The Top 5 reasons we don’t like the 2021 Isuzu D-Max
Arvind · Jan 10, 2022 08:59 AM
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The 2021 Isuzu D-Max has flipped the script on the lifestyle pick-up truck market since its launch in April 2021.
Once considered the outsider of the upper rung of pick-ups (perhaps due to the demure styling of its predecessor), the RG01 Isuzu D-Max, especially in 3.0L X-Terrain guise is now a raucous beast of a machine capable of cruising any high street (or dirt road).
The D-Max X-Terrain’s power unit delivers 190PS and a whopping 450Nm of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels through a new 6-speed automatic transmission
Of course, that just covers how it looks – we have yet to get to the bit about the D-Max’s rock-solid reliability, best-in-class fuel economy and the fact that no other pick-up truck offers as many features for the same price.
Truth be told, it’s an extremely rare occurrence when the entire WapCar team cannot point out a single drawback in a car, much less a pick-up truck.
Thus, we argued tirelessly (whilst eating pita chips) to find five things we don’t like about the 2021 Isuzu D-Max. We’ll be focusing on the range-topping Isuzu D-Max 3.0L X-Terrain for this one.
The D-Max X-Terrain doesn’t come in black
The 2021 Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain comes in two exciting colours, Sapphire Blue and the sublime Valencia Orange.
However, it doesn’t come in black. For those who remember the (RT) Isuzu D-Max Diablo from a few years back – that variant featured a menacing jet-black finish which we think will look superb on the 2021 D-Max.
The Isuzu D-Max Diablo was launched here in 2015 with additional accessories and cool black paint
That’s not saying that Isuzu won’t feature newer paint options (or special editions) in the future, but for now, we’re playing hardball with the D-Max.
There’s is no Borneo Safari version
Some older generation D-Max Monsters have successfully completed up to 5 Borneo Safari expeditions before being retired
The Isuzu D-Max (across 2 generations) has successfully completed 13 instalments of the Borneo Safari expedition, one of the world’s most gruelling off-road expeditions.
Save a few modifications, i.e.: tyres, lift-kit, a winch and body protection – these D-Max Monsters endure years of torture without breaking, and damn, do they look good doing it.
It would be awesome if Isuzu could develop a road-going version based on these D-Max Monsters. We can’t help but imagine the RG01 D-Max would be dripping with macho cool with these additions.
Isuzu if you’re listening, give us a Borneo Safari Edition, until then we’re going to put this down as a -1 for the 2021 D-Max.
You won’t have a good reason to sell it
An stylish interior that can rival more expensive SUVs
No, we’re not talking about resale value, thanks to decent demand, the D-Max does retain value rather well – but you’d never have any good reason to sell it.
Given its bulletproof reliability, and class-leading fuel economy – D-Maxs are known to reliably serve their owners up to 20 years or more with good periodic maintenance.
Therefore, whilst one might want to sell their D-Max after a few years, reliability and fuel economy won't be one of the reasons why you do.
You’ll always run out of road (or trails)
Regardless of whether you’re buying an Isuzu D-Max as a lifestyle pickup or as a vehicle for business, one thing is quite certain – you’d almost always run out of road before you can truly push the D-Max to its limits.
Much like a supercar stuck in traffic – the D-Max is at home in the mud and ruts of a jungle or negotiating large rocks whilst trying to cross a river.
Without this, one will never fully exploit the ability and rugged grip of the D-Max’s Terrain Response 4X4 system. Unfortunately, we’ll have to coin this as another reason why we don’t like the Isuzu D-Max.
The D-Max doesn’t have enough teh tarik hooks
By now I think you can probably guess that we are nitpicking. The Isuzu D-Max only has one teh tarik hook, versus the Perodua Myvi's two.
Although it’s surprising enough that Isuzu even thought about this detail, we are going to mark it down for just having the one on the passenger side seatback, and not on the driver’s side.
The Myvi beats the D-Max here, but then again, a Myvi cannot wade through 800 mm of water. For the D-Max though, that’s just a puddle.
Arvind can't remember a time when he didn't wheel around a HotWheels car. This love evolved into an interest in Tamiya and RC cars and finally the real deal 1:1 scale stuff. Passion finally lead to formal training in Mechanical Engineering. Instead of the bigger picture, he obsesses with the final drive ratio and spring rates of cars and spends the weekends wondering why a Perodua Myvi is so fast.
