2009 Isuzu D-Max Reviews

Graham Smith reviews the used Isuzu D-Max 2008-2012, its fine points, its flaws and what to watch for when you are buying it.

Isuzu Ute has made steady if unspectacular progress since it debuted in this market a year ago, recently recording its 2000th local sale. But you can't help thinking it has a long way to go to establish the strong presence in this country it wants.As a one-model brand it is likely struggle to attract customers to its showrooms, particularly when its only model isn't terribly new. The Isuzu D-Max ute is quite a decent vehicle, but there's nothing about it that screams ‘buy me’ if the recent drive of an LS-M four- wheel drive dual-cab is anything to go by.For starters the D-Max is in essence the Rodeo once sold by Holden under that badge, so there's nothing really new to get ute buyers all worked up. In a corporate divorce Holden quit the Rodeo and took up the Colorado, a very similar vehicle also made in Thailand.The LS-M D-Max carries a sticker price of $40,600 and has a three- year/100,000 km warranty. But only those who particularly liked the Rodeo and knew the D-Max was the same vehicle might choose to seek out an Isuzu Ute dealer. Based on the test drive Isuzu Ute needs a new model to get noticed, the current D-Max, while competent, feels a little dated by comparison to other four-wheel drive utes on the market.Fit-out and equipmentWe spent a week in an LS-M, which is the same as the range- topping LS-U but without the bling that comes with the 'U'. Painted silver-grey with plain black bumpers, guard flares, mirrors and door handles it looked dull and dreary. The feeling carried through to the interior, which was awash with grey plastics and fabrics that created a rather sombre feeling even though there were also some silver highlights.In general the build quality seemed of a decent standard, but at the same time the interior fit and finish was a little off the mark expected of a Japanese-designed, Thai-produced ute in this market. Exposed screws had surface rust; some of the dash fittings simply didn't fit very well.It had plenty of standard features, like air, cruise, leather wheel and shift knob, trip computer, CD/MP3 sound, power windows and mirrors, but they were all contained in a rather dull package.Isuzu offers just the one engine, a surprisingly economical 3.0-litre double overhead camshaft common rail injection turbo diesel four that peaks with 120 kW at 3600 revs and 360 Nm from 1800-2800 revs when hooked to a manual gearbox. That manual is a five-speed unit with a relatively long throw shift and long clutch travel.The test ute had four-wheel drive, which offered the choice of two- wheel drive for regular driving, and high and low-range four-wheel drive. Selecting the wanted drive was simply done by pressing the appropriate button on the dash.On the road it was smooth and steady, nothing to write home about, but it got the job done.Isuzu Ute claims the LS four-wheel drive dual-cab manual would do a combined 8.4 L/100 km and that impressive figure was backed up by Big Wheels when the test ute got 8.5 L/100 km on test.Like all Japanese-designed Thai-built utes of its type the Isuzu Ute rides on a separate ladder chassis, with torsion bar independent front suspension and leaf spring rear. Steering is power-assisted rack-and-pinion and brakes are a combination of front disc and rear drum, with the assistance of ABS antilock and EBD brakeforce distribution electronics. More safety is delivered through the dual-front airbags.Tradies most often tow a trailer behind their work utes, and the D- Max, with its three-tonne towing capacity will handle their trailers with ease.

It was a brave move by Isuzu Ute to launch the newest motor vehicle brand in October last year.But it has competitively priced the D-Max range, undercutting almost all of its competition by thousands of dollars except for the SsangYong and Mahindra variants.Sales are trickling in as buyers slowly become aware of the brand.As of the end of March, Isuzu had sold 576 D-Maxs for the year for a 1.5 per cent share of the market. The company says sales have grown each month since the launch with March sales up 47 per cent on February.The test vehicle was the $38,700 D-Max LS-M 4x4 crew-cab, which improves on the Toyota HiLux SR dual-cab diesel's standard equipment list with ABS, air, cruise control, one-inch-wider wheels, four extra speakers, projector-lens headlights, a roof console and a three-tonne towing capacity.Other goodies include cruise control, wheel arch flares, alloy wheels, leather steering wheel rim and shift knob, electro-luminescent instrument cluster, trip computer and projector headlights and front fog lights.Both the five-speed manual and four-speed automatic transmissions are special low-friction designs to help save fuel and run quietly.Shifting between 2WD to 4WD High Range is done on the fly at speeds of up to 100 km/h with the simple in-dash push button Drive Mode Selection panel.There’s no doubt the D-Max is a workhorse, no flash filly or showjumping stallion.It’s been designed to do the hard yards, whether it’s on a building site or out on the farm.It’s powered by the much-trusted 3.0-litre, turbocharged diesel and the test vehicle was the sensible four-wheel drive dual cab ute.It is practical and offers a variety of functions from family wagon to workhorse to plaything.It rides comfortably and handles reasonably too.The design, inside and out, is clean and tidy. The cabin does not offer quite as much elbow room, nor as many clever storage spots, as more modern Toyota HiLux, Nissan Navara and Mitsubishi Triton models, yet the D-Max has a good driving position with clear instruments and decent ergonomics.There is airconditioning, a six-speaker stereo system and cruise control. Back seat leg and headroom are acceptable but best for smaller people, such as children, on longer trips.Isuzu's diesel does not rev as high as some rivals. Peak power of 120kW comes at 3600rpm and peak torque between 1800rpm and 2800rpm.Highway cruising should realise 8 litres per 100km, stop-and-start work around the town will see that lift to just below 10.The Isuzu is not super-refined but is comfortable and competent as a town and country machine.It comes into its own by carrying fridges and the like, weekend runs to the rubbish tip or highway transport capable of dealing with all types of road conditions.The ride is firm and when unladen the rear end can crash and skip through potholes.It adequately tackled mountains roads, although the steering is a bit ponderous and needed a lot of turning through the twisty bits.My off-road testing was across Black Mountain Rd between Kuranda and Julatten in North Queensland, but I was disappointed.After all the recent rain I was expecting some wet and slippery conditions but apart from some big puddles the journey was uneventful.Not once did I have to engage 4WD with the gutsy turbo-diesel easily climbing up and over a couple of steeper sections of the track.The D-Max was a tidy and clean handler on the gravel sections and even the corrugations failed to upset its progress.The Isuzu is an easy machine to live with around town too and relatively straight forward to park and manoeuvre around city streets.The Isuzu D-max LS-M is a good-value proposition.It might not have as much cabin space or the extra refinement of newer-designed rivals, but the Isuzu is competent, robust and a no-bullshit working light truck.