Isuzu Reviews

Are you planning on buying a ute for your family? Maybe you’ve got double use for it, like you need it for work to transport things around and you’re wondering how good of a family car it can make. We’ve got two utes here, the Mazda BT-50 and the Isuzu D-Max, and I’m going to talk you through which is the best buy for a family.I've already tested both of these utes separately, and we’ve put them together here to give you a really good idea of how they compare, and what they're like to live with.The Mazda is the middle of the range BT-50 XTR which costs around 57 grand, before on-road costs. This Isuzu is the top of the range X-Terrain and costs just under $60 grand drive-away. So, similar pricing, but what do you get for your moolah? Let’s get into it. 

The Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain drives really well in this category, is spacious and has a huge tray for a boot. Is the ute about to take over the SUV as a family car? Not quite yet.

In the last month or so of its stint as part of the CarsGuide test fleet, the Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain, the top spec variant in the range, has further proven itself on and off the road.It's had a busy final few weeks with us, and has impressed with its comfort and refinement, and also its capability as a 4WD.So it is with much reluctance we return the X-Terrain to Isuzu HQ.

The 2021 Isuzu D-Max is well known as a tough working ute for tradies, but this week I drove it as a family vehicle around the inner suburbs of Sydney. With lots of space inside and in the back (tray), feather light steering and loads of on-board safety features there is a lot to like.

Isuzu has upped its ute game with the new-generation D-Max - and it's not just its flagship variants that have seemingly won the re-engineering lottery; the entire range has benefitted in terms of driver-assist tech/safety and all-round ride comfort and, more importantly, capability. And space cab cab-chassis utes, such as the D-Max SX, can actually offer a bit of flexibility as a tourer.

Isuzu has invested more than four million kilometres and six years of development in creating the all-new third-generation of its D-MAX ute. And feedback from the Australian market had significant influence in its design, given that Australia is the D-MAX's largest global export market behind Thailand.

The ute scene has seen some action in 2020, with the launch of an all-new Isuzu D-Max which is now paired to a brand-new Mazda BT-50. Those two fresh young things are up against the stalwart king of the dual cab utes - the Ford Ranger - in this comparison test. It's a very tight contest.

If you want a hard working Isuzu D-Max ute, you need to take a look at the SX grade. It has more variants than any other in the D-Max line-up, and is the most affordable and work-ready, too.

The Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain is a new nameplate. But trust us, it'll be a household name before you know it.

The Isuzu D-Max has always been a pretty solid ute in terms of reputation, reliability and value for money but its firm ride, noisy engine, less-than-ideal off-road traction control and the absence of a diff-lock - even as an option - has diminished its appeal.Isuzu has addressed those issues in the new D-Max - but are those changes enough to boost its appeal in a highly competitive ute market?