YES, believe it or not the 45th edition of the Isuzu D-Max is a Proudly South African assembled.
Big as it is, upon receiving a key to this limited edition, loved every minute of it on –off road.
So, it was a case of bring on the unfavourable weather, potholes, et al, thanks to its strong drivetrain, rugged looks and of course, off-road capability that is impressive.
This 4×4 is based on the LSE 4×4 model but gets black 18-inch wheels, a Rhinoman Xpedition canopy, a spray-on bedliner, a D-Max 45 decal on the tailgate, the same black grille from the X-Rider models, and Remote Engine Start.
Its interior is a massive improvement though concerns on infotainment needs a bit of a prep- but after-all this is a bakkie…
As for the entire interior, its worth it, with a mixture of hard plastics and leather in strategic areas; and refreshing to have physical buttons and simple ergonomics in the interior, making it incredibly intuitive and easy to live with, yes pun intended…
And its spacious, having to load my Gran’s sentimental stuff, including the packed Rhinoman canopy, en route to Bokone Bophirima on a rainy Friday morning.
As for the exterior styling, the 45th edition is ruggedly noticeable, thanks to the addition of the X-Rider’s front grille, the black wheels, and, of course, the canopy at the back. This affirmed the Isuzu is among the best-looking of all the double cab bakkies at the moment, managing to look both purposeful and also stylish enough to slot into any lifestyle application, if you may.
My Son, had to use a chair, step ladder during the washing of the D-Max 45, he had to invite other boys to help, as a result of its ground clearance figure of 232mm, an approach angle of 30.0 degrees, a break-over angle of 22.5 degrees and a departure angle of 18.0 degrees.
It is powered with tried and tested 3.0-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel engine that produces 140kW and 450Nm of torque. Power is sent to a selectable four-wheel drive system via a six-speed torque converter automatic gearbox.
The engine code is 4JJ3-TCX, a new development of the brand’s venerable 3.0-litre common rail direct injection engine. A variable-geometry turbocharger boosts the engine, utilises the so-called “BluePower” technology and now has a lower compression ratio of 16.3:1.
Loved the gruff sound because its a 3.0-litre, and performs stronger than its outputs suggest.
On diesel consumption figure of 7.8 L/100km; we achieved a figure of 9.4 L/100km during the review.
Combined with a well-calibrated six-speed automatic gearbox, you have a bakkie that feels ready to perform in most areas of its rev range. When heading off-road, the drivetrain truly comes into its own, regardless of whether you’re in 4H or 4L (low-range) mode; the responsiveness and ability to crawl over obstacles or power through mud were impressive.
Locals in my village dubbed it “ugwaja” loosely translated a rabbit because of its features, hence it is assembled at Gqeberha, EC. As a model range, the D-Max is South Africa’s third best-selling bakkie, with nearly +20 000 units finding new homes each year.
The D-Max was crash-tested by Euro NCAP in 2022, achieving a 5-star rating, including 86% for adult occupant safety, 86% for child safety, 69% for pedestrian safety and 83% for its safety assistance systems.
The 45th gets a special badge at the back.
It retails for R906 100
All models come with a 5-year/120 000km warranty and a 5-year/90 000km service plan, with service intervals every 15 000km.
Verdict
Performance 1-10 (7)
Diesel 1-10 (5)
Image SLM ( SA assembled the 45th Isuzu D-Max).
