New 2021 Isuzu D-Max goes on sale in the UK
Latest Isuzu D-Max pick-up has received a thorough makeover, with a new body, updated suspension and a redesigned interior
Isuzu has launched the third-generation D-Max pick-up truck in the UK, with the new pick-up on sale now ahead of deliveries in March. New Isuzu D-Max prices start from £20,999 (exc VAT) for the entry-level single cab Utility model, climbing to £32,749 for the range topper.
The Isuzu D-Max line-up is separated into three distinct ranges – Business, All-Purpose and Adventure - all featuring numerous models and cab sizes within them.
Business range models are aimed at tradesmen and sold in basic Utility specification, so only feature essential equipment and are sold in single cab, extended cab and double cab formats. The All-Purpose range toes the line between work and recreation and comes in two equipment levels - DL20 and DL40 - and extended cab or double cab wheelbases. The Adventure line-up is sold exclusively as a double cab model.
Standard equipment for the Business models in Utility specification includes automatic headlights, automatic windscreen wipers, wipe-down vinyl flooring and a DAB radio. Driver assistance including autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and traffic sign recognition is also standard.
The mid-range DL20 and DL40 specifications fall into Isuzu’s All-Purpose category. Both models feature a locking rear differential as standard, along with extra safety equipment such as adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist. Unlike the base-model, both can also be specced with an automatic gearbox.
The D-Max DL20 Extended Cab is priced from £25,999 excluding VAT and features 18-inch alloy wheels, body-coloured bumpers, front fog lamps and silver door handles. Rear parking sensors also come as standard, while the cabin gets heated seats and a front centre armrest.
Isuzu’s DL40 trim features a host of upgrades over DL20, including two-tone 18-inch alloy wheels, a chrome radiator grille, silver side steps, front parking sensors and a reversing camera. In addition, the pick-up’s headlights, fog lights and daytime running lights are all swapped for LED replacements.
Inside, D-Max DL40 buyers get leather upholstery, a leather steering wheel, an eight-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat and dual-zone climate control. There’s also a seven-inch infotainment system, which offers support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Prices start from £29,749 before VAT.
Sitting at the top of the line-up is the D-Max V-Cross, forming the Adventure part of the line-up. Prices start from £31,249 before VAT, but £37,434 for the private buyers it’s aimed at. Tweaks over the DL40 include a dedicated Pearl White paint finish and gunmetal grey exterior trim. The cabin also gets a new nine-inch infotainment system, an eight-speaker stereo system, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and “V-Cross” branded floor mats.
Isuzu has carried the old D-Max’s turbocharged 1.9-litre four-cylinder diesel engine onto this new model, with the same output of 162bhp and 360Nm of torque. The pick-up’s six-speed manual gearbox is also identical, but the optional six-speed automatic is a completely new design, offering up to 25 percent faster gear changes.
Next-generation Isuzu D-Max: design and platform
Cosmetically, the new D-Max is evolutionary rather than revolutionary – although Isuzu is keen to point out that every exterior panel is brand new. The pick-up also has a slightly longer wheelbase than the old model and, for the better equipped models, there’s a fresh set of Bi-LED headlights and 18-inch alloy wheels.
Inside, the changes are more drastic. There’s a new soft-touch dashboard, a new control panel for the air conditioning system and a choice of fresh infotainment systems. Isuzu has also tried to make the cabin a more refined place to sit in over long distances, by fitting more sound insulation.
The new D-Max shares the same basic chassis as the old model, although Isuzu’s engineers have strengthened and lengthened the platform to suit the new body. Buyers also get redesigned front and rear suspension, some extra underbody protection and a new electric power steering system, which the firm says has improved the pick-up’s manoeuvrability.
Despite the chassis upgrades contributing to a 20 percent improvement in rigidity, the new D-Max is around 80kg lighter than the old model. Isuzu says this Mk3 variant should be even more capable off-road, as it can also be specced with four-wheel-drive and a locking rear differential not available on the Mk2.
The new model retains the same 3.5-tonne towing capacity and one-tonne payload as its predecessor. At 1,530mm, the load bed also is exactly the same width as the outgoing D-Max, although it is slightly deeper and longer. In addition, all but the DL40 and V-Cross models can be specced in either single, extended or double cab body styles.
What does the new Isuzu D-Max have to beat? Click here for our list of the best pick-up trucks on sale now...
