MR CONSISTENT

JUST LIKE THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE, D-MAX SALES ARE STEADY AS SHE GOES.

ISUZU’S D-max is the mister consistent of the segment, selling just 20 more 4x4s in 2016 compared to 2015. This follows on from a 2015 that saw 1022 more D-max 4x4s sold than it did in 2014. This is a solid result for the D-max given it’s competing with much newer or significantly revised utes. In fact, the D-max is one of the older designs among the popular utes – a section of the new-car market that is growing in popularity.

The D-max has done well right from when this generation arrived in 2012. In its first full year of sales in 2013 it sold 8500 units and moved to number nine in the top 10. Since that time it has climbed to number seven.

What makes this even more remarkable is that Isuzu was only established in Australia in 2008 as a ute brand in its own right, so it has come a long way in a very short time. Of course, Isuzu utes have been sold in Australia for a very long time, but they were hidden behind Holden badges.

The D-max is an honest ute with a wellproven 3.0-litre diesel engine that has been around in one form or another for more than 10 years (it was actually first seen here in Australia in the last of the Holden Rodeos). Likewise, the D-max’s five-speed automatic gearbox has a proven track record as it’s essentially the same gearbox used in the Toyota Prado (up until recently) and in the original petrol 200 Series.

On the road the D-max isn’t brilliant, especially if you’re in a hurry as the old donk isn’t as urgent as it could be. It’s also not too happy towing its claimed maximum of 3500kg, even if the chassis is willing.

Still, all that could be about to change due to the introduction of new emission standards. The current 3.0-litre engine is only Euro 4 compliant, and vehicles built from November 2016 have to comply with Euro 5. At the very least that will mean fitting a diesel particulate filter to the current engine, but we suspect Isuzu will do better than that. Watch this space!