanasia Device – If you drive this vehicle with lane control turned on it won't be too long until you are fighting it to stay on the right side of the road. I would say at least 5 times a day I have to fight the steering to stay on the correct side of the road. Dangerous cars. Show details
automatic transmission – I had to replace the transmission after 252000 as it stopped working, this is really poor considering the price of vehicle, looking at internet this seems all they do before replacing. not good enough Show details
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Ute Tray Leaks – I bought the X terrain because it had the lockable roller cover, not once was I advised it was not waterproof and to expect so much water in the tray that you cannot store any items in the tray. I have rung Isuzu and they say it is fit for purpose. I would not have bought this model of car, I would have bought a cheaper model with another cover if… Read more
I was advised of this. I had an older DMAX and it never failed and I regret buying this car now. Very disappointing and do not recommend the car to anyone who wants to put things in the tray without getting wet\mouldy.
Isuzu confirmed it does leak in two places but wouldn't fix it.
nice ute with some dumb things – got rid of my 2018 mazda BT-50 as it was using too much fuel and mazda wouldnt/couldnt do any thing about it. Bought the 2022D-Max LS-U space cab from Harrigans at Yallah. first impression was a leap forward in comfort, ride and features in this next generation vehicle. Seats are much better than previous Isuzu and the ride is very nice with… Read more
better suspension and electric power steering. A lot of technology in the car but a lot of it is of little use to the driver. The first thing you turn off is the lane departure which can now be done with a button on the wheel rather than searching through menus. Great. The collision avoidance has a habit of jamming the brakes on when it really wasnt necessary and on a couple of occasions I was nearly rear ended by other cars while over taking and it jammed the brakes on when I got too close to the car in from while changing lanes. You should be able to turn all this crap off and have it stored in memory rather than doing it all again every time you start the car. Auto wiper and headlights, nice. Seat belt buckles too low and a pain to engage. Passenger seat belt rattles constantly and is annoying. Radio has rather poor reception distance and built in voice command is rubbish and constantly asks you to repeat your command. Android auto is far superior. needed a wheel alignment at 15k service. Apparently the weight of the bull bar puts your alignment out and why they didnt do it at the dealer before delivery is a mystery. Fuel consumption average 8.5ltr/100km which is mainly highway driving. Gearbox is much better than what was in the Mazda. The brakes always feel spongy and feel like they wont stop you in a heavy braking situation. The old mazda had much better brakes. The bull bar is below bonnet line because of the cabin cameras and you cant tell how close you are to objects as there are no parking sensors and only available in the X-terrain. Overall a nice ute with annoying things
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