SA Road Tests

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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. I drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under real-world South African conditions. Many of the vehicles driven are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get where you live.

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Value added: 2021 Isuzu D-Max 3.0 X-Rider a/t

Simply competent

Posted: December 10, 2021

The numbers
Price: R590 300
Engine: Isuzu 4JJ1-TCX, 2999 cc, DOHC 16-valve, four-cylinder CRD with VGS turbocharger
Power: 130 kW at 3600 rpm
Torque: 380 Nm between 1800 and 2800 rpm
0-100 km/h: See text
Top speed: See text
Real life fuel consumption: About 10.0 l/100 km
Tank: 80 litres
Turning circle: 12.8 metres
Ground clearance: 225 mm
Approach/departure/breakover angles: 30.0/22.7/22.4 degrees
Maximum wading depth: 600 mm
Payload, including driver: 1065 kg
Maximum towing capacity, unbraked / braked: 750 / 3500 kg
EuroNCAP rating: Five stars in 2020                                                                       Warranty and roadside assistance: Five years, 120 000 km
Service plan: Five years, 90 000 km at annual or 15 000 km intervals


Isuzu South Africa describes its new three-litre automatic X-Rider as a Special Edition addition to the trio of 2.5-litre X-Riders that started out as special editions themselves. That’s quite a mouthful, but it’s about more than just a bigger engine option.

Available at present in 4x2 drive only and without choice of manual transmission, the new pickup incorporates a six-speed autobox rather than the five-slot fitted to 250 HO and adds some neat toys. These include a differential lock that’s only optional on 2.5s, trailer sway control, a brake override system that automatically cuts power as the brakes are applied, rearview camera and eight-inch touchscreen infotainment. Dedicated options consist of a sliding rear cab window and black alloy wheels.

Part of the 2019 overseas upgrade included a more powerful version of this motor, putting out 140 kW and 450 Nm, but Isuzu SA chose to keep the old 130 kW, 380 Nm state of tune for now. Although the new engine accepts only 50 ppm - or cleaner - fuel, Isuzu recommends 50 ppm for the present engine as well because it keeps the internals in better health while reducing output of environmental nasties.

And with 50 ppm now the most-used grade in the country and even that due for the chop in 2023, to be replaced by 10 ppm fuel, it surely makes sense for Isuzu to start using the uprated powerplant soon rather than later – unless there’s a new one in the pipeline?

Moving on: Even in its present form the 3.0-litre performs quite well, doing the sprint in somewhere around 13.0 seconds, although no-one will admit to anything, and reputedly being able to cruise fully loaded, with or without a full trailer, all day long. Top speed is said to be around 160 km/h. But again…

The six-speed automatic transmission works as expected; smooth shifts, undramatic kick-downs, no hunting, no slipping. Simply competent.

Being basically a jazzed-up version of the base model, things have been kept simple with regular analogue instruments - no “virtual gauges,” no “modes,” no “views” - and a proper pull-up handbrake suited to off-road work, if or when Isuzu introduces a 4x4 X-Rider with this engine and ‘box.

Further, it rides comfortably over gravel roads with embedded stones and evil washboard surfaces. It may or may not still be “King of the Dirt,” but D-Max remains at least a member of the Royal Household.

Comfort and usability: Loading height is at 81 cm into a bin fitted with four securing tags and measuring 1485 mm (l), 1535 mm (w) by 470 mm deep.

Backseat riders enjoy headroom sufficient for all but the tallest even though the seatbacks are a little too upright. Knee space is almost luxurious but foot room under a fully lowered driver’s chair is marginal. That’s unfortunate because this 1.84-metre tester would have liked the driver’s seat to go down about 5cm further – his eyelevel was uncomfortably high; well above the recommended centre-of-screen viewpoint.

Facilities include ISOFix mountings, two head restraints, three full belts, two seatback map pockets, small door bins, panic handles for everyone but the driver and a single, central, courtesy light – no armrest, no accessory sockets, no cup holders.

It’s slightly fancier in front with a big armrest box, two cup holders, mechanically adjustable seats, elevation- but no reach adjustment for the steering wheel, an elegant a/t shifter with manual override, medium sized door bins, a pair of cubbies with a 12-volt socket in the top one and the traditional “pie warmer” on top of the dash. Other fittings include a USB socket and a second 12-volt power point. The passenger has an unlit visor mirror but there’s no sunspecs box.

Not quite a full-on leisure pickup but a little too smart to spend all its life on the farm, this 3.0 automatic X-Rider could be what many buyers are looking for.

Test unit from Isuzu SA press fleet

What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.

Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads or goat tracks as well. As a result, my test cars do occasionally get dirty. It's all part of the reviewing process.

I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material.

If ever I place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with a very similar vehicle already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.

Hope you like what you see, because there are no commercial interests at work here. There are no advertisers and no “editorial policy” rules. I add bylines to acknowledge sponsored launch functions and the manufacturers or dealerships that provide the test vehicles.  And, as quite a few readers have found, I answer every serious enquiry from my home email address, with my phone numbers attached, so you can see I do actually exist.

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