Isuzu has a rule, make a good vehicle and then stick to it. Their cars have remained pretty much the same for ages with only some minor updates. Which means you know what youโ€™re getting.

They are reliable, they last forever, they are usually familiar to mechanics and their resale values are pretty good. However, time also has a rule so. Being pretty much the same for a long time also means you fall behind in some faster-developing aspects such as design and safety tech and become potentially dated.

In this video, Jenny checks out the latest minor additions to the all-new 2019 Isuzu D-MAX in the top LS-T Trim. So, letโ€™s see if the reliability, ruggedness and sheer sensibility of the Isuzu D-Max keep it desirable.

Performance Specs

Engine type: 3.0 L 4 cylinder turbo diesel
Maximum power: 130 kW @ 3,600 rpm
Maximum torque: 430 Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel tank capacity: 50 litres
Average consumption: 7.9 L /100km)
Drivetrain: 4X4
Kerb weight: 2,750 kg0km: 7.6 seconds (WLTP)

Itโ€™s the well-familiar 4JJ1-TC 3 Litre diesel with 130 kW of power and 430 Nm from 2,000 revs. It tows up to 3.5 tonnes and officially consumes about 8 l per 100 km. It is not the smoothest, or the most powerful, or the most fuel-efficient, but it IS one of the toughest engines out there.

The Drive

The power is sent to the road through a 6-speed automatic with a mode that allows sequential shifts which is a great feature when you need some manual control.

Of course, it comes with a proper 4×4 drive and low range. This is combined with ground clearance of 235 mm, approach angle of 30 degrees, rampover angle of 22.2 degrees and departure angle of 22.7 degrees. So the D-Max is one serious off-road working machine.

On the inside the 2019 D-Max, wellll itโ€™s pretty much like the 2018 D-Max. The 8โ€ touchscreen comes as standard on the LS-T, which is nice. There is no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto though. Some of the perks include navigation, climate control with pollen and fine particle filters, Sky Sound System, USB charging points for the rear and great leather seats.
Safety is another segment that shows the age of the D-Max and causes it to fall quite short of some competitors. For example, I was very surprised to see that things like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert are not available on the D-Max for 2019. AEB is also lacking, but the two previously mentioned features are available on the MU-X, which is heavily based on the D-Max, so it is really surprising that Isuzu is so late to the party with these on the D-Max.

What you do get is ABS, electronic stability control, traction control, emergency brake assist, trailer sway control, hill start assist, hill descent control, rearview camera, side anti-intrusion bars and electronic brakeforce distribution.