Isuzu D-Max Premium 4x4 1.9L Diesel pickup truck: A thorough review

There are always certain advantages and drawbacks to having a single product to sell in a market. For low-volume companies, this is rarely a problem as their target market is very niche, but for a volume seller like Isuzu, this can pose a small problem.

But one would expect that Isuzu has gotten used to the challenge of having only a single quality product to rely on, given that the D-Max has been their only product for the past decade or so. The success of their pickup truck is a testament to how they have learned over the many years and grown over the years, picking up a few tricks of their own.

The D-Max has never been a very outspoken model until this latest version that arrived in April 2021. This latest D-Max shouts about its presence with bold colours and a striking-looking cabin.

This time, the D-Max comes across as being more like a jack of all trades rather than a strong performer.

Also Read: New Isuzu D-Max in high demand, avg. monthly booking doubled

It is a well-known fact that the modern pickup truck market development is slow, but when it happens it does so in large leaps. The introduction from pure utility to having comfort-oriented features, like a full entertainment system and sequential shifting for an automatic gearbox all started with the American pickup trucks.

To the hardcore off-roader or contractor, these may seem like pretty pointless features (hence why very basic models are still on offer), but to a discerning lifestyle-oriented pickup truck owner these features may make or break the decision to purchase.

This all-new D-Max is produced in Thailand for the global market at a dedicated plant. This new plant takes advantage of numerous technological developments in the automotive sector in order to improve the quality and consistency of the final product.

On the road, this 1.9L diesel performs exactly as you would expect a D-Max to perform. The new model was definitely more refined than the outgoing D-Max, with the new 3.0-litre diesel engine and the award-winning 1.9L we are test driving here, the ‘Premium’ version with a price tag of RM122,149.20.

To satisfy the lifestyle crowd, the higher-end X-Terrain variant of the D-Max comes with things like a premium audio system and a few added safety features. On the open road, the suspension damping remains slightly on the stiff side, although this could be done to compensate for potential heavy loads in the truck bed of the D-Max.

Steering is responsive and after a long drive, the cabin seating keeps all passengers happy. Yes, it is delivering SUV levels of comfort and this is surprising. When pushed, this 350Nm diesel engine is smooth in its power delivery and sounds rather sedate where it is not as noisy as some others.

At the end of the test drive only one thought came to our mind, should we pay a little more and get the 3.0L X-Terrain with more bells and whistles, a thirstier engine and also higher yearly road tax? Well, road tax is a ‘once a year’ payment and diesel in Malaysia continues to be heavily subsidized.

Isuzu D-Max 1.9L 4x4 Premium Specifications

Engine: Inline-4, Diesel VGS Turbo 16V

Capacity: 1898cc

Transmission: 6-speed auto Sequential Shift

Max Power: 150PS @ 3,600rpm

Max Torque: 350Nm @ 1,800 – 2,600rpm

Price: RM122,149.20

Also Read: Isuzu D-Max takes 5 top awards in just 10 months in Malaysia