Not that we’re suggesting any schadenfreude, but Toyota’s flood-damaged Durban factory closure could not have come at a better time for Isuzu, which has just launched its latest D-Max bakkie range in SA.
The locally-built Toyota Hilux has been the country’s favourite bakkie for many years, and the frustration must be great for rival brands like Isuzu, who believe their products are worthy of selling in similar quantities if only more potential punters would bother to take test drives.
Cue the KwaZulu-Natal floods and the resultant dire shortage of new Hiluxes. It may last for months while the Durban factory is repaired, and some Toyota fans unwilling to wait that long may well take a detour into an Isuzu showroom to check out the new D-Max, which is assembled in Gqeberha.
What they’ll find is a one-tonne double cab that’s appreciably improved over its predecessor, especially in terms of refinement and grown-up feel. But how does it stack up against SA’s most popular bakkie? Does the D-Max double cab make the grade or is it better to be patient and wait for a Hilux? To find out, we rustled up the two contenders for a side-by-side test.
STYLING AND PRESENTATION
The new D-Max is the seventh generation of Isuzu bakkies to be manufactured in Gqeberha over the past 42 years. It has a decidedly more butch and athletic appearance, modernised with front and rear LED lights and an integrated rear bumper.
The eighth generation Hilux has been around since 2016 but is ageing well, kept fresh with technology and refinement upgrades, and a facelift that added LED headlamps and tail lamps. It looks particularly striking in Legend guise with darkened 18-inch wheels, rear style bar and a trapezoidal grille outlined in black.
The Hilux also received interior and safety upgrades plus a raft of under-the-skin modifications to improve overall comfort and drivability.
The new Isuzu has grown larger and more spacious in all areas, other than a roofline that is 10mm lower than the previous model. Access to the cabin is made easier by a new longer rear door for the family-orientated double cab.
The Isuzu beats the Hilux for family practicality with its superior rear legroom and more comfortably angled backrest. Space in the Toyota isn’t bad but its upright rear seat won’t be as relaxing over long trips. The Isuzu offers USB ports and for front and rear-seat passengers, with the Toyota only offering this luxury in the front. Rear-seat passengers in the D-Max also have their own air vents, a feature absent in the Hilux.
Our two contenders both ensure comfortable driving positions for various-sized drivers with their height- and reach-adjustable steering columns — the latter available in Isuzu’s bakkie for the first time.
The Hilux on test is the range-topping double cab 4x4 Legend priced at R917,900 and it mostly wins this contest in terms of amenities, with extra features such as electrically adjustable driver’s seat, adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist.
These above-mentioned gizmos are also available in the range-topping D-Max V-Cross (R814,700) which is a more direct rival to the Hilux Legend, but we were unable to obtain the V-Cross for this shootout. The Isuzu on test here is the second-from-top D-Max: the 3.0TD LSE 4x4 priced at R771,700.
It is still very well specced, and like the Hilux Legend it has leather seats, a touchscreen infotainment system, seven-airbag safety and a generally car-like vibe. The Toyota’s cabin doesn’t feel too dated but the newer Isuzu has a more modern ambience with premium-feeling soft-touch materials on the dashboard and doors — the Hilux’s hard plastic coverings are in discord with its higher price.
Both vehicles have automatic headlamps but it’s surprising to see that only the cheaper Isuzu has rain-sensing wipers; the Hilux makes do with manually-selected intermittent wipers.
RIDE AND HANDLING
Both these double cabs perform admirably in their roles as lifestyle family vehicles, with SUV-like driving characteristics rather than jittering around in workhorse-like fashion.
The new D-Max has matured into a more refined vehicle with a smooth ride quality that lacks the jarring, teeth-rattling nature of the Mazda BT-50 on which it is based.
However, the Hilux has even better bump-soaking ability and is the smoother all-rounder on varying surfaces, along with slightly sharper handling.
PERFORMANCE
The previous D-Max was outgunned by its rivals in power but the new 3.0l turbo diesel engine comes to the party with a much heartier 140kW/450Nm.
It surprisingly leaps off the line quicker than the more powerful 2.8l Hilux and is one second faster from 0-100km/h, though in overtaking acceleration there’s almost nothing to choose between the two.
The Hilux offers the advantage of three driving programmes — standard, eco, and sport — but there’s only one mode in the Isuzu.
Economy-wise the D-Max has the slight upper hand, averaging 9.4l /100km versus the Toyota’s 9.9l. It’s the Toyota that wins the refinement contest, however, its engine sounding decidedly smooth-voiced compared with the gruffer, more agricultural Isuzu.
Off road there was no clear winner, and the two bakkies breezed through the muddy 4x4 course at Gerotek without getting stuck. No surprises there, as they’re both equipped for all-terrain expeditions with their elevated ground clearances, part-time all-wheel drive with on-the-fly 4x4 selection, low range transfer cases, diff locks, and downhill descent control.
WORKING
The “RS” in the Hilux’s nomenclature stands for the electrically-powered roller shutter that opens and closes at the touch of a button, a feature that is much more user-friendly than the Isuzu’s old-fashioned, fingernail-breaking tonneau cover.
The D-Max is rated for a 995kg payload versus the Toyota’s 775kg, and both vehicles are have a 3,500kg tow rating.
VERDICT
The Isuzu has shaken off some of its predecessor’s workhorse feel and now more comfortably wears its lifestyle robes. It is the roomier and more comfortable vehicle here, with a more modern cabin. The six-year-old Hilux has the upper hand in refinement with its smoother ride and quieter engine, and has aged impressively well with its updates.
The Hilux 4x4 Legend costs more than R100,000 more than a similarly-specced D-Max, which makes the Isuzu the better value-for-money buy in this contest.
However, that Legend badge isn’t to be taken lightly. Part of the Toyota deal is the brand’s bulletproof reputation for quality, durability and reliability, and the huge size of its dealer network. Judging by the Hilux’s enduringly market-leading sales, it’s well worth the price premium.
But Isuzu isn’t deficient in the reputation stakes, and Toyota has real competition on its hands.
Tech Specs
Isuzu D-Max double cab
3.0TD LSE 4x4
Engine
Type: Four-cylinder diesel turbo
Capacity: 2,999cc
Power: 140kW
Torque: 450Nm
Transmission
Type: Six-speed auto
Drivetrain
Type: Rear-wheel drive, selectable 4x4
Performance
Top speed (claimed): n/a
0-100km/h (as tested): 10.36 seconds
60-120km/h (as tested): 10.66 seconds
Fuel Consumption (claimed): 7.9l/100km; 9.4l/100km (as tested)
Emissions: 208g/km
Ownership
Warranty: Five years/120,000km
Service plan: Five years/90,000km
Price: R771,700
Lease*: R16,491 a month
* at 10% interest over 60 months no deposit
We like: Roominess, modern interior, styling
We dislike: Noisy engine
Verdict: Isuzu’s tough bakkie grows into its lifestyle role
Motor News star rating
Design *****
Performance ****
Economy ****
Ride ****
Handling ****
Safety ****
Value For Money ****
Overall ****
Toyota Hilux double cab 2.8 4x4 Legend RS
Engine
Type: Four-cylinder diesel turbo
Capacity: 2,755cc
Power: 150kW
Torque: 500Nm
Transmission
Type: Six-speed auto
Drivetrain
Type: Rear-wheel drive, selectable 4x4
Performance
Top speed (claimed): 175km/h
0-100km/h (as tested): 11.33 seconds
60-120km/h (as tested): 10.59 seconds
Fuel Consumption (claimed): 8.0l/100km; 9.9l/ 100km (as tested)
Emissions: 209g/km
Ownership
Warranty: Three years/100,000km
Service plan: Nine services/90,000km
Price: R917,900
Lease*: R19,597 a month
* at 10% interest over 60 months no deposit
We like: Refinement, ride and handling, reputation
We dislike: Rear seating comfort, price
Verdict: The legend deserves its reputation
Motor News star rating
Design *****
Performance ****
Economy ****
Ride ****
Handling ****
Safety ****
Value For Money ***
Overall ****
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