- 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)
2022 Isuzu D-Max LS-M 4×4 review – UPDATE
The 2022 Isuzu D-Max LS-M specification is the most affordable way into a dual-cab body style, and 4x4 variant, with the larger 3.0-litre diesel engine. But does it represent the best value in the line-up?
- Robust 3.0-litre engine and impressive outputs
- Great level of standard safety gear
- Functional cabin space with neat storage
- Too much black plastic inside
- Questionable value equation over higher-specified variants
- Jittery ride over minor road imperfections
2023 Isuzu D-Max
UPDATE: November 2022
Since this car was reviewed, the specifications for the 2023 Isuzu D-Max range have been announced.
If you are looking to buy an MY23 Isuzu D-Max LS-M 4x4, the updated specification includes new cloth upholstery, dark-grey metallic fog light trim and a tyre pressure monitoring system. Pricing remains the same at $55,300 (before on-road costs) for the 4x4 automatic.
There are no mechanical changes, so this review from May 2022 still reflects the car you can order or buy today.
You can read our full price and specification notes for the updated 2023 Isuzu D-Max range here.
This review was originally published on 24-May-2022.
Is the Isuzu D-Max a good car?
As the reigning champ of the 2022 Drive Car of the Year Best Dual-Cab Ute, it should come as no surprise that we have a lot of time for the 2022 Isuzu D-Max. Taking top honours – alongside its Mazda BT-50 joint winner – in the popular category is no easy feat with judges considering a full gamut of factors in handing down the prestigious category win.
It's praise that top-specification variants like the D-Max X-Terrain eat up, but model grades such as the low-to-mid-tier D-Max LS-M deserve their time in limelight too.
The 2022 Isuzu D-Max LS-M is the most affordable way into a D-Max with the desirable 3.0-litre turbo diesel engine, a 4x4 driveline, and with a Crew Cab (dual-cab) body style. In effect, it’s the most affordable way into the kind of dual-cab style that makes the most sense with lifestyle buyers and families, as opposed to fleet buyers and trade workers.
It uses the 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine Isuzu fans love, whose outputs are sent through a six-speed automatic transmission to a switchable four-wheel-drive system. With the automatic transmission it costs $55,300 before on-road costs, but a drive-away price based on delivery in Melbourne is $60,437 before options and accessories.
Add on pieces such as the manual roller tonneau cover ($2983), tow bar kit ($1075), tub-liner ($670), and electronic brake controller ($820), and it starts to look scarily close to higher-specified model grades in the D-Max line-up.
Let’s see whether the D-Max still shines as brightly when taking a magnifying glass to the lower end of the line-up.
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Key details | 2022 Isuzu D-Max LS-M 4x4 |
Price (MSRP) | $55,300 plus on-road costs |
Colour of test car | Mineral White |
Options and accessories | Towbar and tongue kit – $1075 Electronic brake controller – $820 Tow bar wiring harness (7-pin flat) – $249 Tub liner - under rail – $670 Manual roller tonneau cover – $2983 Rubber floor mats – $190 |
Price as tested | $60,848 plus on-road costs $66,724 drive-away incl. accessories (Melbourne) |
Rivals | Nissan Navara | Mazda BT-50 | Ford Ranger |
What is the Isuzu D-Max like inside?
This LS-M is a step up from the entry-level SX, but looking at the interior it’s immediately clear that it’s a small step. What you’re really paying for is a standard-fit 3.0-litre engine.
The space is filled with the same hard-wearing plastics and a polyurethane steering wheel as the fleet-spec SX, which would hurt when paying over $60K on the road. Particularly painful is the hard centre console lid that's uncomfortable as an elbow-rest on longer drives.
The floor is wash-out vinyl that – although easy to clean – feels a bit ordinary. That said, our tester scored a set of rubber floor mats that dramatically lifted the appearance and feel of the cabin.
It’s a no-frills affair in terms of presentation, but as a space to use, the D-Max’s interior is comfortable. I’m a particular fan of the broad-shouldered seats that provide great lateral support and a comfy base.
There is good adjustability between the driver's seat and steering wheel to get a nice perch, while storage space is well catered to. The latter includes a tray in front of the shifter and nice large door pockets for big bottles.
There’s also a two-part glovebox with space inside the dashboard as well as underneath it.
Back seat passengers have enough headroom (even for taller passengers) and even decent knee room. The dash features a single-zone air-conditioning system, where outlets also extend to the second row. It’s nice and quick to start up and blow cool air on a hot day.
2022 Isuzu D-Max LS-M 4x4 | |
Seats | Five |
Length | 5265mm |
Width | 1870mm |
Height | 1785mm |
Wheelbase | 3125mm |
How big is the screen in the Isuzu D-Max?
Embedded within the dash is a smaller-sized 7.0-inch infotainment system that is shared with low grade Mazda BT-50 models. Functionality of the system is simple with prominent shortcuts along the bottom of the screen, though it’s a little basic in terms of content and design.
Users can connect up Apple CarPlay or Android Auto-equipped phones if those systems are preferred – Apple CarPlay can be accessed via a wireless or wired connection, but Android users must carry a cord to use their software. As standard, there is an annoying beep played through the speakers every time you make a screen selection, but this is easily turned off in the settings.
A small TFT screen is found within the instrument cluster, which shows a digital speed readout and other pertinent drive information.
Is the Isuzu D-Max a safe car?
ANCAP last tested the Isuzu D-Max range in 2020 where it achieved a full five-star rating.
The D-Max fares impressively when it comes to standard safety equipment, with items including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and prevention, lane-follow assist, rear cross-traffic alert, speed assist (linking traffic sign recognition to the speed limiter), rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and a reversing camera.
The entire range benefits from a new steering wheel switch that allows drivers to simply switch lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning and prevention, and emergency lane-keeping systems off. This was a common complaint with the D-Max of last year.
2022 Isuzu D-Max LS-M 4x4 | |
ANCAP rating | Five stars (tested 2020) |
Safety report | Link to ANCAP report |
How much does the Isuzu D-Max cost in Australia?
All Isuzu cars are backed by a six-year/150,000km warranty, which betters the five-year warranty offered by twin-under-the-skin Mazda BT-50. You also get seven years of roadside assistance – exactly what you want with an adventure-focused ute – and seven years of capped-price servicing.
With regard to the latter, each service should be completed at 12-month or 15,000km intervals (whichever is first). Three years of servicing costs $1467 and five years’ worth will set you back $2315. Isuzu throws in a complimentary 3000km/three-month inspection for free.
At a glance | 2022 Isuzu D-Max LS-M 4x4 |
Warranty | Six years / 150,000km |
Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
Servicing costs | $1467 (3 years), $2315 (5 years) |
The D-Max is officially rated at 6.9L/100km (combined) in terms of fuel consumption, but our recording stands at 8.7L/100km. The D-Max LS-M’s fuel tank fits 76L of diesel fuel.
Fuel Consumption - brought to you by bp
Fuel Useage | Fuel Stats |
Fuel cons. (claimed) | 6.9L/100km |
Fuel cons. (on test) | 8.7L/100km |
Fuel type | Diesel |
Fuel tank size | 76L |
What is the Isuzu D-Max like to drive?
It’s not until you get to the LS-M specification in the D-Max range that you receive the fan-favourite 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine as standard. Whereas the entry-level 1.9-litre is meek and underpowered, the larger 3.0-litre engine option is a far better suitor for the 2030kg vehicle.
Outputs totalling 140kW/450Nm feel strong when put to the ground, with a helpful shove of torque making for easy overtakes and effortless towing capability. This ute gets a full 3500kg braked tow capacity, right up there equal-best with other offerings in the segment.
Impressively, it’s not overly thrashy or loud when pressing on the throttle – not from inside the cabin at least. The six-speed automatic transmission has the smarts to pick up a new ratio whenever it’s needed, whether you’re zipping through traffic in town, or going up and down hills further afield. It’s not nearly as sensitive to throttle inputs as its smaller-capacity 1.9-litre alternative, which is especially appreciated in suburbia where a touchy throttle can take some getting used to.
Ride control is a bit jumpy across the board, and the D-Max skips over road imperfections and creases more than you’d expect. Larger impacts are well-damped on initial hit, but the movement does cause the cabin to buck around, especially when there’s nothing in the rear tray.
While we didn’t venture too far off the tarmac with this specific D-Max, past experience with the model has been positive. There’s a locking rear differential included across the range that keeps the car moving along over particularly rough terrain, while the high-riding body articulates well over stubborn mounds and ruts.
Lastly, Isuzu should be praised for its inclusion of standard safety kit, which brings adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. Far be it from being one of the few manufacturers to offer this tech at such a low specification level, it works really well in practice and faithfully follows vehicles ahead.
Key details | 2022 Isuzu D-Max LS-M 4x4 |
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 | 69.0kW/t |
Weight (kerb) | 2030kg |
Tow rating | 3500kg braked, 750kg unbraked |
Turning circle | 12.5m |
Should I buy an Isuzu D-Max?
Though you do get the most important bits that matter under the skin – a strong 3.0-litre engine, a 4x4 configuration, and a dual-cab body style – the D-Max LS-M doesn’t feel that much nicer than an entry-level model such as the SX.
While it’s nice that Isuzu offers a suite of dealer-fit options to spruce up your low-spec ute, we wonder whether your money is better spent by opting for a higher model grade in the line-up such as the X-Terrain or LS-U+. You can then reap the benefits of extra standard inclusions, as well as capitalising on the common drive-away discounts the manufacturer offers.
With that said, the D-Max LS-M is an impressively competent ute backed by a high-output engine and a strong warranty. There’s little wonder why the Isuzu D-Max has jumped leaps and bounds over its predecessor, while fronting up against its competitors to take out the 2022 Drive Car of the Year Best Dual-Cab Ute award.