The new Isuzu D-Max was introduced over a year ago, but the rugged workhorse is not yet to be found in the Netherlands. That is changing rapidly. In a relatively short term, the pick-up, which was renewed to the tiniest nut last year, will appear at the Dutch Isuzu outlets. Techzle has the first information about the versions intended for our country.
You probably know the Isuzu D-Max on Dutch roads mainly from its yellow Rijkswaterstaat costume. That concerns the model of the previous generation. Isuzu fired a completely new D-Max on pick-up land in October 2019, a corner of the market where cars like the Toyota Hilux, Nissan Navara and Mitsubishi L200, just like the Volkswagen Amarok, may be more famous alternatives. Where the previous D-Max was the result of a collaboration between General Motors and Isuzu, the D-Max was also available as Chevrolet Colorado, the current model is completely unique. At least, the new D-Max was developed from the ground up. That doesn’t mean other brands don’t use the D-Max’s Isuzu Dynamic Drive platform. Mazda has called on Isuzu to use the base of the D-Max for its comparable BT-50, a pick-up that is sold in Australia. Okay, back to the new D-Max, which is now really coming to the Netherlands.
The all-new D-Max for left-hand drive markets will most likely feature the same 1.9 turbo diesel with 150 hp and 350 Nm as the version already available in right-hand drive markets. One step above that is a more powerful 190 hp and 450 Nm strong diesel engine with a capacity of three liters. This is also a four-cylinder. Both machines come from Isuzu itself. That the relatively small manufacturer does know how to assemble engines, is evident from the machines it supplied for brands such as Renault, Saab, Opel, Honda, Toyota and Mazda. The machines can be linked to a manual six-speed gearbox and a six-speed automatic transmission.
Equipment and safety systems
Regardless of which version of the D-Max you order later, it is all right when it comes to safety systems. Active Lane Keeping Assist is standard, the D-Max Attention Assist, an emergency braking system, traction control, Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Control, Forward Collision Warning, Multi Collision Brake and a speed limiter. The Double Cab and Extended Cab flavors also come with Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Parking Beepers and Emergency Lane Keeping. If you take the D-Max with automatic transmission, you also get standard things like adaptive cruise control and Lane Keeping Assist. The LSX versions get a 7-inch multimedia system that supports Apple Carplay, among other things. The LSE and V-Cross versions will get a 9-inch model. The higher trim levels also receive a large color screen between the analog clocks.
Dutch prices, together with exact specifications, are not yet available. We expect that this year.