- Doors and Seats
4 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
3.0DT, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
140kW, 450Nm
- Fuel
Diesel 8L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4XD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
6 Yr, 150000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
5/5 star (2020)
2021 Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain review: MY21 wrap up
We revisit Isuzu's new and impressive ute before changes come rolling in for 2022.
- Comfortable for short and long trips alike
- Now sporting a much needed rear diff lock
- Top-notch safety inclusions
- Illogical pricing structure of the D-Max range
- Needs the Rough Terrain button from the MU-X
- Still not as polished on-road as other utes
Introduction
We all know how popular four-wheel-drive utes are at the moment, and the 2021 Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain is no doubt riding that wave.
So far in the depressed automotive market of 2021, Australians have scooped up 160,881 four-wheel-drive utes like this D-Max. That's 18 per cent of Australia's total new car market, and officially Australia's most voluminous type of car.
Medium SUVs come next (151,006 vehicles, 17.0 per cent) followed by – surprise, surprise – small SUVs (122,443 vehicles, 13.7 per cent) and large SUVs (113,936 vehicles, 12.8 per cent).
And while the Isuzu D-Max still sits behind the dominating Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux in terms of overall sales, this new-generation model has allowed the two-model manufacturer to move up the ladder into a coveted third place.
While the old Isuzu D-Max was loved for its good value, vaunted motor and solid reputation, the new D-Max impresses with comfort, safety and technology.
The new Isuzu D-Max keeps a 3500kg braked towing capacity, which is complemented by a 970kg payload and 5950kg gross combination mass.
It's worth noting here that some changes are coming through for 2022, which will help the D-Max X-Terrain keep up with the ute Joneses. These include heated seats, heated side mirrors, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, red stitching in the black leather seats and a tow bar receiver. Although, the ball/hitch remains to be an extra cost.
Prices will creep upwards for the new 2022 D-Max X-Terrain, and Isuzu looks to retain its lopsided pricing structure for the foreseeable future. That means with a $62,990 drive-away asking price, the top-spec Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain is priced very closely to the more basic mid-spec LS-U. It seems entirely illogical, but having a drive-away deal only for the X-Terrain means you'd be mad to plump for any other specification without a deal-sweetening discount.
X-Terrain enjoys some big additions over the lesser specifications: soon-to-be heated leather seats, sailplane-style sportsbar, manual roller cover, black alloy wheels and wheel arch flares.
And considering Isuzu's wacky pricing structure, the X-Terrain is by far the best-value trim level in the D-Max range.
Key details | 2021 Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain |
Price (MSRP) | $62,990 drive-away |
Colour of test car | Mineral White |
Options | None |
Price as tested | $62,990 drive-away |
Rivals | Toyota HiLux | Mazda BT-50 | Ford Ranger |
Inside
Leather-accented seats in this top-spec D-Max help with the higher asking price, and put the D-Max on a strong value footing in comparison to other leathered-up four-wheel-drive utes. They are comfortable seats with decent electric adjustment for the driver.
Ergonomically, the cabin is overall quite easy to live with. Air-conditioning controls are easy to manipulate, but we would love to see a volume dial to help with easy control. The buttons can be a little bit frustrating to operate while on the move.
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Two cupholders are supported by additional slide-out units under each outboard air vent, and there are plenty of options for storing the everyday stuff up front in the D-Max: twin gloveboxes are good, as is the lidded compartment on top of the dashboard.
The second row of the D-Max is also good, benefitting from an increased wheelbase in comparison to the previous generation. Leg room, head room and general comfort overall make it one of the better examples of a ute in the segment. There are air vents plus a couple of USB points too.
Two large adults can fit comfortably in the back, while three can feel a little bit like a squeeze. It's possible but not perfect – like most other four-wheel-drive utes.
Flipping up the seat bases gives you some handy extra storage space, and those wanting to use every nook and cranny will also be looking behind the seatbacks.
Like other utes, fitting child seats into a new D-Max can be a little frustrating. It's a different set-up in this case, with the outboard top-tether points going through a fabric loop and then onto a centrally mounted steel point. It's not impossible to get right, but it is fiddly to get all of the slack out of the top-tether straps – especially when your seat is forward-facing.
This is probably a minor issue for those who will install a seat and leave it for months at a time, but is guaranteed to be frustrating if you are planning on regularly moving seats between cars.
2021 Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain | |
Seats | Five |
Payload | 970kg |
Length | 5280mm |
Width | 1880mm |
Height | 1810mm |
Wheelbase | 3125mm |
Infotainment and Connectivity
Like the LS-U specification below, the X-Terrain enjoys a large 9.0-inch infotainment display. It's the same operating system and experience as the smaller 7.0-inch system in lower grade models, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, although it has the addition of digital radio and native navigation.
The screen size is one of the larger examples you'll find in a four-wheel-drive ute, and the quality of the display also seems quite good. This is one area where developments and improvements are fast-paced, so expect other carmakers to match or exceed Isuzu's offering here in future models.
The user experience is simple and straightforward, without a stack of functionality on offer to dig through. But for those who will only flick between smartphone mirroring, a bit of navigation and a few different radio stations, then it's fine for the job. A volume dial would help make life easier, instead of the buttons below the dash and on the steering wheel that need concerted mashing for fast decibel changes.
The multifunction display in front of the driver is decent as well, offering a bit more than your average readout of trip information. It can be a bit fiddly to navigate at times, especially adjusting some of the settings. But once again, this isn't necessarily a deal-breaker for longer-term ownership.
Safety and Technology
Isuzu's D-Max was the first ute to pick up a front centre airbag, as it targeted top marks in a 2020 ANCAP test. It got that, along with its twin-under-the-skin Mazda BT-50. Both were successful and shot to the top of the four-wheel-drive ute pack in terms of overall safety.
Adult occupant protection (83 per cent) and child occupant protection (89 per cent) are both strong in the event of a crash, as is safety assistance (84 per cent).
Much of the advanced safety equipment comes from the twin cameras mounted high in the windscreen, which can detect pedestrians, cyclists and cross-intersection traffic, warning of an impending collision and applying the brakes if necessary. There is also blind-spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition and adaptive cruise control.
Having the cameras mounted up here is different to grille-mounted radars, and helps for those wanting to fit accessories like bullbars and driving lights. It also potentially affects the performance of the active safety systems in bad weather. Being out of the mud is helpful, but heavy rain can obscure the vision of the cameras.
Unfortunately, the lane-departure warning and lane-keep assistance systems – which both operate through those same top cameras – are difficult to live with at times. They can be overbearing in their judgements, tugging at the wheel and against your own inputs as you stay within lane markings.
It's a problem made worse by the fact that the assistance technology is difficult to turn off – navigating through the multifunction display via steering wheel buttons, only when the car is parked. Adding a button here to quickly toggle the technology on and off would help a lot.
2021 Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain | |
ANCAP rating | Five stars (tested 2020) |
Safety report | Link to ANCAP |
Value for Money
Considering the D-Max X-Terrain is the only dual-cab variant with drive-away pricing, it's the clear choice of its respective range. LS-U, with its cloth seat trim and bare tub, is approximately the same price (depending on the on-road costs) with a lot less gear.
And at $62,990 drive-away, the D-Max is a proper value proposition against popular (and more expensive) top-speccers like the Ford Ranger Wildtrak and Toyota HiLux Rogue. Those two utes have more advanced electric roller covers at the back, and there are a range of smaller details and changes to consider. But on the overall weight of things, the D-Max X-Terrain competes heartily in terms of value for money.
Service intervals of every 12 months or 15,000km is the norm for this kind of vehicle, and Isuzu offers a seven-year capped-price servicing program. This equals $3374 over the seven years, with the most expensive visit (90,000km) costing $749.
This capped-price program is joined by a six-year, 150,000km warranty, and seven years' worth of roadside assistance provided that you keep up with dealership servicing.
At a glance | 2021 Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain |
Warranty | Six years / 150,000km |
Service intervals | 12 months / 15,000km |
Servicing costs | $1407 (3 years) | $2215 (5 years) |
Fuel cons. (claimed) | 8.0L/100km |
Fuel cons. (on test) | 8.7L/100km |
Fuel type | Diesel |
Fuel tank size | 76L |
Driving
One of the main reasons people bought the previous-generation Isuzu D-Max was because of what's lurking underneath the bonnet. This new D-Max retains the same 3.0-litre, four-cylinder size and layout, but this engine has been reworked fairly significantly for some additional harumph.
It now makes 140kW and 450Nm, both good figures that represent a solid – if not huge – jump over the previous-generation diesel. It still lags behind key competitors in the segment, with smaller engines producing more power and torque in some cases.
However, this Isuzu diesel engine does impress with its laziness in performance. And I mean lazy in a good way. Torque comes on without too much prodding of the throttle, and you can tell that this engine is much happier lugging through the lower and middle rev ranges rather than searching out any kind of redline.
Peak torque is available between 1600 and 2600rpm. Nice and low, and many will appreciate that this larger engine does it without the need for more complex twin and sequential turbocharging. Isuzu also tells us that 400Nm – a big figure once upon a time – is on tap between 1400 and 3250rpm. That's where you'll be spending 98 per cent of your time with this motor.
Matched with a smooth and predictable six-speed automatic gearbox, the D-Max sets an easy, unhurried pace around town. If you're looking to keep up with the Joneses at red lights and the like, the D-Max won't leave you completely red-faced. It doesn't feel as quick as other four-wheel-drive utes, but it's got enough acceleration on offer for application.
But in doing so, you introduce a lot more noise and vibration, so my suggestion is: let them speed past, and allow your engine to ride that easy wave of torque for more refinement and compliance.
Electric steering in this new D-Max is light-feeling, allowing single-finger twirling for chucking a three-point turn – often needed with a 12.5m turning circle. As speeds increase, the steering system steadily introduces more and more weight and feeling through the steering wheel to help it feel balanced and easy to drive.
Ride quality is good, with the X-Terrain's slightly softer rear suspension yielding a bit of compliance around town. One shouldn't expect this D-Max to ride as well as something like an SUV, but the new D-Max is good regardless. And if you're planning on throwing a few extra bits and bobs in the back of the D-Max, that ride quality will smooth out even more.
Key details | 2021 Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain |
Engine | 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel |
Power | 140kW @ 3600rpm |
Torque | 450Nm @ 1600-2600rpm |
Drive type | Part-time four-wheel drive, low-range transfer case |
Transmission | Six-speed torque converter automatic |
Power to weight ratio | 65.7kW/t |
Weight (kerb) | 2130kg |
Tow rating | 3500kg braked, 750kg unbraked |
Turning circle | 12.5m |
Conclusion
Isuzu's D-Max has been enjoying big success since it launched around 12 months ago, and this will no doubt continue as supply looks to remain constrained in the short-term future.
It's worth pointing out that there is rarely a dull moment in this competitive part of the new car industry. Key competitors are constantly being upgraded and refreshed as time goes on, with the Toyota HiLux and Nissan Navara both getting a significant recent refresh. Mazda's twin-under-the-skin BT-50 is a direct competitor as well, and Ford's top-selling Ranger is due for a major overhaul very soon.
This new D-Max doesn't only compete in terms of price and reputation, like the previous generation. Its safety credentials are among the best you will find in the segment, and other disciplines like technology, comfort and refinement are all quite good.
And while this more advanced D-Max is now more expensive than the previous generation – not helped by demand currently outstripping supply – the X-Terrain in particular is the value proposition of the range. It also holds a strong value quotient against key competitors like the Ford Ranger Wildtrak and Toyota HiLux Rogue.
Mitsubishi's Triton GSR and Nissan's Navara Pro-4X both drive a hard bargain as well, but both of those utes don't carry the same strength of standard safety and convenience inclusions as this X-Terrain.
And while the subtle updates and inclusions of the new 2022 D-Max will help its appeal, Isuzu's new four-wheel-drive ute will likely be a popular choice for Australians in the coming years.