8 reasons why the Isuzu D-Max makes a better 'Hailak' for Malaysians
CY Foong · Jan 6, 2022 01:00 PM
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The Isuzu D-Max is an all-conquering truck
More refined, more feature-packed than its predecessor
Forget the Ranger, Hilux, Triton, and other trucks
Much like calling every chocolate drink Milo or plastic containers Tupperware, Malaysians refer to pick-up trucks as ‘Hailak’ regardless of brand. Well, it’s time we change that with the Isuzu D-Max as the current generation not only out-Hailak you-know-who but even rivals like the Ranger and Triton.
For that, we’ll show you 8 reasons why the D-Max is the ultimate truck for those who want to conquer the urban jungle or a literal one.
Pick-up trucks generally have an air of intimidation and if one appears in your rear view, you best be getting out of its way. The D-Max’s front design, meanwhile, takes that intimidating appearance up to 11 with its sharp-looking headlights and DRLs that make it look like a cobra attempting to sting its prey.
Combined with the fangs-like front grille design and the fact that it’s a high-riding truck, you would easily see it coming from a kilometre away and immediately move aside without a second thought.
Sure, other ‘Hailaks’ command a similar presence but there’s something about the way the D-Max looks in front. In striking Valencia Orange especially, it’s not hard to not take your eyes off it.
2. Bulletproof reliability
With two engines available, the D-Max offers buyers a choice of wanting to pay less road tax or to get more power and torque.
3.0-litre unit shown
Available with a 1.9-litre RZ4E-TC turbodiesel (150 PS/350 Nm) that is carried over from the previous D-Max or a brand-new 3.0-litre 4JJ3-TCX turbodiesel (190 PS/450 Nm), both engines promise bombproof reliability.
An Isuzu truck leading an expedition in Antarctica
After all, Isuzu has a very good track record when it comes to its diesel engines’ reliability. This is to a point that its engines are revered by scientists in Antarctica, one of the harshest places on Earth.
Once you step inside the D-Max, you can forget about the perception of a pick-up truck being utilitarian and simple as the quality and feel of the interior is very premium.
Okay, the brown upholstery is only on the top-of-the-range X-Terrain variant but it’s still a step, nay, leaps ahead of its predecessor.
The best seats in the house, among pick-up trucks that is
The seats are cushy and comfortable with lots of support even for those with a heftier body. In our review, we proclaimed that the D-Max offers the best seats of any pick-up and that includes the Hilux, Triton, and Ranger.
4. SUV-like refinement
You read that subhead correctly, the D-Max feels like an SUV on smooth tarmac roads. It might judder and vibrate which is a given for a vehicle built on a ladder frame chassis but most of the time, you wouldn’t notice it.
The current D-Max sits on an all-new platform that gives it excellent ride, handling, and suspension tuning. Hence, cruising around in the D-Max doesn’t sound quite farfetched.
Wind and tyre noise are well suppressed going over our usual Malaysian roads. The refinement levels are simply remarkable especially for a truck since the previous generation was more of a workhorse than an everyday vehicle.
5. Easy to manoeuvre and live with in the city
Having driven the D-Max myself around, it’s really not that hard to manoeuvre it around. The steering is quite responsive and combined with an excellent turning circle, the truck is ideal around multi-storey carparks and tight parking lots.
Goodbye parking anxiety!
Speaking of tight parking lots, for those who want to avoid dinging the truck, there are 4 radar sensors located in the front and rear which is very helpful.
Also helping things out, no urban warrior is complete without their tool of the trade – proper smartphone connectivity. The D-Max is available with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for a more seamless music streaming and navigation connectivity.
6. Capable off the beaten path
The new platform might make the D-Max more refined on tarmac but take it off onto something a little more challenging and the truck starts to show off its roots. After all, these trucks are designed to be utilitarian in the first place and sometimes they are being used on sandier or rougher paths.
Underneath all that premium leather and bright orange paintjob lies an off-roading beast. We took the D-Max into a bit of rough terrain in our review and found it to not only be capable but quite easy too.
The D-Max comes fully equipped with Terrain Command which allows drivers to switch between modes just by turning a knob. Additionally, the top-of-the-range X-Terrain gets a rear differential lock which enhances its off-road capability.
7. Top-notch safety features
Just like its interior and driving refinement, the safety features on the current-gen D-Max are like night and day compared to its predecessor. The range-topping X-Terrain variant comes standard with an ADAS suite that comprises of:
Adaptive cruise control with stop and go (ACC)
Forward collision warning (FCW)
Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
Lane departure warning (LDW)
Auto Plus 4x2 interior shown, not too shabby indeed
Even though the X-Terrain is the only variant to come with the complete ADAS suite and 7 airbags, the lower variants aren’t too shabby with 2 airbags, blind-spot monitor (BSM), and rear cross-traffic alert (RCTA) available from the Premium variant onwards.
The D-Max is awarded a 5-star safety rating not just by ASEAN NCAP and Australasian NCAP (ANCAP) but also Euro NCAP, making it one of the safest pick-up trucks on sale.
All prices are on-the-road without insurance and road tax
A pick-up truck isn’t just a machine to satisfy urban warriors, its core duty is to help with tradesmen, farmers, and builders. Hence, the D-Max is available with 8 variants ranging from base single cabs all the way up to the luxurious-looking X-Terrain.
D-Max Auto Plus 4x2 shown
There is even a 4x2 variant that was just launched a few months ago which is catered for those who don’t want to pay the extra maintenance for a 4WD system that is rarely used (or potential drifters).
Priced between RM 90,499 to RM 142,438, the D-Max might be a better truck than the leading brand model in Malaysia. It won’t be long now till everyone calls a pick-up truck an Isuzu (Izoo?) instead.
Traded advertising for a career that fits his passion for cars. Enjoys spotting cars during his free time and has a soft spot for Japanese Kei cars but drives a thirsty manual sedan.
