The bakkie man’s Isuzu keeps on delivering the goods
A giant step forward when it a arrived a few seasons back, Isuzu promised state of the art tech enhanced every aspect of its D-Max. Intensively developed, engineered and durability tested in South Africa, for South Africans, they added that D-Max built just for you.
Everything, from suspension to tyres, it’s tough made to measure load box and tailgate, to dust sealing, were exhaustively tested in local conditions. Fettled to meet and exceed every South African customer expectation. In the most demanding of local conditions.
LSE 4×4 neither oTT nor ostentatious
This farmer white middle of the range LSE 4×4 has a chrome grille and trim to set it apart as it steps up to LED headlamps with a smart daylight running signature, front fog lamps and a high level brake light at the rear. The LEDs are a good step up from the Halogens we last drove with in a D-Max LS.
LSE also steps up to face polished 18-inch alloys sporting 265/60 bakkie tyres and has neat side steps and a roll hoop above a neat roller cover. The tailgate does not lock centrally. You can pack a tonne under it in the bak though, and this D-Max can pull an industry standard 3,500 kg braked trailer. Off the beaten track, that 4×4 set up will take you anywhere you want. It eats up the dirt and benefits long droop to climb a few mountains, while Big White, crossed a few rivers with consummate ease.
Not that you’d notice it’s all that different from the previous model though. Park this D-Max alongside a previous one and you may need to squint to see the difference. It’s a larger leap forward inside, however. Neater and more angular, it has a sensible-looking dash and is neither over the top nor ostentatious. Great if you just want a bakkie. Not so much if you seek carlike refinement where it does not belong, but a pleasant place to drive.
D-Max LSE a pleasant place to drive
Unlike the lower grade LS, this one’s infotainment screen better fills the space left for it on the dash. But it’s a usable system. It has Auto, CarPlay and Bluetooth connectivity, USB ports front and rear, and an AUX input too. The touchscreen is backed by dash and steering wheel buttons that also toggle the trip computer nestling between fine and legible analogue dials.
Airconditioned with power windows all round, and remote central locking, the grippy cross stitched power multifunction steering wheel falls nicely to hand. There’s cruise control, and rear park distance control with a reversing camera, traction and stability control, and ABS brakes with EBD and assist, seven airbags, and Isofix kid seat mounts.
For the rest, it’s just a matter of get in and go without any stupid driver aids that are near impossible to switch off. This brisk three-litre four-pot drives very well. It has oodles of usable power and a little turbo lag, but nothing to write home about
Impressively economical at 7.9 l/100 km
Producing 140 kW at a relatively low 3,600 r/min peak, its 450 Nm offsets that in a decent band between 1600 and 2600 revs. D-Max LSE is economical too, at a claimed 8.1 litres per hundred and you should manage well over 900 km on a tank of diesel.
The six-speed automatic shifts easily and logically. On the flipside, this bakkie has a hard and bouncy ride, which was relatively surprising considering the medium profile rubber. But comfortable seats, and a pleasant, spacious driving environment conspire to deliver a good all-round package that’s competitively priced too.
Build quality could be deemed a bit tinny inside and out. And some may consider it ugly. And perhaps a little too similar looking to the older bakkie. But others among us reckon it’s among the better looking bakkies out there.
D-Max LSE is a great value, basic bakkie.
All in all, however, this bakkie sits pretty well up the broad Isuzu D-Max double cab 4×4 hierarchy to deliver a great value for money, reasonable specification. A quarter-million away from the new world of million rand bakkies, it’s actually a damn decent bargain.
Which is exactly what we’ve always admired Isuzu for. The D-Max LSE is still very much the bakkie man’s bakkie. – Michele Lupini
Test data & images: Giordano Lupini
ROAD TESTED: Isuzu D-Max 3.0TD DC LSE 4x4 auto Engine: 140 Kw 450 Nm 3-litre turbodiesel Drive: 6 speed automatic RWD Load Capacity: 990 kg Braked Trailer: 3,500 kg TESTED: 0-60 km/h: 4.08 sec 0-100 km/h: 10.18 sec 0-120 km/h: 14.38 sec 0-160 km/h: 25.97 sec 0-400m: 17.0 sec @ 134 km/h 80-120 km/h: 7.62 sec 120-160 km/h: 12.92 sec CLAIMED: VMax: 185 km/h Fuel: 7.9 l/100 km CO2: 208 g/km Range: 950 km Warranty/Service: 5y 120K/5y 90K km LIST PRICE: R821K How does it shape up? Check Auto's Test Records now!