The 2021 Isuzu D-Max is not a facelift. It is a ground-up rework of a ute that was already solid. The powertrain is a 3.0 L four-cylinder turbo diesel producing 140 kW and 450 Nm, up meaningfully from the previous generation. The body structure is new, the interior is new, and the safety package has jumped several steps.
Jenny reviews it with the working-ute question front of mind: can it serve as a proper weekend and weekday vehicle in Australia? The answer is yes, with caveats. The new interior is the biggest step forward. The previous D-Max's cabin was functional but austere. The 2021 model closes the gap to the Ranger and Hilux on perceived quality. Towing and payload numbers hold up for serious use.
The D-Max's position as the value-minded alternative to the Toyota Hilux gets more complicated with this generation. It is now genuinely competitive on features and driving experience. The price premium over the old model is real, but so is the improvement. Worth a serious look if you are shopping the one-tonne ute segment.
The full review is on the CarTell.tv YouTube channel above.
