What are the critics saying about the Isuzu D-Max car?

last updated 11 June 2021

The Daily Telegraph

Pickup trucks like the Isuzu D-Max have never been popular in the UK, where the van is king. But since HMRC views them as commercial vehicles, they come with tax perks. “So should you consider one instead of an SUV?” The four-wheel-drive D-Max can tow up to 3.5 tonnes, and lives up to its “tough, no-nonsense” reputation. But there’s no denying it is “unrefined” next to a passenger car.

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The D-Max comes in layouts to suit everyone – from a single cab with a long bed, to an extended cab, or a family five-seater that doubles as a work truck. It’s also fairly well-equipped and comfortable inside, with good safety tech, a 7-9in infotainment system and both Apple and Android smartphone mirroring. It may not be “plush”, but it is well-built and should last beyond its five-year warranty.

This new D-Max signals Isuzu – primarily a maker of commercial vehicles – going after the “lifestyle” market. But that doesn’t mean the car has gone soft; it remains “unfathomably capable” on rough terrain. That said, on the road the D-Max’s 162bhp 1.9-litre, four-cylinder turbo diesel engine is noticeably loud and harsh. At the least, what Isuzu has delivered is good value durability in relative comfort.