Isuzu D-Max vs LDV Deliver 9
What's the difference?

Isuzu D-Max

$36,200 - $80,900

2026 price

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LDV Deliver 9

$13,999 - $39,980

2021 price

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Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

Mercedes-Benz Vito

Mercedes-Benz X-Class

Volkswagen Transporter

Summary

2026 Isuzu D-Max

2021 LDV Deliver 9

By Marcus Craft

By Mark Oastler

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Diesel Turbo 4, 2.2L

Diesel Turbo 4, 2.0L

Fuel Type

Diesel

Fuel Efficiency

7.8L/100km (combined)

0.0L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Off-road capability
Eight-speed auto
Reasonably refined on-road for a 4WD ute

Low price
Noise suppression
Ride quality laden/unladen

Dislikes

Laggy and noisy
Underpowered
Underdone in terms of value compared to rivals

No cargo barrier
No driver’s footrest
Three-year warranty

2026 Isuzu D-Max Summary

Once regarded as rather an agricultural ute offering, Isuzu’s D-Max has become a well-established, long-time favourite of families, weekend warriors and off-road tourers.

The 3.0-litre D-Max has gained a strong following through the years but versions with the newer 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine are marketed as better on fuel. However there’s a substantial trade-off in terms of power and torque against the 3.0-litre (120kW and 400Nm versus 140kW and 450Nm).

The X-Rider, a mid-spec variant, is available with either engine, so how does the 2.2-litre-equipped D-Max perform as a daily driver and, more importantly, off-roader?

Read on.

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2021 LDV Deliver 9 Summary

There are currently 14 rivals competing for customers in the Light Duty or LD (3501-8000kg GVM) segment of Australia’s heavy commercial vehicle market. Business buyers and fleet operators are thick on the ground here and competition for their business is fierce.

Chinese brand LDV, a division of the huge SAIC Motor conglomerate which is now the seventh largest automotive company in the world, recently joined this battle with its new Deliver 9 van range that’s priced to entice. We spent a week aboard one to see how LDV’s claim of superior value stacks up when there’s work to be done.

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Deep dive comparison

2026 Isuzu D-Max 2021 LDV Deliver 9

Verdict

The D-Max X-Rider has adequate appeal as a daily driver – it’s functional and comfortable – and it’s also working off a proven 4WD platform.

This mid-spec ute lacks the polish of higher-grade D-Max grades, but it may still entice those ute fans who want a workhorse with a tractable engine and don’t care at all about frippery.

Does that 2.2-litre engine add anything substantial to the package? No, and the potential fuel savings it represents don’t seem so likely as the 3.0-litre doesn’t use a lot more fuel than the 2.2-litre D-Max anyway – and the 3.0-litre version only costs another $2000 or so to buy.

The 3.0-litre D-Max remains the better option because while the 2.2L is effective off-road, it’s only reasonable in general day-to-day driving, as it lacks grunt and has to work that much harder and is that much noisier under load than the 3.0-litre in most driving scenarios, including 4WDing.

Verdict

It has its flaws, like any vehicle, but it’s not as far away from segment leaders in terms of refinement and performance that its bargain-basement pricing might suggest. Whichever way you look at it, this is a lot of van for not a lot of money.

Isuzu D-Max vs LDV Deliver 9 What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Isuzu D-Max vs LDV Deliver 9
What's the difference?