2021 Isuzu D-Max vs 2020

What's the difference?

Utes – especially dual-cab utes – occupy the hallowed turf that lay between being purely a work vehicle and being a daily driver/recreational vehicle. But in attempting to strike the right balance between the two purposes, utes end up being a bit of a compromise in one direction or the other – as in it’s ultimately better suited to work duties than it is to being a people mover, or vice-versa.

Well, some utes don’t need to compromise all that much, because some utes, such as the Isuzu D-Max SX space-cab cab chassis, for instance, are unashamedly purpose-built for work: carrying loads, driving big distances, towing heavy trailers, doing long days.

But that doesn’t mean this sort of ute is not capable of taking on an adventure or two, especially when the ute in question is a 2021 4x4 version of the aforementioned D-Max variant.

So, how does it go? Read on.

The D-Max range tends to be spartan in more ways than one.

Much like the ancient Spartans, who had a way of forgoing life’s comforts in order to create a warrior society, the D-Max leaves no doubt, even in the way it looks, that it’s all about the work.

Isuzu’s unending commitment to its truck’s sturdy drivetrain has wrapped the D-Max in an ‘unbreakable’ aura, strong enough to challenge the HiLux.

Trouble is, today’s utes are generally expected to do more than just chores. They are multi-purpose, called on to cope with regular commuting , and a lot of us demand they feature today’s essential conveniences (that are more than just garnish).

So, can the D-Max SX Space Cab escape its Spartan guise, or would you be better off looking at its many rivals that have had significant updates more recently?

Read on to find out.